Jehoahaz, also known as Shallum, was a king of Judah whose reign is noted for its wickedness and departure from the ways of the Lord. He was the son of the righteous King Josiah, who had instituted significant religious reforms in Judah. Despite his father's godly legacy, Jehoahaz chose a path of unrighteousness, leading to a brief and troubled reign.

Background and Ascension to the Throne

Jehoahaz was the fourth son of Josiah and Hamutal, the daughter of Jeremiah of Libnah. Following the death of Josiah at the hands of Pharaoh Neco II of Egypt at Megiddo, the people of the land took Jehoahaz and made him king in his father's place. His ascension to the throne is recorded in 2 Kings 23:30: "Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah, anointed him, and made him king in Jerusalem."

Reign and Character

Jehoahaz's reign lasted only three months, yet it was marked by evil in the sight of the Lord. The brief account of his reign in 2 Kings 23:32 states, "And he did evil in the sight of the LORD, just as his fathers had done." This indicates a return to the idolatrous practices that Josiah had worked diligently to eradicate. Jehoahaz's actions were a direct affront to the covenantal relationship between God and the people of Judah, leading to divine disfavor.

Downfall and Captivity

Jehoahaz's reign was abruptly ended by Pharaoh Neco, who deposed him and took him captive to Egypt. This event is chronicled in 2 Kings 23:33-34: "Pharaoh Neco imprisoned him at Riblah in the land of Hamath to prevent him from reigning in Jerusalem, and he imposed on Judah a levy of a hundred talents of silver and a talent of gold. Then Pharaoh Neco made Eliakim son of Josiah king in place of his father Josiah and changed Eliakim’s name to Jehoiakim. But he took Jehoahaz and carried him off to Egypt, where he died."

Jehoahaz's removal and subsequent death in Egypt were a fulfillment of the prophetic warnings given to Judah regarding the consequences of their disobedience. His captivity symbolized the loss of national sovereignty and the beginning of a period of increased foreign domination over Judah.

Legacy

Jehoahaz's reign serves as a cautionary tale of the dangers of forsaking the ways of the Lord. Despite his royal lineage and the godly example set by his father, Jehoahaz's choice to pursue evil led to his downfall and the further destabilization of the kingdom of Judah. His life and reign are a reminder of the importance of faithfulness to God's commandments and the severe consequences of turning away from His guidance.2 Kings 23:32
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done.
Nave's Topical Index

The Antiquities of the Jews
... Of The Chaldeans, And Lived In The Land Then Called Canaan But ... Was Wounded And Died
In A Little Time Afterward; As Also How Neco Carried Jehoahaz, Who Had ...
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The Medes and the Second Chaldaean Empire
... them, and profited by the remembrance when called upon to ... For the quotation see also
Jeremiah 11:13: "For ... sea, and the stumbling-blocks with the wicked; and I ...
/.../chapter iiithe medes and the.htm

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