Keeping Track of Kings--Part V

One of the clearer charts of the kings--Ken Carlson.org

I-10 Jehu

Jehu reigned 28 years, was an instrument of divine justice.

Elisha called some of his students to find and anoint Jehu, a commander of Israel's army. He took him aside from his comrades and anointed him secretly saying that he would be God's means of eradicating Ahab's line. When he went back to the others, they pressed him to share the conversation and quickly got behind him as king.

He then located Joram who had retreated to Jezreel to recover from wounds he incurred fighting the Syrians. King Ahaziah of Judah was visiting Joram there too (divine timing). A messenger went out to meet them, drawing them out of the tower. Both Joram and Ahaziah went out, meeting him at Naboth's plot. Joram inquired if Jehu had come in peace. Jehu responded that how could there be peace as long as Joram's mother fostered witchcraft and idolatry. Joram shouted treason and sought to flee, though Jehu shot him through the heart with an arrow. His men also killed Ahaziah in his flight.

He called all Baal worshippers to Baal's temple, enclosed them inside, and set the building on fire. He killed of all of Ahab's line and then some (over zealous in killing friends and other leaders).

Israel's territory was reduced during his reign. He is generally considered one of the better kings of Israel, which I don't fully understand.

Image of Jehu from Black Oblelisk, British Museum, 825BC
Jehu giving tribute to Assyrian King
image courtesy of lessonforus.com

British Museum--Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III

backstory on the discovery of this obelisk

I-11 Jehoahaz

Jehoahaz reigned 17 years, concurrent with Joash of Judah's reign. He was evil, so the Lord allowed King Hazael of Aram to defeat Israel repeatedly.  At one point he prayed to the Lord and the Lord relented.  The army was greatly reduced during his reign. He allowed Asherah poles to stand.

I-11 Jehoash

Jehoash reigned 16 years, concurrent with Joash of Judah's reign, refused to turn from evil, compared to Jeroboam.

He was with Elisha before he died, and Elisha prophesied partial conquest of Aram because Jehoash shot one arrow through the window but only two more toward the ground expressing a lack of doubt.  Had he shot more to the ground, it would have symbolized greater faith.

He reconquered many of the towns Aram had aquired during his reign after his father's death.

J-7Joash/Jehoash

As a child, Joash was hidden until he was 7 by his sister Jehosheba, then brought forth to reign with the help of the high priest, his uncle, Jehoiada who orchestrated a plot with the help of his commanders and the royal guard.

Made repairs to temple through a new general fund. Later gave the King of Syria all the wealthy objects of the temple and royal palace to stave off the Syrians/Arameans. He was afraid of their King, Hazael, who conquered Gath.

After the death of the high priest, the leaders of Judah went back to worshiping Asherah poles and encouraging the King to abandon the temple. Zechariah, Jehoiada's son, stood in front of the temple and prophesied against them saying that they were hurting themselves in their abandoning of the Lord. The people then plotted to kill him and Joash him to be stoned to death in the courtyard of the temple. His last words were essentially "may the Lord avenge my death."

His trusted officers betrayed him and killed him on the way to Beth-millo.