2 Kings 14:1-16

The Reign Of Jehoash (Joash) King Of Israel c. 2Ki 798-782/1 BC (2 Kings 13:10 to 2 Kings 14:16 ).

The reign of Jehoash, King of Israel presents us with another interesting literary phenomenon, for the author first presents us with a brief summary of Jehoash’s reign, ending in the usual closing formula (2 Kings 13:10-13), and then goes on to describe his presence at Elisha’s deathbed (2 Kings 13:14-21), and his successful wars with Benhadad of Aram (2 Kings 13:22-25) and with Amaziah king of Judah (2 Kings 14:8-14), before ending for a second time, although in slightly altered fashion, with a similar closing formula to that in 2 Kings 13:12-13 (2 Kings 14:15-16). In between all this he opens up the reign of Amaziah, king of Judah (2 Kings 14:1 ff), something which he does not normally do until he has closed down the reign of the king of Israel during whose reign he came to the throne (thus confirming that the first closing formula in 2 Kings 13:12-13 is deliberate).

It is clear from all this that the author has done all this deliberately:

· Firstly because he wanted to continue following his previous pattern of closing off one reign before he opened up another (thus 2 Kings 13:12-13).

· Secondly because as with the taking of Elijah and the confirmatory call of Elisha in chapter 2, which was also placed outside the pattern of regnal formulae, he similarly wanted to put the record of Elisha’s death and its consequences to be outside the pattern of regnal formulae so as to highlight it and separate it off from the history of the kings. Both episodes were seen as in some way other worldly. (Both Elisha episodes include reference to the chariots and horsemen of Israel, giving them a clear heavenly connection).

· Thirdly because he nevertheless recognised at the same time that all that followed did also require to be closed off with a (parallel) closing formula about Jehoash, he introduced a further closing formula in 2 Kings 14:15-16, but in such a way that it was outside the regular pattern (it comes within the opening and closing formulae of Amaziah) and by making it teach a lesson about the reign of Amaziah. The whole section is actually very carefully thought out.