In the thirty and seventh year of Joash king of Judah began Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years.

2 KINGS 13:10KJV
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2 Kings 13:10 (KJV)

What does 2 Kings 13:10 mean?

2 Kings 13:10 marks the beginning of Jehoash’s reign as king over Israel in Samaria, stating that he became king in the thirty-seventh year of Joash, the king of Judah, and that he ruled for sixteen years. This verse sets a historical timeline, showing the overlap of two kings’ reigns in the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

The book of 2 Kings is recording the succession of kings in both Israel (the northern kingdom) and Judah (the southern kingdom). Here, the writer notes when Jehoash (also called Joash) son of Jehoahaz began to rule in Israel, using the reign of Joash of Judah as a reference point. This helps readers track the sequence of events and rulers during a complex period in Israel’s history.

The Hebrew behind 2 Kings 13:10

  • יְהוֹאָשׁ (Yehoash): This is the Hebrew name for Jehoash, the king of Israel mentioned here. The same name can also be spelled Joash, which sometimes causes confusion since there is also a Joash ruling in Judah at the same time.
  • שָׁלוֹשִׁים (sheloshim, H7970) and שֶׁבַע (sheva, H7651): These are the Hebrew words for "thirty" and "seven," used together to specify the thirty-seventh year. The Hebrew text is careful to give precise chronological markers, which was important for ancient record-keeping.
  • שָׁמוֹן עֶשְׂרֵה (shesh-esreh, H8337, H6240): This phrase means "sixteen," describing the length of Jehoash’s reign. The use of exact numbers emphasizes the historical nature of the record.

Why 2 Kings 13:10 matters

  • This verse helps clear up confusion between two kings with similar names—Joash of Judah and Jehoash (Joash) of Israel—by giving exact timing and family details.
  • The verse shows how the biblical writers tracked the reigns of kings in Israel and Judah side by side, which helps modern readers understand the timeline of events in the divided kingdom period.
  • By noting Jehoash’s sixteen-year reign, the verse sets up the context for the events and challenges that will be described in the following passages about his rule.

Where else these words appear

“Jehoash” Hebrew H3060 · used in 16 verses

  • 2 Kings 11:21 Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign.
  • 2 Kings 12:7 Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the other priests, and said unto them, Why repair ye not the breaches of the house? now therefore receive no more money of your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house.
  • 2 Kings 14:11 But Amaziah would not hear. Therefore Jehoash king of Israel went up; and he and Amaziah king of Judah looked one another in the face at Bethshemesh, which belongeth to Judah.

“Jehoahaz” Hebrew H3059 · used in 19 verses

  • 2 Kings 10:35 And Jehu slept with his fathers: and they buried him in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son reigned in his stead.
  • 2 Kings 13:22 But Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz.
  • 2 Kings 23:34 And Pharaohnechoh made Eliakim the son of Josiah king in the room of Josiah his father, and turned his name to Jehoiakim, and took Jehoahaz away: and he came to Egypt, and died there.

“Joash” Hebrew H3101 · used in 41 verses

  • Judges 6:11 And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.
  • 2 Kings 13:9 And Jehoahaz slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria: and Joash his son reigned in his stead.
  • 2 Chronicles 18:25 Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's son;

“Samaria” Hebrew H8111 · used in 101 verses

  • 1 Kings 13:32 For the saying which he cried by the word of the LORD against the altar in Bethel, and against all the houses of the high places which are in the cities of Samaria, shall surely come to pass.
  • 2 Kings 10:36 And the time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty and eight years.
  • 2 Chronicles 28:9 But a prophet of the LORD was there, whose name was Oded: and he went out before the host that came to Samaria, and said unto them, Behold, because the LORD God of your fathers was wroth with Judah, he hath delivered them into your hand, and ye have slain them in a rage that reacheth up unto heaven.