The greatest monarch of the Jehu dynasty, Jeroboam II, was the son of Joash, king of Israel. Jeroboam II was an 8th-century King of Israel and a remarkable figure in biblical history. He was the son of Jehoash and succeeded his father to the throne in 786 BCE.
During his 41-year reign, Jeroboam II expanded Israel’s boundaries to the most significant extent since the days of King Solomon. It also brought peace and prosperity, earning him a place in the Old Testament.
He achieved this success through several diplomatic and military strategies. He negotiated with the Assyrians to establish peace on the eastern border while leading successful campaigns against Damascus in the north, Edom in the south, and Ammon in the east. The king even sent an expedition to the Mediterranean Sea, a remarkable accomplishment.
Though his reign was far from perfect, Jeroboam II was a remarkable leader who managed to bring peace and prosperity to the kingdom of Israel. His accomplishments earned him a place in the biblical record, and his legacy will be remembered for generations.
The History of Jeroboam II
The final two years of Jeroboam II’s father’s reign. Which are included in the 41 years of rule attributed to Jeroboam II. Appear to be when his father assisted him in the kingdom. His father most likely gave him command of the Israelite army during their battles with *Aram-Damascus during those two years.
Jeroboam II could retake for Israel the territories taken from her near the end of Jehu’s and Jehoahaz’s reigns and establish dominance over non-Israelite territories.
It had likely fallen under Aram’s control shortly before Solomon’s demise. Because of the waning Aram power in Damascus during the campaigns of King Adad-Nirari III and King Shalmane.
Long, Successful Reign of Jeroboam II
Israel experienced one of its most contented periods of political and economic stability under Jeroboam II. The prophet Jonah had anointed Jehu, Jeroboam’s great-grandfather. He was still alive and foretold that the new king would rule for many prosperous years. Jeroboam II was a competent leader, it is true.
Every piece of land ever lost by his forebears was recovered during his forty years as king of Israel. He overthrew the king of Moab and occupied some of modern-day Syria, including the capital city of Damascus. Initially, Jeroboam continued his father’s strict rule over his neighbor, the king of Judah; he also held members of the Judah royal family as hostages.
He later understood, however, that friendship and cooperation between the two connected kingdoms was a much stronger guarantee for their survival in trying times than force and hostility.
Not only assist in repairing some of the harm his father had caused to Judah. But he also gave the king of Judah a portion of the land he had seized from Syria.
The Economic Boom of the Jeroboam II period
Economic success followed the joyful political climate under Jeroboam II, which was reflected in the populace’s extraordinarily wealthy and opulent lifestyle. The finest merchants and navigators of the time, the Phoenicians, with whom Israel had cordial connections, brought extraordinary goods of beauty and luxury into Israel.
However, this remarkable affluence was accompanied by a moral collapse that had never before occurred. Wealth and power were in control during this corrupt era.
During this time, Israel saw the emergence of renowned prophets who lamented the evil of the populace and pleaded for a return to the Torah’s moral and righteous standards. The public, however, followed their path. The nation was overrun by idolatry.
The populace constructed numerous mountain altars to worship Baal and Astarte. They even offered their young ones as sacrifices to the abhorrent Moloch cult. They disdained the Torah’s teachings and the holy rules.
The war and the actions of a mighty King
In line with the command of YHWH, the god of Israel, Jeroboam “restored the border of Israel from Lebo-Hamath until the sea of the Arabah [i.e., the Dead Sea]… YHWH… delivered [Israel] via Jeroboam the son of Joash,” according to biblical tradition regarding his fight against Aram-Damascus (II Kings 14:25–27).
Jeroboam would have needed Assyrian consent to expand to Hamath in central Syria (Cogan and Tadmor, 163.) His successes restored the boundaries given to *Solomon. (It’s hardly inconceivable that the extravagant claims made for Solomon were motivated by Jeroboam’s successes.) These wars of expansion most likely occurred in Jeroboam’s early and middle years of rule (Cogan and Tadmor, 164).
One view held that there were unruly interactions between Jeroboam and his fellow neighbors. There is no proof that the tense relations with Tyre, which worsened after Jehu ended the Omri dynasty’s rebellion against the Tyrean rulers through marriage, ever improved. Additionally, there needed to be economic motivation for Tyre and Israel to reestablish their ties (see Ahab, Jehoshaphat, and Solomon).
Additionally, ties between Israel and Judah have been complicated since Joash triumphed over King Amaziah of Judah on the battlefield and the subsequent demolition of a portion of Jerusalem’s walls. Judah became stronger during Uzziah’s rule, particularly during Jotham’s reign.
You can also read: Why Do We Need to Know About Barak In the Bible?
The Real Reason, The Nation Of Israel, was splitted
Aram and Judah wanted to split up Israel, and they likely inspired Pekah to do it. Others contend that there was peace between Israel and Judah, which led to Judah’s prosperity and the emergence of its political and military significance.
Some claim that the combined census conducted on the land east of the Jordan can further attest to the two kingdoms’ extensive cooperation (I Chron. 5:17).
But even if it is not historically impossible, the Chronicles text is questionable in terms of timing (Japhet, 137–38). It appears that as influence extended across these vast domains, the indicators of affluence grew.
Jeroboam II: Biblical King
According to the information provided in the Bible, Jeroboam II appears to have been a skillful leader and commander who was able to bring the kingdom of Israel to its final high point before its demise.
That these forecasts have yet to be recorded is regrettable. At Megiddo, a stamped seal with a lion and the words “Property of Shema, servant of Jeroboam” were discovered (Cogan and Tadmor, pl. 12a).
