Jehoahaz reigned over the Northern Kingdom from 814-798 B.C. Because Israel continued to disregard the Mosaic Covenant God allowed the Arameans to dominate her. Hazael ruled Aram from 841-801 B.C. and his son, Ben-Hadad III, succeeded him. The date Ben-Hadad III's reign ended seems to have been about 773 B.C.79
Aram's oppression moved Jehoahaz to seek Yahweh's help that He graciously provided in spite of the king's unfaithfulness. The deliverer God raised up (v. 5) was probably King Adad-Nirari III of Assyria (810-783 B.C.) who attacked Damascus as well as Tyre, Sidon, Media, Edom, and Egypt.80The Arameans consequently stopped attacking Israel and turned to defending themselves against their neighbor to the east. Another way God disciplined Israel at this time was by reducing her army through casualties (v. 7). This had begun in Jehu's reign (10:32-36) but continued during Jehoahaz's administration.
