Jeroboam II's reign of 41 years was the longest in Israel's history (793-753 B.C.). For the first 12 of these years he was coregent with his father Jehoash.89He began ruling during the reign of Judah's Jehoash, outlived his successor Amaziah, and died during the reign of his son Azariah (Uzziah).
The writer whose interests were primarily theological passed over Jeroboam II's significant political accomplishments.
"The era of Jeroboam (northern kingdom) and Azariah (southern kingdom) would mark a significant change in the fortunes of God's people. These would be days of unparalleled prosperity for the twin kingdoms, both economically (as attested by the Samarian Ostraca) and politically."90
Jeroboam II restored Israel's borders to approximately what they had been in Solomon's day and extended Israel's influence over her neighbors to an extent unparalleled in the history of the Northern Kingdom. Hamath was northeast of Israel, and the Sea of the Arabah was the Salt (Dead) Sea (v. 25). Jonah had prophesied Israel's territorial extension. He along with Hosea (Hosea 1:1) and Amos (Amos 1:1) ministered in Israel during Jeroboam II's reign.91Gath-hepher and Nazareth stood on the north and south sides respectively of the same Galilean hill (v. 25).
Verse 26 means no one escaped from Israel's national affliction in Jeroboam II's day, neither servants nor free people. Damascus and Hamath belonged to Judah under Solomon (v. 28) in the sense that he controlled them.
Even though Jeroboam had a long and politically impressive career, spiritual conditions in his day were bad. The books of Hosea and Amos throw more light on this period of Israel's history. Unfaithfulness and selfishness marked the people. For these reasons Yahweh sent very bitter affliction on Israel in Jeroboam II's reign.
As Israel declined spiritually, God strengthened Assyria politically and militarily. The two periods of Israel's greatest decline correspond exactly to the two periods of Assyria's greatest growth, namely, during the Omride dynasty and shortly after Jeroboam II's reign. This is precisely what God had said He would do if His people forsook Him (Deut. 28:1, 25, 43, 44, 49-57). One writer correlated Assyria's rise to power with Israel's apostasy.92The cause and effect relationship is unmistakable.
