Changes

Jehoahaz never once made any effort to turn his kingdom away from the false religion that [[Jeroboam I]] had set up--or from the worship of [[Asherah]], in that the people of [[Samaria]] still kept an Asherah pole in a [[high place]] in or near that city.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=13|verses=2,6}}</ref>

Jehoahaz never once made any effort to turn his kingdom away from the false religion that [[Jeroboam I]] had set up--or from the worship of [[Asherah]], in that the people of [[Samaria]] still kept an Asherah pole in a [[high place]] in or near that city.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=13|verses=2,6}}</ref>

The result was the most severe military disaster that [[God]] had yet visited upon the Northern Kingdom.<ref name=GeoCities>Authors unknown. "[http://www.geocities.com/thekingsofisrael/biography_JehoahazOfIsrael.html King Jehoahaz of Israel - Biography]." ''The Kings of Israel'', hosted at http://www.geocities.com/ Retrieved June 10, 2007.</ref> The [[Syria]]ns, under the command of King [[Hazael]] and his son (and probably viceroy) [[Benhadad II]], conducted a series of devastating raids on that kingdom.</ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=13|verses=3}} In those raids they captured many Israelite cities, and left Jehoahaz with a tiny remnant of an army consisting of 50 cavalrymen, 10 chariots, and 10,000 infantrymen.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=13|verses=7}}</ref>

The result was the most severe military disaster that [[God]] had yet visited upon the Northern Kingdom.<ref name=GeoCities>Authors unknown. "[http://www.geocities.com/thekingsofisrael/biography_JehoahazOfIsrael.html King Jehoahaz of Israel - Biography]." ''The Kings of Israel'', hosted at http://www.geocities.com/ Retrieved June 10, 2007.</ref> The [[Syria]]ns, under the command of King [[Hazael]] and his son (and probably viceroy) [[Benhadad II]], conducted a series of devastating raids on that kingdom.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=13|verses=3}}</ref> In those raids they captured many Israelite cities, and left Jehoahaz with a tiny remnant of an army consisting of 50 cavalrymen, 10 chariots, and 10,000 infantrymen.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=13|verses=7}}</ref>

In desperation, Jehoahaz actually prayed to [[God]], and God did send help. The Bible says only that God sent "a savior" and does not specify what sort of savior that was.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=13|verses=4-5}}</ref><ref name=GeoCities/>

In desperation, Jehoahaz actually prayed to [[God]], and God did send help. The Bible says only that God sent "a savior" and does not specify what sort of savior that was.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=13|verses=4-5}}</ref><ref name=GeoCities/>