Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 13
In his mercy, his great kindness, God rescued Israel’s people in answer to the prayers of their king, Jehoahaz. Although they did not leave their false and wrong religions, God still chose to save them from their enemy, the army of Aram. They should of course have turned from those religions to the true God – but they did not.
There were two main religions that people followed in northern and central Israel at this time. The official religion, and the king’s religion, was the religion that Jeroboam established. We have discussed this religion in our study of verses 1 to 3.
The other popular religion was the religion of the female false god called Asherah. The people who followed this religion, considered Asherah to be the wife of the false god Baal. Probably, it was mostly the women who prayed to Asherah. They put up wooden poles and they planted trees in her honour. They believed that she would give them large families, good harvests, and an increase of animals on their farms.
Jehu, the father of Jehoahaz, had fiercely opposed the religion of Baal (10:18-28). However, it seems that he did not oppose the religion of Asherah. So, the religion of Asherah continued even after he had completely destroyed the religion of Baal.
Next part: The weakness of Israel's army (2 Kings 13:7)
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© 2025, Keith Simons.