2 Kings 13:11

KJV

And he did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin: [but] he walked therein.

KJV (with Strong's)

And he did {H6213} that which was evil {H7451} in the sight {H5869} of the LORD {H3068}; he departed {H5493} not from all the sins {H2403} of Jeroboam {H3379} the son {H1121} of Nebat {H5028}, who made Israel {H3478} sin {H2398}: but he walked {H1980} therein.

Complete Jewish Bible

He did what was evil from ADONAI's perspective and did not turn from all the sins of Yarov'am the son of N'vat, who made Isra'el sin; on the contrary, he lived in this sinful way.

Berean Standard Bible

And he did evil in the sight of the LORD and did not turn away from all the sins that Jeroboam son of Nebat had caused Israel to commit, but he walked in them.

American Standard Version

And he did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah; he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, wherewith he made Israel to sin; but he walked therein.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
2 Kings 13:11 offers a stark spiritual evaluation of King Jehoahaz of Israel, condemning his reign as "evil in the sight of the LORD." This assessment highlights his failure to deviate from the deeply entrenched idolatry established by Jeroboam, the first king of the Northern Kingdom. The verse underscores the pervasive nature of sin and its generational legacy within Israel's monarchy, portraying Jehoahaz as yet another ruler who perpetuated the spiritual rebellion that consistently alienated the nation from its covenant God.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** 2 Kings 13 opens with the reign of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu, over Israel (2 Kings 13:1). Following the general pattern of the book of Kings, the author immediately provides a spiritual assessment of the new king, setting the tone for his seventeen-year rule. While verse 11 explicitly condemns his adherence to Jeroboam's sins, the preceding verses (2 Kings 13:2-7) offer a nuanced picture, detailing the oppression Israel faced from Aram due to their sin, and remarkably, God's compassionate response to Jehoahaz's plea for help (2 Kings 13:4-5). This suggests that while Jehoahaz did not fundamentally abandon the national idolatry, he did, at times, turn to the LORD in distress, demonstrating God's mercy even amidst persistent disobedience. The subsequent verses (2 Kings 13:12-13) conclude Jehoahaz's reign and introduce his successor, Joash, maintaining the chronological and evaluative framework characteristic of the Deuteronomistic History.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** King Jehoahaz ruled Israel during a period of significant political and military weakness, largely at the hands of the Arameans (Syrians) under Hazael and Ben-Hadad (2 Kings 13:3, 7). This external pressure was understood by the biblical writers as divine judgment for Israel's pervasive idolatry. The "sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat" refer specifically to the establishment of golden calves at Bethel and Dan by Jeroboam I (1 Kings 12:25-33). This act was a politically motivated attempt to prevent Israelite pilgrimage to Jerusalem, thereby solidifying his kingdom's independence from Judah. However, it constituted a grave violation of the Mosaic Covenant's prohibition against idolatry (Exodus 20:3-5) and led the entire nation into false worship. By Jehoahaz's time, this idolatry was not merely a political convenience but a deeply ingrained cultural and religious practice, making it exceedingly difficult for any king to dismantle without significant popular and priestly opposition.

* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the books of Kings. Firstly, it reiterates the theme of **covenant faithfulness and apostasy**, consistently evaluating kings based on their adherence to the LORD's commands. Jehoahaz's failure to depart from Jeroboam's sins highlights Israel's chronic spiritual unfaithfulness. Secondly, it underscores the **destructive legacy of sin**, demonstrating how the idolatry initiated by Jeroboam continued to corrupt subsequent generations of leadership and society, leading to national decline and divine judgment. This persistent rebellion ultimately culminated in Israel's exile, as detailed in [2 Kings 17:7-18](/2_kings/17-7 "2 Kings 17:7-18 - Reasons for Israel's Exile"). Thirdly, the phrase "in the sight of the LORD" emphasizes the theme of **divine oversight and judgment**. God is not a passive observer but an active judge who holds kings and nations accountable for their spiritual choices, measuring their actions against His righteous standards, which are clearly articulated in the Mosaic Law (e.g., [Deuteronomy 28](/deuteronomy/28 "Deuteronomy 28 - Blessings and Curses")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **evil (Hebrew, _ra'_):** This term, frequently used in the books of Kings, denotes a fundamental moral and spiritual failing, signifying actions contrary to God's revealed will and covenant. In the context of Israelite kings, it primarily refers to idolatry and the failure to uphold the exclusive worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel. It is an objective assessment from a divine perspective, not merely a subjective human judgment.
* **departed not (Hebrew, לֹא סָר, _lo' sar'_):** This phrase signifies a stubborn, unyielding adherence. It implies a lack of repentance, a refusal to turn away from established patterns of sin, and a continuation of the spiritual rebellion initiated by Jeroboam. It highlights Jehoahaz's active choice to remain within the framework of idolatry, despite the consequences.
* **sins of Jeroboam (Hebrew, חַטֹּאות יָרָבְעָם, _chaṭṭō'wt Yārāḇəʿām'_):** This specific phrase is a theological shorthand for the state-sponsored idolatry of the golden calves at Bethel and Dan (1 Kings 12:25-33). It represents the foundational spiritual rebellion of the Northern Kingdom, a systemic deviation from the covenant that became the benchmark for evaluating subsequent kings of Israel.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD;":** This opening clause delivers the standard theological verdict on Jehoahaz's reign. His actions and policies were fundamentally contrary to God's righteous standards and His covenant demands. The phrase "in the sight of the LORD" emphasizes that this is God's unwavering judgment, not a human opinion.
* **"he departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat,":** This specifies the nature of Jehoahaz's evil: his refusal to abandon the idolatrous practices introduced by Jeroboam I. This indicates a continuation of the systemic spiritual corruption that plagued the Northern Kingdom, highlighting the deep entrenchment of false worship.
* **"who made Israel sin:":** This parenthetical clause serves as a crucial reminder of Jeroboam's culpability as the originator of this national apostasy. It underscores the profound and lasting negative influence of ungodly leadership, emphasizing that Jeroboam's actions led the entire nation into spiritual rebellion against Yahweh.
* **"[but] he walked therein.":** This concluding phrase reinforces Jehoahaz's active participation and continued adherence to Jeroboam's idolatry. It signifies his personal commitment to these sinful practices, despite the divine displeasure and national suffering they incurred. It is a definitive statement of his unrepentant spiritual trajectory.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Formulaic Indictment** is prominent, as the phrase "did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD" is a recurring, standardized judgment used throughout the books of Kings to assess the spiritual failures of Israelite and Judahite monarchs. This repetition creates a consistent theological framework for evaluating leadership. The phrase "sins of Jeroboam" functions as a powerful **Metonymy**, where the name of the originator of the sin stands in for the specific idolatrous practices themselves (the golden calves). This metonymy effectively encapsulates the entire history of Israel's apostasy from the time of the divided kingdom. Furthermore, the verse implicitly uses **Foreshadowing**, as the persistent disobedience described here contributes to the inevitable downfall and exile of the Northern Kingdom, a consequence repeatedly warned against in the Deuteronomistic theology that underpins the book of Kings.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
2 Kings 13:11 powerfully illustrates the enduring biblical themes of covenant fidelity, the nature of sin, and divine justice. The repeated phrase "sins of Jeroboam" serves as a stark reminder of the foundational covenant violation at the heart of Israel's history—the worship of other gods. This verse demonstrates that sin is not merely an isolated act but can become a deeply entrenched, generational pattern, leading to systemic spiritual decay. Despite God's occasional mercy (as seen in Jehoahaz's reign), consistent rebellion against His revealed will inevitably brings about severe consequences. The verse underscores God's unwavering standard of righteousness and His active role in judging human actions, holding leaders and nations accountable for their spiritual choices.

* [Deuteronomy 12:29-32](/deuteronomy/12-29 "Deuteronomy 12:29-32 - Warnings Against Idolatry")
* [1 Kings 12:28-30](/1_kings/12-28 "1 Kings 12:28-30 - Jeroboam's Golden Calves")
* [Romans 6:23](/romans/6-23 "Romans 6:23 - The Wages of Sin")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The spiritual assessment of King Jehoahaz in 2 Kings 13:11 offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. His failure to depart from the "sins of Jeroboam" highlights the insidious power of inherited or culturally normalized sin. It challenges us to examine our own lives and communities for patterns of disobedience—whether personal habits, family traditions, or societal norms—that contradict God's Word. While the verse describes a cycle of spiritual failure, it implicitly calls us to break such cycles through conscious repentance and a renewed commitment to God's truth. Leaders, in particular, are reminded of their immense spiritual responsibility; their choices can establish legacies of righteousness or rebellion that impact generations. Ultimately, this verse serves as a sober reminder that God's standards of holiness and righteousness are unchanging, and true spiritual well-being, for individuals and nations, is found only in faithful adherence to His will.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "sins of Jeroboam"—inherited patterns of disobedience or cultural norms that contradict God's Word—do I need to identify and depart from in my own life?**
* **How does my leadership (in family, work, or community) either perpetuate or challenge ungodly patterns?**
* **In what ways am I tempted to compromise God's unchanging standards for personal convenience or societal acceptance?**

### FAQ
**What was the significance of "the sins of Jeroboam" and why are they so frequently mentioned in the book of Kings?**

Answer: "The sins of Jeroboam" refer specifically to the establishment of two golden calves as alternative worship centers in Bethel and Dan by Jeroboam I, the first king of the Northern Kingdom of Israel (see [1 Kings 12:25-33](/1_kings/12-25 "1 Kings 12:25-33 - Jeroboam's Idolatry")). This act was politically motivated, designed to prevent his subjects from going to Jerusalem to worship, thereby solidifying his kingdom's independence from Judah. However, it constituted a direct and egregious violation of the first two commandments of the Mosaic Law, which prohibited the worship of other gods and the making of idols (see [Exodus 20:3-5](/exodus/20-3 "Exodus 20:3-5 - The First Two Commandments")). The phrase is frequently mentioned in Kings because it became the defining spiritual apostasy of the Northern Kingdom. It represented a fundamental rejection of the covenant with Yahweh and the establishment of state-sponsored idolatry that permeated Israelite society for centuries. Every subsequent king of Israel was evaluated against this benchmark, and nearly all were condemned for perpetuating these sins, highlighting the deep-seated spiritual corruption that ultimately led to Israel's downfall and exile (see [2 Kings 17:7-18](/2_kings/17-7 "2 Kings 17:7-18 - Reasons for Israel's Exile")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The persistent failure of kings like Jehoahaz, who "departed not from all the sins of Jeroboam," powerfully underscores humanity's inherent inability to perfectly obey God's law and our desperate need for a righteous King. The Old Testament narrative, particularly in Kings, reveals a repeating cycle of sin, judgment, and temporary reprieve, always pointing to the inadequacy of human leadership and the brokenness of the covenant under the law. This brokenness finds its ultimate resolution in Jesus Christ. Unlike Jehoahaz, Jesus is the true King of Israel who did not "do evil in the sight of the LORD"; rather, He perfectly fulfilled all righteousness and never departed from the Father's will (see [John 8:29](/john/8-29 "John 8:29 - Jesus Always Does What Pleases the Father")). He did not "make Israel sin" but came to take away the sin of the world (see [John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). Through His perfect obedience, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection, Jesus inaugurated a new covenant, offering forgiveness and transformation that no Old Testament king could provide (see [Hebrews 8:6-13](/hebrews/8-6 "Hebrews 8:6-13 - A Superior Covenant")). In Christ, believers are empowered by the Holy Spirit to genuinely "depart from sin" and "walk in newness of life," fulfilling what was impossible under the old covenant (see [Romans 6:4](/romans/6-4 "Romans 6:4 - Newness of Life")). He is the King who truly saves His people from their sins, bringing about the spiritual renewal and ultimate restoration that eluded Jehoahaz and all the kings of Israel.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Kings 13:2

And he did [that which was] evil in the sight of the LORD, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.

2 Kings 10:29

¶ Howbeit [from] the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin, Jehu departed not from after them, [to wit], the golden calves that [were] in Bethel, and that [were] in Dan.

2 Kings 13:6

Nevertheless they departed not from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who made Israel sin, [but] walked therein: and there remained the grove also in Samaria.)

2 Kings 3:3

Nevertheless he cleaved unto the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, which made Israel to sin; he departed not therefrom.