### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Yôwʼâchâz**, represented by `{{H3099}}`, is a proper name used for at least two Israelites, rendered as Jehoahaz or Joahaz. It appears **4 times** across **4 unique verses** in the Bible. The name is a form of יְהוֹאָחָז.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The name **Yôwʼâchâz** `{{H3099}}` is connected to significant figures during the monarchical period of Israel and Judah. One individual named Jehoahaz was a king of Judah who was twenty-three years old when he began to reign, but his rule lasted only three months in Jerusalem [[2 Chronicles 36:2]]. His short reign ended when Necho, the king of Egypt, took him captive to Egypt and made his brother Eliakim king in his place [[2 Chronicles 36:4]]. The name also identifies Jehoahaz as the king of Israel and father of King Joash [[2 Kings 14:1]]. In a non-royal context, a man named Joahaz was the father of Joah, who served as the recorder tasked with helping to repair the house of the LORD [[2 Chronicles 34:8]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help contextualize the narratives involving **Yôwʼâchâz**:
* `{{H4428}}` **melek** (king): This word is fundamental to the identity of Jehoahaz, who is explicitly named as **king** of both Israel and Judah in different contexts ([[2 Kings 14:1]], [[2 Chronicles 36:4]]).
* `{{H4427}}` **mâlak** (to reign): This verb describes the act of ruling, a central theme in the accounts of Jehoahaz, specifying the start and brief duration of his time as king [[2 Chronicles 36:2]].
* `{{H251}}` **ʼâch** (brother): This term defines the relationship between King Jehoahaz of Judah and Eliakim, whom Necho installed as the new king [[2 Chronicles 36:4]].
* `{{H2142}}` **zâkar** (to remember; recorder): This word describes the official role of the son of Joahaz, who was the **recorder** sent to repair the temple [[2 Chronicles 34:8]].
### Theological Significance
The accounts of **Yôwʼâchâz** carry significant narrative weight, particularly concerning the decline of the kingdom of Judah.
* **Brief and Tragic Reign:** The story of King Jehoahaz of Judah highlights a period of intense instability. His reign of only three **months** `{{H2320}}` before being deposed illustrates the rapid decline of Judah's sovereignty [[2 Chronicles 36:2]].
* **Foreign Domination:** His capture by **Necho** `{{H5224}}` king of **Egypt** `{{H4714}}` demonstrates the immense power foreign empires held over Judah in its final years, controlling its leadership and destiny [[2 Chronicles 36:4]].
* **Royal Lineage:** The name is embedded in the royal genealogies of both the northern and southern kingdoms, connecting the history of **Israel** `{{H3478}}` and **Judah** `{{H3063}}` through its kings [[2 Kings 14:1]].
### Summary
In summary, **Yôwʼâchâz** `{{H3099}}` is the name of key individuals, most notably a king of Judah whose fleeting reign and subsequent captivity serve as a stark marker of his nation's vulnerability. The name is intrinsically linked to the themes of kingship, political upheaval, and the encroaching foreign powers that would ultimately lead to the end of the monarchy in Jerusalem.
TRV