Jehoahaz

Jehoahaz inherits the throne from his father Jehu, carrying forward a dynasty that God promised would last four generations — and inheriting a kingdom already diminished by the consequences of Jehu's compromised reign.

Jehoahaz is introduced as the newest link in Israel's chain of bad kings — his seventeen-year reign begins with the familiar verdict that he walked in Jeroboam's sins and never turned away.

Jehoahaz is chosen by the people of Judah to succeed his father Josiah, but his reign lasts only three months before Pharaoh Neco deposes him, exiles him to Egypt, and installs a replacement — making him the first of four kings to fall in rapid succession.

Jehoahaz is identified as the first cub — the young lion who learned to hunt but was trapped and hauled to Egypt after only three months on the throne, becoming the opening tragedy in the dynasty's unraveling.

Jehoahaz is named here as the alternate identity of Shallum, clarifying who God is condemning — the king who took the throne after Josiah and was quickly carried off to die in Egyptian captivity.