Bible Strands
2 Kings 13:10
In the thirty-seventh year of the reign of Joash over Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records the chronological transition of royal power in the divided kingdom, noting that Jehoash son of Jehoahaz succeeded his father as king over Israel in Samaria following Jehoahaz’s death. This regnal data anchors the narrative within the broader timeline of Judah’s Joash.
The words — The phrase בִּשְׁנַת שְׁלֹשִׁים וָשֶׁבַע (bi-shnat sh-loshim va-sheva) literally renders “in the year thirty and seven,” establishing a synchronistic dating method that cross-references the Israelite and Judahite monarchies.
The thread — This synchronistic formula appears repeatedly in the books of Kings to coordinate the reigns of Judah’s kings with those of Israel (1 Kings 15:1; 2 Kings 8:16; 2 Kings 15:1).
Why it lands — The verse demands precise historical tracking of royal successions to frame the spiritual decline that follows immediately in the next verse. Readers must recognize that political continuity does not guarantee covenant fidelity.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
In the thirty and seventh year of Joash king of Judah began Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz to reign over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years.