מלכים ב, פרק י״ב, פסוק ב׳

Jehoash took the throne following a dark period in the kingdom's history. His rise to power occurred exactly seven years after Jehu killed his father, Ahaziah, during Jehu's own takeover. For the majority of those seven intervening years, the nation was under the control of Athaliah, the grandmother of Jehoash, who had seized power for herself.

The primary approach among commentators clarifies the exact timeline of these events. Athaliah took control of the monarchy during the second year of Jehu's reign. Her rule lasted until she was put to death during Jehu's sixth year in power. Immediately following her removal, at the very beginning of Jehu's seventh year, Jehoash was officially crowned king. He went on to govern from Jerusalem for forty years. His family background is also noted, recording that his mother was Zibiah, originally from the city of Beersheba.