מלכים ב, פרק י״ג, פסוק ב׳

Jehoahaz, the king of Israel, continues the destructive path set by those who ruled before him. Instead of changing course, he chooses to hold tightly to the idolatry that had taken deep root within the kingdom. He follows the specific practices initiated by Jeroboam, which refers to the ongoing worship of the golden calves. These idols, originally placed in the cities of Bethel and Dan, were the very source of the Israelites' spiritual downfall [אברבנאל].

The evil committed during this time is not merely the personal failure of the current king. Rather, it represents a long, unbroken historical chain of wrongdoing. Because Jehoahaz is a wicked king and the son of a wicked king, his actions trigger the divine principle of holding children accountable for the sins of their fathers.

Because the nation clings so stubbornly to these offenses, God's anger is stirred against the Israelites, bringing about their punishment [מלבי״ם]. As a direct result of their actions, God hands the nation over to the control of Hazael and his son Ben-hadad [אברבנאל].