מלכים ב, פרק י״ג, פסוק ה׳

After a long period of suffering and intense pressure, the Israelites finally experience a major turning point. The heavy burden of foreign rule is lifted from their shoulders, allowing them to return to a life of safety and security in their own homes. This dramatic change is made possible because God appoints a special savior to rescue His people.

The primary approach among commentators is that this savior is Joash, the son of King Jehoahaz [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, חומת אנך]. Throughout the entire reign of Jehoahaz, the king of Aram severely oppressed the Israelites. The process of salvation only began near the very end of Jehoahaz's life, when his son Joash took over the leadership and successfully defended the nation [רד״ק, מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם, חומת אנך]. This is supported by a later promise made to Joash that he would strike Aram three times [רש״י].

A different perspective suggests that the rescue came through an external political shift rather than a direct Israelite leader. According to this view, the salvation of the Israelites was actually brought about by the Assyrians. As the Assyrian empire grew in strength, it weakened the kingdom of Aram, which naturally removed the intense pressure from the Israelites [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Regardless of how the rescue unfolded, the result was a total restoration of peace. The people were able to return to their normal, quiet routines, dwelling securely in their tents just as they had done in times past, long before the Aramean oppression ever began [מצודת ציון].