Verses 12-13 are repeated in 2 Kgs 14.15-16. Some scholars think that verses 12-13 are out of place here since other stories about King Jehoash follow in verses 14-25. In any case, these verses are clearly part of the Hebrew text and should be translated. It is helpful to treat verses 12-13 as one paragraph (so Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch).

The formula used here is quite similar to verse 8 (see the comments there). But in this verse additional information is included. The words the might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah describe an important and distinctive feature of the reign of Jehoash over Israel, which is further mentioned in 2 Kgs 14.8-14. The Hebrew word translated might refers not so much to Jehoash’s physical strength as to his boldness or “valor” (New American Bible) in confronting the enemy (see the comments at 1 Kgs 16.5). Hobbs translates this “his great military exploits in his war with Amaziah king of Judah.”

Note that Good News Translation uses “Jehoash,” the longer form of the name Joash, in order to distinguish him from his counterpart in the southern kingdom (see the comments on verse 9).

Quoted with permission from Omanson, Roger L. and Ellington, John E. A Handbook on 1-2 Kings, Volume 2. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 2008. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .