And Jehoahaz besought the Lord, and the Lord hearkened unto
him
He did not apply in his distress to the calves he worshipped, but to the Lord; who had a regard to his prayer, not for his sake, or any righteousness of his, or even his repentance and humiliation, which were only external; but for the sake of Israel, and because they were oppressed, who were his people, and he their God, though they had sadly departed from him:
for he saw the oppression of Israel;
not only with his eye of omniscience, but with an eye of mercy and compassion:
because the king of Syria oppressed them;
by his incursions upon them, and wars with them.