⁴ Then Jehoahaz sought the Lord’s favor, and the Lord heard him, for he saw the oppression the king of Aram inflicted on Israel.^(A)

⁵ Therefore, the Lord gave Israel a deliverer,^(A) and they escaped from the power of the Arameans. Then the people of Israel returned to their former way of life,^[a]

²³ but the Lord was gracious to them, had compassion on them,^(A) and turned toward them because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.^(B) He was not willing to destroy them. Even now he has not banished them from his presence.^(C)