Who was King Joash, and what good did he do at first?

Joash became king of Judah when he was only seven years old. While the priest Jehoiada was alive to guide him, Joash did what was right in God’s eyes. One of the main good works he led was repairing the temple, which had been damaged and robbed during the time of Athaliah. He called the priests and Levites to collect money, set up a chest for offerings at the temple gate, and used the funds honestly to hire workers. Under his rule at that time, the temple was restored and worship went on regularly.

Why did Joash want to repair the house of the Lord?

Joash saw that the temple was in bad shape because it had been broken up and stripped by the family of Athaliah, who had served idols. He understood that God’s house should not lie in ruins, especially since there was already a command from Moses for God’s people to support it. So he called the priests and Levites to gather money from all Judah and Israel. When the first plan was slow, he ordered a chest to be set up so people could gladly bring their offerings. This showed concern for God’s worship and for using money for the right purpose.

What is the significance of the offering chest placed at the temple gate?

The chest was a simple but wise idea. The earlier plan of the Levites going around to collect money had not worked well. By putting a chest at the gate of the temple and making a clear call to give, everyone could see exactly where their offerings went. The people and leaders were glad to give and filled the chest again and again. The money was then carefully counted by the king’s scribe and the high priest’s officer and paid straight to the workers. This shows how clear, honest handling of money can encourage God’s people to support His work.

Who was Jehoiada, and why was he buried among the kings?

Jehoiada was the high priest who protected young Joash, helped bring him to the throne, and guided him to walk in God’s ways. He arranged Joash’s marriages, led the renewal of temple worship, and helped oversee the repair of the temple. He lived to one hundred thirty years, and during his life burnt offerings were brought regularly in the temple. When he died, he was buried in the city of David among the kings, even though he was a priest, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God and toward God’s house. His life shows how one faithful person can bless a whole nation.

Why did Joash turn to idols after Jehoiada died?

After Jehoiada died, the princes of Judah came and bowed before Joash and gained his ear. Instead of holding to what he had learned, Joash listened to their flattery and their hidden desire for idol worship. They left the house of the Lord, turned to groves and idols, and the whole direction of the nation changed. This shows how Joash’s obedience depended too much on Jehoiada’s presence, not on a firm heart of his own. It warns that if we lean only on people and not on God Himself, we can easily drift when those people are gone.

Who was Zechariah son of Jehoiada, and why was he stoned?

Zechariah was the son of Jehoiada the priest, the same man who had raised and helped Joash. God’s Spirit came on Zechariah, and he stood above the people and spoke God’s words, asking why they broke God’s commands and warning that they would not prosper because they had forsaken the Lord. Instead of listening, the leaders and Joash turned against him. By the king’s command they stoned him in the court of the temple, the very place meant for worship. As he died, Zechariah said, “The Lord look upon it, and require it,” asking God to see and judge this evil.

What does this passage teach about God’s mercy and judgment?

The story shows both God’s patience and His justice. Even after Judah turned from Him to idols, God did not at once send trouble. He sent prophets to warn them and call them back, and finally spoke through Zechariah with a clear message. When they refused to listen and even killed God’s messenger, judgment followed. A small Syrian army defeated a much larger force from Judah because they had forsaken the Lord. Joash was badly wounded and later killed by his own servants. This teaches that God kindly warns before He judges, but if people harden themselves, He will not ignore their sin.

Why did a small Syrian army defeat Judah’s large army?

The passage explains that the Syrian army was small, yet God delivered a very great host into their hand. The reason given is not better weapons or skill but that Judah had forsaken the God of their fathers. God used this defeat as judgment against Joash and the leaders for leaving His house, serving idols, and shedding the blood of Zechariah. It shows that strength in numbers does not help when God is against a people. Victory and safety come from walking with Him, and turning away opens the door for defeat, even by a weaker enemy.

Why was Joash not buried in the tombs of the kings of Judah?

Although Joash was a king and had done good earlier in his reign, he turned away from God after Jehoiada died. He listened to corrupt leaders, left the temple, went into idolatry, and ordered the stoning of Zechariah, the son of the man who had saved and guided him. Because of this, God’s judgment fell on him. He was wounded in battle, left very sick, and then murdered by his own servants in his bed. He was buried in the city of David, but not in the royal tombs. This showed that his later unfaithfulness overshadowed his early good deeds.

How can this passage about Joash and Jehoiada apply to my life?

This passage nudges us to think about where our faith really rests. Joash did well while Jehoiada was there to guide him, but when that support was gone, his true heart was revealed. It encourages you to be thankful for godly people and teaching, but not to lean only on them. Let God’s truth sink into your own heart so you will keep following Him even when people change or leave. It also reminds you to listen when God warns you through His Word or faithful voices, and not to brush those warnings aside when they are uncomfortable.

2Chr.24.1

2 Chronicles 24:1

KJV

Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.

Joash Repairs the Temple

Young Joash Influenced by Jehoiada

1 Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.

2 And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

3 And Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he begat sons and daughters.

Faithless Priests

4 ¶ And it came to pass after this, that Joash was minded to repair the house of the Lord.

5 And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that ye hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites hastened it not.

6 And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the servant of the Lord, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?

7 For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of the Lord did they bestow upon Baalim.

Temple Repaired

8 And at the king’s commandment they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of the house of the Lord.

9 And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to the Lord the collection that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness.

10 And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end.

11 Now it came to pass, that at what time the chest was brought unto the king’s office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king’s scribe and the high priest’s officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to his place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.

12 And the king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the service of the house of the Lord, and hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the Lord, and also such as wrought iron and brass to mend the house of the Lord.

13 So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it.

14 And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the house of the Lord, even vessels to minister, and to offer withal, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the Lord continually all the days of Jehoiada.

Jehoiada’s Death and Burial

15 ¶ But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old was he when he died.

16 And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house.

The Wickedness of Joash

17 Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them.

18 And they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass.

19 Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the Lord; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear.

Joash Murders Son of Jehoiada

20 And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the Lord, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the Lord, he hath also forsaken you.

21 And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the Lord.

22 Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The Lord look upon it, and require it.

The Death of Joash

Aram Invades and Defeats Judah

23 ¶ And it came to pass at the end of the year, that the host of Syria came up against him: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them unto the king of Damascus.

24 For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the Lord delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash.

25 And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings.

26 And these are they that conspired against him; Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabitess.

27 ¶ Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens laid upon him, and the repairing of the house of God, behold, they are written in the story of the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.

Cross References

No cross references available for this verse.