Who was Joash and how old was he when he became king?

Joash was a king in Jerusalem who came to the throne as a child after a very troubled time in Judah’s history. He was only seven years old when he began to reign, and he ruled for forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah, from Beer-sheba. As he grew up, Joash was strongly guided by the priest Jehoiada, and while Jehoiada lived, Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord. This passage focuses on the years when Joash wanted to repair and strengthen God’s temple.

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

Joash had grown up in the temple area and knew its value as the place where God’s people gathered to worship. By the time he was an adult, the building had aged and, worse, had been damaged and stripped during Athaliah’s rule. Her sons had broken up the house of God and used dedicated things for the worship of Baal. Seeing this, Joash was moved to restore honour to God by repairing the temple, making it sound and fit again for proper worship and sacrifice.

What was wrong with the temple after Athaliah and her sons ruled?

During Athaliah’s time, the true worship of God was pushed aside and Baal worship was brought in. Her sons treated the temple badly. They broke up parts of it and took many of the dedicated items that belonged to the house of the Lord. Those items, which should have been used for God’s service, were instead given to Baal. So the building itself needed repair, and its service vessels had to be replaced, because what had been set apart for God had been misused for idols.

Why did Joash rebuke Jehoiada and the Levites about the collection?

Joash first told the priests and Levites to go through the cities of Judah and gather money from all Israel to repair the temple. He urged them to hurry the work, but they did not move quickly. After some time, Joash called Jehoiada and asked why the Levites had not brought in the collection that Moses had commanded for God’s dwelling place. The king was asking why they had not followed through on what God had already laid on Israel’s shoulders, especially when the temple was in such need.

What was the purpose of the chest placed at the temple gate?

At the king’s command, a chest was made and set outside at the gate of the house of the Lord. A proclamation went out through Judah and Jerusalem that the people should bring to the Lord the collection that had first been laid on Israel in the wilderness. The chest gave people a clear, honest way to give. They could come, rejoice, and throw their offerings in. The money was then regularly counted and used to pay the workers who were repairing and strengthening the temple.

How did the people respond to the call to give for the temple repairs?

When the proclamation went out, both the princes and all the people were glad to take part. They rejoiced and brought their contributions willingly. They cast their money into the chest again and again until everyone had finished giving what they intended. Each time the Levites brought the chest in and the officials saw that there was much money, it was counted and removed. This happened day after day, and the text says they gathered money in abundance for the work on God’s house.

How was the money used to repair and strengthen the temple?

The king and Jehoiada handed the collected money to those overseeing the work on the temple. With it they hired masons and carpenters to repair damaged parts of the building, and workers in iron and bronze to fix what was broken. The workmen kept at their tasks until the work was finished. They set the house of God back in its proper state and strengthened it so it was sound again. When all repairs were complete, the remaining money was used to make new vessels for the temple’s service.

What new items were made for the house of the Lord from the leftover money?

After the main building work was done and the labourers were paid, there was still money left. This remaining money was brought before the king and Jehoiada. From it they made vessels for use in the house of the Lord: items used in ministry and in making offerings, spoons, and other vessels of gold and silver. These would replace what had been taken and used for Baal. With these new vessels in place, burnt offerings could be brought regularly in the temple again.

What does this passage show about leadership and guidance in Joash’s life?

The passage shows that Joash’s good years were closely tied to Jehoiada’s guidance. While Jehoiada lived, Joash did what was right in the Lord’s sight. Jehoiada even helped arrange Joash’s marriages so he would not repeat the mistakes of earlier kings who had married into wicked families. At the same time, Joash himself took initiative in caring for the temple, correcting delays, and setting up the chest. It shows how wise guidance and a willing heart can work together in serving God’s purposes.

What does this passage teach about giving and faithfulness with God’s money?

Here we see people giving gladly when they understand the purpose: to repair God’s house and restore proper worship. The chest system also shows care for honesty. The Levites brought it in, the king’s scribe and the high priest’s officer counted the money, and only then was it given to those paying the workers. Everyone did their part faithfully: the givers, the counters, and the workers. It shows that when gifts are handled with care and used as intended, God’s work is carried on and worship is strengthened.

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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?

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

Cross References

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