Who was King Joash (Jehoash) and how long did he reign in Judah?

King Joash, also called Jehoash, was a king of Judah who began to reign in the seventh year of King Jehu of Israel. He ruled in Jerusalem for forty years, and his mother was Zibiah from Beer-sheba. While the priest Jehoiada guided him, Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. His reign is remembered for his early concern for the temple, his failure to remove the high places, his later compromise when threatened by Syria, and the sad way his life ended in a conspiracy.

What were the “high places” and why were they not taken away?

The “high places” were local worship sites on hills or raised areas where people offered sacrifices and burned incense. God had already set Jerusalem and the temple as the proper place for sacrifice, so these high places were not in line with His command, and often mixed in wrong worship. Even though Joash tried to honor God in many ways, he did not remove these high places. This shows that his reforms were only partial and that the people held tightly to old habits of worship that God did not want.

Why did Joash set up a chest in the temple, and how did it work?

Joash first told the priests to use the temple money to repair the building, but many years passed and the work was still not done. So he changed the plan. Jehoiada took a chest, drilled a hole in the lid, and placed it by the altar where people came in. The priests who guarded the door put into the chest all the money brought to the temple. When the chest was full, the king’s scribe and the high priest counted it and handed it directly to the overseers of the repair work.

What does this passage show about handling money and honesty in God’s work?

This passage highlights clear and honest handling of money given for God’s work. Once the chest system was set up, the money went straight from the chest to the overseers, and from them to the workers. The text notes that they did not even require a detailed accounting from these men because they dealt faithfully. The money was used first for necessary repairs, not for extra silver or gold items. It gives a picture of simple, transparent systems and trustworthy people serving without greed or misuse of offerings.

Why did Joash send the temple treasures to Hazael king of Syria?

When Hazael, king of Syria, captured Gath and then turned toward Jerusalem, Joash chose to send him treasures instead of trusting God to protect the city. He took holy things that earlier kings had dedicated, along with his own dedicated things and the gold from the temple and palace, and sent them to Hazael. Hazael then withdrew from Jerusalem. This act shows Joash’s fear and decline, trading what belonged to God to buy safety, instead of relying on the Lord who had helped him earlier in his reign.

Why was Joash killed by his own servants, and what does that show?

Joash was killed in a conspiracy by his servants Jozachar and Jehozabad in the house of Millo. This was not a random event but part of his sad ending after a good start. Elsewhere we read that in his later years he turned from God and even went against the family of Jehoiada, who had helped him. His death at the hands of his own servants, away from honor, shows how turning from God can lead to loss of respect, stability, and safety, even for a king who once walked in the right way.

What is the importance of Jehoiada’s influence on Joash’s early reign?

Jehoiada the priest played a key role in Joash’s life. While Jehoiada was alive and instructing him, Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord. Jehoiada’s teaching and example helped shape Joash’s concern for the temple and for proper worship. This shows how much a godly mentor can affect a leader’s choices. When that influence faded, Joash’s faithfulness weakened. It reminds us that steady, wise guidance can help keep a person on the right path, especially someone in a place of authority.

How can this passage about Joash and the temple repairs apply to believers today?

This passage can speak to our lives in several ways. First, Joash’s care for the temple points to the need to care for the worship life God has given us, not letting it fall into neglect. Second, the honest handling of offerings encourages integrity and transparency in any ministry or church work. Third, Joash’s later fear and compromise warn us not to start well with God and then drift when pressure comes. It gently pushes us to seek steady counsel, keep trusting God in trouble, and avoid half-hearted obedience.

2Kgs.12.1

2 Kings 12:1

KJV

In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.

Joash Repairs the Temple

Joash (Jehoash) Reigns over Judah

1 In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.

2 And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.

3 But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.

The Temple to Be Repaired

4 ¶ And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the Lord, even the money of every one that passeth the account, the money that every man is set at, and all the money that cometh into any man’s heart to bring into the house of the Lord,

5 Let the priests take it to them, every man of his acquaintance: and let them repair the breaches of the house, wheresoever any breach shall be found.

6 But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house.

7 Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the other priests, and said unto them, Why repair ye not the breaches of the house? now therefore receive no more money of your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house.

8 And the priests consented to receive no more money of the people, neither to repair the breaches of the house.

9 But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one cometh into the house of the Lord: and the priests that kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the Lord.

10 And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king’s scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the house of the Lord.

11 And they gave the money, being told, into the hands of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the Lord: and they laid it out to the carpenters and builders, that wrought upon the house of the Lord,

12 And to masons, and hewers of stone, and to buy timber and hewed stone to repair the breaches of the house of the Lord, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it.

13 Howbeit there were not made for the house of the Lord bowls of silver, snuffers, basons, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of the Lord:

14 But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of the Lord.

15 Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen: for they dealt faithfully.

16 The trespass money and sin money was not brought into the house of the Lord: it was the priests’.

The Death of Joash

17 ¶ Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.

18 And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the Lord, and in the king’s house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.

Joash (Jehoash) Succeeded by Amaziah in Judah

19 ¶ And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

20 And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla.

21 For Jozachar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, smote him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.

Cross References

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