2 Chronicles24

King Joash began his reign righteously under the guidance of Jehoiada the priest, undertaking a successful restoration of the temple. However, after Jehoiada's death, Joash turned away from the LORD, even ordering the stoning of Zechariah, Jehoiada's son, for his prophetic rebuke. Consequently, Judah suffered defeat by the Syrians, and Joash was ultimately assassinated by his own servants for his apostasy and the shedding of innocent blood.
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Joash Reigns Righteously Under Jehoiada

1
Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba.
2
And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest. ​
3
Jehoiada took for him two wives, and he had sons and daughters.

Joash Repairs the Temple

4
Some time later, Joash set his heart on repairing the house of the LORD. ​
5
So he gathered the priests and Levites and said, “Go out to the cities of Judah and collect the money due annually from all Israel, to repair the house of your God. Do it quickly.” The Levites, however, did not make haste.
6
So the king called Jehoiada the high priest and said, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring from Judah and Jerusalem the tax imposed by Moses the servant of the LORD and by the assembly of Israel for the Tent of the Testimony?” ​
7
For the sons of that wicked woman Athaliah had broken into the house of God and had even used the sacred objects of the house of the LORD for the Baals. ​
8
At the king’s command a chest was made and placed outside, at the gate of the house of the LORD.
9
And a proclamation was issued in Judah and Jerusalem that they were to bring to the LORD the tax imposed by Moses the servant of God on Israel in the wilderness.
10
All the officers and all the people rejoiced and brought their contributions, and they dropped them in the chest until it was full.
11
Whenever the chest was brought by the Levites to the king’s overseers and they saw that there was a large amount of money, the royal scribe and the officer of the high priest would come and empty the chest and carry it back to its place. They did this daily and gathered the money in abundance.
12
Then the king and Jehoiada would give the money to those who supervised the labor on the house of the LORD to hire stonecutters and carpenters to restore the house of the LORD, as well as workers in iron and bronze to repair the house of the LORD.
13
So the workmen labored, and in their hands the repair work progressed. They restored the house of God according to its specifications, and they reinforced it.
14
When they were finished, they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada to make with it the articles for the house of the LORD—utensils for the service and for the burnt offerings, dishes, and other objects of gold and silver. Throughout the days of Jehoiada, burnt offerings were presented regularly in the house of the LORD. ​

Death of Jehoiada and Joash's Apostasy

15
When Jehoiada was old and full of years, he died at the age of 130.
16
And Jehoiada was buried with the kings in the City of David, because he had done what was good in Israel for God and His temple. ​
17
After the death of Jehoiada, however, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them. ​
18
They abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherah poles and idols. So wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs.
19
Nevertheless, the LORD sent prophets to bring the people back to Him and to testify against them; but they would not listen. ​
20
Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood up before the people and said to them, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He has forsaken you.’” ​
21
But they conspired against Zechariah, and by order of the king, they stoned him in the courtyard of the house of the LORD. ​
22
Thus King Joash failed to remember the kindness that Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had extended to him. Instead, Joash killed Jehoiada’s son. As he lay dying, Zechariah said, “May the LORD see this and call you to account.” ​

Judgment and Assassination of Joash

23
In the spring, the army of Aram went to war against Joash. They entered Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the leaders of the people, and they sent all the plunder to their king in Damascus.
24
Although the Aramean army had come with only a few men, the LORD delivered into their hand a very great army. Because Judah had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers, judgment was executed on Joash. ​
25
And when the Arameans had withdrawn, they left Joash severely wounded. His own servants conspired against him for shedding the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and they killed him on his bed. So he died and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. ​
26
Those who conspired against Joash were Zabad son of Shimeath the Ammonitess and Jehozabad son of Shimrith the Moabitess.
27
The accounts of the sons of Joash, as well as the many pronouncements about him and about the restoration of the house of God, are indeed written in the Treatise of the Book of the Kings. And his son Amaziah reigned in his place.

Study Notes for 2 Chronicles 24

Verse 2

This verse establishes the conditional nature of Joash’s righteousness; his moral compass was dependent on the guidance of the High Priest Jehoiada, setting the stage for his later downfall.

Verse 4

The restoration of the Temple was a hallmark of Joash’s early reign, symbolizing a return to orthodox Yahwism after the idolatry promoted by Athaliah and her family.

Verse 6

Joash appeals to the 'commandment of Moses' (likely referring to the half-shekel tax for the upkeep of the Tabernacle in Exodus 30:11-16), legitimizing the collection as a historic religious duty.

Verse 7

The 'sons of Athaliah' refers to the actions taken during the reign of her son Ahaziah or her own six-year usurpation, during which the Temple was desecrated and its sacred furnishings were used for Baal worship.

Verse 14

The successful completion of the restoration resulted not only in a physically repaired structure but also in the recommencement of regular, authorized burnt offerings, marking a spiritual renewal.

Verse 16

Jehoiada was granted the extraordinary honor of burial among the kings, a unique distinction for a non-royal figure, recognizing his immense service in preserving the Davidic line and reforming the worship of Judah.

Verse 17

The death of Jehoiada is the turning point of the chapter and Joash’s life. The king immediately falls prey to the counsel of the princes, who were likely eager to return to the profitable syncretistic practices of earlier reigns.

Verse 19

Even after Joash and the people abandoned the covenant, God demonstrated grace by sending prophets to call them back, highlighting His persistent desire for repentance.

Verse 20

Zechariah, Jehoiada’s son and successor, was empowered by the Spirit of God to deliver a scathing public indictment, linking their prosperity directly to their obedience to the LORD.

Verse 21

The murder of a prophet in the sacred Temple court, commanded by the king himself, represents the height of Joash’s wickedness and covenant betrayal toward the family who saved his life.

Verse 22

Zechariah's dying plea, 'The LORD look upon it, and require it,' is a request for divine justice (often cited in parallel to Abel’s blood in Matt 23:35), assuring that Joash's betrayal would not go unpunished.

Verse 24

The Chronicler emphasizes that the Syrian victory was not due to superior military might, but was a direct act of divine judgment against Judah for forsaking God.

Verse 25

Joash’s assassination is framed as the direct consequence of his sin; the conspirators sought revenge 'for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada,' fulfilling Zechariah’s curse (v. 22).

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