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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.

Joash Reigns Righteously Under Jehoiada

1
Joash was seven years old when he began to reign; and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Zibiah, of Beersheba.
2
Joash did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest. ​
3
Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he became the father of sons and daughters.

Joash Repairs the Temple

4
After this, Joash intended to restore the LORD’s house. ​
5
He gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather money to repair the house of your God from all Israel from year to year. See that you expedite this matter.” However the Levites didn’t do it right away.
6
The king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said to him, “Why haven’t you required of the Levites to bring in the tax of Moses the servant of the LORD, and of the assembly of Israel, out of Judah and out of Jerusalem, for the tent of the testimony?” ​
7
For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up God’s house; and they also gave all the dedicated things of the LORD’s house to the Baals. ​
8
So the king commanded, and they made a chest, and set it outside at the gate of the LORD’s house.
9
They made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in for the LORD the tax that Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness.
10
All the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end.
11
It was so, that whenever the chest was brought to the king’s officers by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king’s scribe and the chief priest’s officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to its place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.
12
The king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the service of the LORD’s house; and they hired masons and carpenters to restore the LORD’s house, and also such as worked iron and brass to repair the LORD’s house.
13
So the workmen worked, and the work of repairing went forward in their hands, and they set up God’s house in its state, and strengthened it.
14
When they had made an end, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, of which were made vessels for the LORD’s house, even vessels with which to minister and to offer, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. They offered burnt offerings in the LORD’s house continually all the days of Jehoiada. ​

Death of Jehoiada and Joash's Apostasy

15
But Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died; one hundred thirty years old was he when he died.
16
They buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and toward God and his house. ​
17
Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king listened to them. ​
18
They abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherah poles and the idols; and wrath came on Judah and Jerusalem for this their guiltiness.
19
Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again to the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear. ​
20
The Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God, ‘Why do you disobey the commandments of the LORD, so that you can’t prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has also forsaken you.’” ​
21
They conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the LORD’s house. ​
22
Thus Joash the king didn’t remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son. When he died, he said, “May the LORD look at it, and repay it.” ​

Judgment and Assassination of Joash

23
At the end of the year, the army of the Syrians 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 their plunder to 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 army into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers. So they executed judgment on Joash. ​
25
When they were departed for him (for they left him very sick), his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed, and he died; and they buried him in the city of David, but they didn’t bury him in the tombs of the kings. ​
26
These are those who conspired against him: Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess.
27
Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens laid on him, and the rebuilding of God’s house, behold, they are written in the commentary of the book of the kings. Amaziah his son 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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