1Joash[1] was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. (2Ki 11:21)2And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest. (2Ch 26:5)3Jehoiada got for him two wives, and he had sons and daughters.4After this Joash decided to restore the house of the Lord. (1Ch 22:7; 2Ch 24:12)5And he gathered the priests and the Levites and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah and gather from all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that you act quickly.” But the Levites did not act quickly. (2Ch 21:2)6So the king summoned Jehoiada the chief and said to him, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the tax levied by Moses, the servant of the Lord, and the congregation of Israel for the tent of testimony?” (Ex 30:12; Nu 17:7)7For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house of God, and had also used all the dedicated things of the house of the Lord for the Baals. (1Ki 15:15; 2Ch 21:17)8So the king commanded, and they made a chest and set it outside the gate of the house of the Lord.9And proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to bring in for the Lord the tax that Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness. (2Ch 24:6; Ezr 1:1)10And all the princes and all the people rejoiced and brought their tax and dropped it into the chest until they had finished.[2]11And whenever the chest was brought to the king’s officers by the Levites, when they saw that there was much money in it, the king’s secretary and the officer of the chief priest would come and empty the chest and take it and return it to its place. Thus they did day after day, and collected money in abundance.12And the king and Jehoiada gave it to those who had charge of the work of the house of the Lord, and they hired masons and carpenters to restore the house of the Lord, and also workers in iron and bronze to repair the house of the Lord.13So those who were engaged in the work labored, and the repairing went forward in their hands, and they restored the house of God to its proper condition and strengthened it.14And when they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, and with it were made utensils for the house of the Lord, both for the service and for the burnt offerings, and dishes for incense and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the Lord regularly all the days of Jehoiada. (2Ki 12:13)15But Jehoiada grew old and full of days, and died. He was 130 years old at his death.16And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and toward God and his house.17Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. Then the king listened to them.18And they abandoned the house of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs. (De 16:21; 2Ch 19:2; 2Ch 19:10; 2Ch 28:11; 2Ch 28:13; 2Ch 29:8; 2Ch 32:25)19Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the Lord. These testified against them, but they would not pay attention. (2Ch 36:15; Ne 13:15; Ne 13:21; Jer 25:4; Mt 23:34; Lu 11:49)
Joash’s Treachery
20Then the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God, ‘Why do you break the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.’” (Nu 14:41; 2Ch 15:1; 2Ch 15:2; 2Ch 20:14; Mt 23:35)21But they conspired against him, and by command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the Lord. (Ne 9:26; Mt 23:35; Lu 11:51)22Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah’s father, had shown him, but killed his son. And when he was dying, he said, “May the Lord see and avenge!”[3] (Ge 9:5)
Joash Assassinated
23At the end of the year the army of the Syrians came up against Joash. They came to Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. (2Ki 12:17)24Though the army of the Syrians had come with few men, the Lord delivered into their hand a very great army, because Judah[4] had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers. Thus they executed judgment on Joash. (Le 26:8; Le 26:36; 2Ch 22:8; 2Ch 24:20; Isa 30:17)25When they had departed from him, leaving him severely wounded, his servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son[5] of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings. (De 28:35; 2Ki 12:20; 2Ch 21:20; 2Ch 24:21; 2Ch 28:27)26Those who conspired against him were Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonite, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabite.27Accounts of his sons and of the many oracles against him and of the rebuilding[6] of the house of God are written in the Story[7] of the Book of the Kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his place. (2Ch 13:22; 2Ch 24:12)
1Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba.2Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years of Jehoiada the priest.3Jehoiada chose two wives for him, and he had sons and daughters.4Some time later Joash decided to restore the temple of the Lord.5He called together the priests and Levites and said to them, ‘Go to the towns of Judah and collect the money due annually from all Israel, to repair the temple of your God. Do it now.’ But the Levites did not act at once.6Therefore the king summoned Jehoiada the chief priest and said to him, ‘Why haven’t you required the Levites to bring in 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 covenant law?’7Now the sons of that wicked woman Athaliah had broken into the temple of God and had used even its sacred objects for the Baals.8At the king’s command, a chest was made and placed outside, at the gate of the temple of the Lord.9A proclamation was then issued in Judah and Jerusalem that they should bring to the Lord the tax that Moses the servant of God had required of Israel in the wilderness.10All the officials and all the people brought their contributions gladly, dropping them into the chest until it was full.11Whenever the chest was brought in by the Levites to the king’s officials and they saw that there was a large amount of money, the royal secretary and the officer of the chief priest would come and empty the chest and carry it back to its place. They did this regularly and collected a great amount of money.12The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who carried out the work required for the temple of the Lord. They hired masons and carpenters to restore the Lord’s temple, and also workers in iron and bronze to repair the temple.13The men in charge of the work were diligent, and the repairs progressed under them. They rebuilt the temple of God according to its original design and reinforced it.14When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada, and with it were made articles for the Lord’s temple: articles for the service and for the burnt offerings, and also dishes and other objects of gold and silver. As long as Jehoiada lived, burnt offerings were presented continually in the temple of the Lord.15Now Jehoiada was old and full of years, and he died at the age of a hundred and thirty.16He was buried with the kings in the City of David, because of the good he had done in Israel for God and his temple.
The wickedness of Joash
17After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them.18They abandoned the temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and worshipped Asherah poles and idols. Because of their guilt, God’s anger came on Judah and Jerusalem.19Although the Lord sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him, and though they testified against them, they would not listen.20Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, ‘This is what God says: “Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands? You will not prosper. Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.” ’21But they plotted against him, and by order of the king they stoned him to death in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple.22King Joash did not remember the kindness Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had shown him but killed his son, who said as he lay dying, ‘May the Lord see this and call you to account.’23At the turn of the year,[1] the army of Aram marched against Joash; it invaded Judah and Jerusalem and killed all the leaders of the people. They sent all the plunder to their king in Damascus.24Although the Aramean army had come with only a few men, the Lord delivered into their hands a much larger army. Because Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, judgment was executed on Joash.25When the Arameans withdrew, they left Joash severely wounded. His officials conspired against him for murdering the son of Jehoiada the priest, and they killed him in his bed. So he died and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.26Those who conspired against him were Zabad,[2] son of Shimeath an Ammonite woman, and Jehozabad, son of Shimrith[3] a Moabite woman.27The account of his sons, the many prophecies about him, and the record of the restoration of the temple of God are written in the annotations on the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son succeeded him as king.
2 Chronicles 24
King James Version
1Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother' name also was Zibiah of Beersheba.2And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.3And Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he begat sons and daughters.4And it came to pass after this, that Joash was minded to repair the house of the LORD.5And 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.6And 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?7For 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.8And at the king' commandment they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of the house of the LORD.9And 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.10And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end.11Now it came to pass, that at what time the chest was brought unto the king' office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king' scribe and the high priest' 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.12And 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.13So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it.14And 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.15But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old was he when he died.16And 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.17Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them.18And 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.19Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear.20And 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.21And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD.22Thus 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 .23And 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.24For 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.25And 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.26And these are they that conspired against him; Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabitess.27Now 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.
1Joash was seven years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 40 years. His mother’s name was Zibiah. She was from Beersheba.2Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. Joash lived that way as long as Jehoiada the priest was alive.3Jehoiada chose two wives for Joash. They had sons and daughters by Joash.4Some time later Joash decided to make the LORD’s temple look like new again.5He called together the priests and Levites. He said to them, ‘Go to the towns of Judah. Collect the money that the nation of Israel owes every year. Use it to repair the temple of your God. Do it now.’ But the Levites didn’t do it right away.6So the king sent for Jehoiada the chief priest. He said to him, ‘Why haven’t you required the Levites to bring in the tax from Judah and Jerusalem? It was set up by the LORD’s servant Moses and the whole community of Israel. It was used for the tent where the tablets of the covenant law were kept.’7The children of that evil woman Athaliah had broken into God’s temple. They had used even its sacred objects for the gods that were named Baal.8King Joash commanded that a wooden chest be made. It was placed outside near the gate of the LORD’s temple.9Then a message went out in Judah and Jerusalem. It said that the people should bring the tax to the LORD. God’s servant Moses had required Israel to pay that tax when they were in the desert.10All the officials and people gladly brought their money. They dropped it into the chest until it was full.11The chest was brought in by the Levites to the king’s officials. Every time the officials saw there was a large amount of money in the chest, it was emptied out. The royal secretary and the officer of the chief priest came and emptied it. Then they carried it back to its place. They did it regularly. They collected a great amount of money.12The king and Jehoiada gave it to the people who were doing the work on the LORD’s temple. They hired people who could lay the stones and people who could work with wood. They also hired people who could work with iron and bronze. They hired all of them to repair the temple.13The men in charge of the work did their best. The repairs went very well under them. They rebuilt God’s temple. They did it in keeping with its original plans. They made the temple even stronger.14So they finished the work. Then they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada. It was used to pay for the objects that were made for the LORD’s temple. The objects were used for serving at the temple. They were also used for the burnt offerings. The objects included dishes and other things made out of gold and silver. As long as Jehoiada lived, burnt offerings were sacrificed continually at the LORD’s temple.15Jehoiada had become very old. He died at the age of 130.16He was buried with the kings in the City of David. That’s because he had done so many good things in Israel for God and his temple.
The evil things Joash did
17After Jehoiada died, the officials of Judah came to King Joash. They bowed down to him. He listened to them.18They turned their backs on the temple of the LORD, the God of their people. They worshipped poles made to honour the female god named Asherah. They also worshipped statues of other gods. Because Judah and Jerusalem were guilty of sin, God became angry with them.19The LORD sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him. The prophets told the people what they were doing wrong. But the people wouldn’t listen.20Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah the priest. He was the son of Jehoiada. Zechariah stood in front of the people. He told them, ‘God says, “Why do you refuse to obey my commands? You will not have success. You have deserted me. So I have deserted you.” ’21But the people made evil plans against Zechariah. The king ordered them to kill Zechariah by throwing stones at him. They did it in the courtyard of the LORD’s temple.22King Joash didn’t remember how kind Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had been to him. So he killed Jehoiada’s son. As Zechariah was dying he said, ‘May the LORD see this. May he hold you responsible.’23In the spring, the army of Aram marched into Judah and Jerusalem against Joash. They killed all the leaders of the people. They took a large amount of goods from Judah. They sent it to their king in Damascus.24The army of Aram had come with only a few men. But the LORD allowed them to win the battle over a much larger army. Judah had deserted the LORD, the God of their people. That’s why the LORD punished Joash.25The army of Aram pulled back. They left Joash badly wounded. His officials planned to do evil things to him. That’s because he murdered the son of Jehoiada the priest. They killed Joash in his bed. So he died. He was buried in the City of David. But he wasn’t placed in the tombs of the kings.26Those who made the plans against Joash were Zabad and Jehozabad. Zabad was the son of Shimeath. She was from Ammon. Jehozabad was the son of Shimrith. She was from Moab.27The story of the sons of Joash is written in the notes on the records of the kings. The many prophecies about him are written there too. So is the record of how he made God’s temple look like new again. Joash’s son Amaziah became the next king after him.