Jehoash

By: Christopher Knapp

Narrator: Ivona Gentwo

2 Kings 11:12; 2 Chronicles 22:10‑24:27 • 16 min. read • grade level: 10

(or Joash)

Jehovah-gifted

Contemporary Prophets: Zechariah, son of Jehoiada

It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword. Psalm. 144:10

“And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. [Chronicles adds, ‘of the house of Judah.’] But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain” (2 Kings 11:1-2¹And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. ²But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain. (2 Kings 11:1‑2)).

2 Chron. 24:7⁷For 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. (2 Chronicles 24:7) describes Athaliah as “That wicked woman.” She was just such a daughter as her infamous mother, Jezebel, was likely to produce. Her father was himself a murderer, and the family character was fully marked in her. She heartlessly slaughtered her own grandchildren in her lust for power. She herself would be ruler of the kingdom, even at the cost of the lives of helpless and innocent children. No character in history, sacred or secular, stands out blacker or more hideous than this daughter-in-law of the godly Jehoshaphat.

Joash was only an infant at the time, and his mother (Zibiah of Beersheba) was in all likelihood dead—probably murdered by her fiendish mother-in-law. Jehosheba (“Jehovah’s oath”, that is, devoted to Him), the child’s aunt and wife of the high priest Jehoiada (“Jehovah known”), hid Joash and his nurse, first in one of the palace bedchambers, and later in the temple (where she lived) among her own children and perhaps as one of them. “And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land” (2 Chron. 22:12¹²And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land. (2 Chronicles 22:12)). Through this, God displayed his mercy to the house of David, even as it had been declared at the time of the reign of Athcrliah’s husband Jehoram: “Howbeit the LORD would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons forever” (2 Chron. 21:7⁷Howbeit the Lord would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever. (2 Chronicles 21:7)).

Athaliah, no doubt, thought herself secure on the throne of David. Six years she possessed the coveted power, and could say, “I sit a queen.” She made the most of her opportunity to corrupt the kingdom with idolatry, and had a temple built to Baal. But in the seventh year her richly-merited retribution suddenly came upon her.

And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and showed them the king’s son (2 Kings 11:4⁴And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the Lord, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the Lord, and showed them the king's son. (2 Kings 11:4)). And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he [Jehoiada] said unto them, Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as the LORD hath said of the sons of David (2 Chron. 23:2-3²And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. ³And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king's son shall reign, as the Lord hath said of the sons of David. (2 Chronicles 23:2‑3)).

Arrangements were then entered into for the most unique coronation that was ever known. Everything was ordered with great care and secrecy so that suspicion would not be aroused. Trusted men, chiefly Levites, were stationed at important points about the king’s house and temple. The Sabbath day, and the time for the changing of the courses of the priests and Levites, may have been chosen so that the unusually large number of people about the temple would not excite suspicion in the minds of Athaliah and her Baalite minions. The Levites carefully guarded the royal child, “every man with his weapons in his hand,” with strict orders to slay any one that would attempt to approach him. “And to the captains over hundreds did the priest give king David’s spears and shields, that were in the temple of the LORD,” and a strong guard was placed within the temple enclosure. “Then they brought out the king’s son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony [a copy of the law, Deut. 17:18¹⁸And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of that which is before the priests the Levites: (Deuteronomy 17:18)], and made him king. Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save the king!” It is a thrilling tale, and nowhere given so well as in our time-honored King James

“Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the LORD: and she looked, and, behold, the king stood at [or, on] his pillar [Gesenius ‘stage’ or ‘scaffold’] at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of music, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason” (2 Chron. 23:12-13¹²Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the Lord: ¹³And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of music, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason. (2 Chronicles 23:12‑13)).

But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword....And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD’S people; between the king also and the people. And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal, and brake it down; his altars and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.... and they brought down the king from the house of the LORD, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king’s house. And he sat on the throne of the kings. And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king’s house (2 Kings 11:15-20¹⁵But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the Lord. ¹⁶And they laid hands on her; and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the king's house: and there was she slain. ¹⁷And Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people, that they should be the Lord's people; between the king also and the people. ¹⁸And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal, and brake it down; his altars and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the Lord. ¹⁹And he took the rulers over hundreds, and the captains, and the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from the house of the Lord, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king's house. And he sat on the throne of the kings. ²⁰And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king's house. (2 Kings 11:15‑20)).

Jehoiada and his wife had engaged in this dangerous business in faith, as is evident by the words of Jehoiada, “Behold the king’s son shall reign, as the LORD hath said of the sons of David.” “The Lord hath said” is quite enough for faith to act on whatever be the dangers, the difficulties, and the toils. And in that path of obedience all the wheels of providence are made to turn to bring about the successful end. God gives the needful wisdom in it too, and so every step and arrangement of faithful Jehoiada succeeds perfectly, all proving that whatever be the cunning and craft of the devil in Athaliah, it must succumb to the wisdom of God and of faith. The cause was of God; Joash was the only rightful heir to the throne of David, which by the promise of God was not to be without an heir till that Heir should come who would be “the sure mercies of David” and would need no successor.

Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Zibiah [“doe” or “gazelle”) of Beersheba. 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 (2 Chron. 24:1-3¹Joash 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. 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. (2 Chronicles 24:1‑3)).

His uncle appears to have exercised a wholesome influence over him. The noting of his taking two wives for him is doubtless to manifest his godly concern for the succession of the line of David.

“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 into 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” (4-5). Nothing was done at the time. The spiritual condition of the people made it difficult to accomplish anything. “The people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places,” and would therefore feel little responsibility toward the temple at Jerusalem. The lines in Pope’s pantheistic poem, “The Universal Prayer” would, no doubt, express pretty accurately the thoughts of the Israelites regarding the worship of God: “To Thee whose temple is all space, / Whose altar, earth, sea, skies!”

The money that was contributed was, it would seem, misappropriated towards the maintenance of the priests and Levites (see 2 Kings 12:7-8⁷Then 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. ⁸And the priests consented to receive no more money of the people, neither to repair the breaches of the house. (2 Kings 12:7‑8)).This neglect continued until the twenty-third year of Joash.

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? [Evidently he had not neglected to read the “testimony” delivered to him at his coronation.] 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 (2 Chron. 24:6-7⁶And 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. (2 Chronicles 24:6‑7)).

True to what he had learned in the Word of God, Joash did not hesitate to admonish even the high priest if he was negligent in obeying it, for that Word is above all. And though he owed to his uncle a lasting debt of gratitude for the preservation of his infant life, he could, when occasion required, request that as God’s high priest Jehoiada perform his duty in reference to the necessary repairs of that house over which he had been set by God. Would God that Joash had continued in such a mind to the end of his reign.

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 [see Ex. 30:11-16¹¹And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, ¹²When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the Lord, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. ¹³This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the Lord. ¹⁴Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the Lord. ¹⁵The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls. ¹⁶And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls. (Exodus 30:11‑16)].And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end (8-10).

The people’s conscience was stirred, and they gave as the Lord loves to see His people give—cheerfully. No exacting accounts were kept; there was no suspicion of dishonesty, or misappropriation; the most beautiful confidence prevailed, evidencing the work of God (11-13).When God’s work is being done, the heart is engaged; selfish ends are absent; there is one common object; all this produces confidence: “Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on the workmen: for they dealt faithfully” (2 Kings 12:15¹⁵Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen: for they dealt faithfully. (2 Kings 12:15)).

More than sufficient was bestowed by the willing-hearted people. “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” (2 Chron. 24:14¹⁴And 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. (2 Chronicles 24:14)). Nor were the priests left unprovided for. “The trespass money and sin money was not brought into the house of [Jehovah]: it was the priest’s” (2 Kings 12:16¹⁶The trespass money and sin money was not brought into the house of the Lord: it was the priests'. (2 Kings 12:16)).

And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada. But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old was he when he died. And they buried him in the city of David among the kings [as well they might], because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house (2 Chron. 24:14-16¹⁴And 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. (2 Chronicles 24:14‑16)).

He had remembered the claims of the holy One of Israel, and attended to them with vigor and fidelity. Nor could it be other than the energy of faith in a man nearly a hundred years old setting himself to overthrow such an enemy of God as Athaliah.

His extreme old age may account for his evident laxity in performing the king’s command in regard to the repairing of the temple. He was born before the death of Solomon, and had seen much during his long life that peculiarly qualified him to become the protector and early guide of Jehoash. By him the kingdom was reestablished, and the cause of Jehovah revived during his last days on earth. He was a true king, in heart and mind, and it was appropriate that the aged patriarch’s mitered head should be laid to rest among those who had worn the crown.

How long he had filled the office of high priest is not known. He succeeded Amariah, who was high priest under Jehoshaphat. What a contrast between him and those other two high priests, Annas and Caiaphas, of whom we read in the New Testament. He labored to maintain the succession; they labored to destroy the final Heir—“great David’s greater son.” And when the time of rewards comes, what will be the unspeakable differences!

But now a cloud begins to appear that dims the brightness of the reign of Joash, and culminates in treachery and murder.

Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them. And 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. Yet He sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear (2 Chronicles 24:17-19¹⁷Now 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. (2 Chronicles 24:17‑19)).

The revival during Joash’s early reign had already lost its hold. It could not have been of much depth when they could so quickly turn aside to idols after Jehoiada’s departure. But the spirit of the good high priest was not dead; his worthy son Zechariah withstood and condemned their backslidings.

And 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. And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king, in the court of the house of the LORD (2 Chronicles 24:20-21²⁰And 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. (2 Chronicles 24:20‑21)).

“At the commandment of the king”! Alas for Joash’s unfaithfulness to God, and base ingratitude to the man who had been to him so great a benefactor! Zechariah was his cousin, and his foster brother too! “Thus 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” (22). This is, in all probability, the Zacharias referred to by our Lord: “That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew, between the temple and the altar” (Matt. 23:35³⁵That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar. (Matthew 23:35)). He was the last historical Old Testament martyr, as Abel had been the first. The prophet Urijah was slain almost two hundred and fifty years after Zechariah, but it is not recorded in the historical canon of Scripture; it is only mentioned incidentally in Jer. 26:23²³And they fetched forth Urijah out of Egypt, and brought him unto Jehoiakim the king; who slew him with the sword, and cast his dead body into the graves of the common people. (Jeremiah 26:23). “Son of Barachias” presents no real difficulty. It may have been a second name for Jehoiada (and would be a very appropriate one too as Barachias means “blessed”); or, Barachias may have been one of Zechariah’s earlier ancestors, as “son of” frequently means in Scripture. Luke 11:51⁵¹From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation. (Luke 11:51) does not have “son of Barachias.” But one of the first of the above explanations is preferable. Anyway, he met his death at the hand of the very man for whom his mother and his father risked their lives. Other sons of Jehoiada were also slain by Joash (2 Chron. 24:25²⁵And 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. (2 Chronicles 24:25)). “The LORD look upon it, and require it,” the dying martyr said. Stephen, also stoned for his testimony, cried, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” Law, under which “every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward,” was the governing principle of the dispensation under which the martyr Zechariah died, whereas grace reigned in Stephen’s day (as still in ours); therefore the difference in the dying martyrs’ prayers. Both, though so unalike, were in perfect keeping with the dispensations under which they witnessed.

“The LORD require it.” And He did, and swiftly—for He does not disregard the dying prayers of men like Zechariah.

And 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. For 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. And 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 sepulchers of the kings (2 Chron. 24:23-25²³And 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. (2 Chronicles 24:23‑25)).

2 Kings 12:17-18¹⁷Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem. ¹⁸And 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. (2 Kings 12:17‑18) records a previous invasion of Syrians under Hazael, when Joash bought him off with gold and other treasures taken from the temple and the king’s palace. It was then that they discovered the real weakness of the army of Joash (in spite of its being “a very great host”); hence only “a small company of men” was sent out on the second expedition against him.

“There is no king saved by the multitude of an host,” (Psa. 33:16¹⁶There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. (Psalm 33:16)) wrote that king whose throne Joash so unworthily filled. His time to receive the due reward of his deeds was come, and there was no power on earth that could have saved him. The murdered Zechariah’s name (meaning “Jah hath remembered”) must have had a terrible significance to him as he lay in “great diseases” on his bed in the house of Millo, the citadel of Zion. And if he escaped death at the hands of the Syrians by taking refuge in the stronghold at the descent of Silla (2 Kings 12:20²⁰And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla. (2 Kings 12:20)), it was only to be treacherously assassinated by his servants. Both of them were sons of Gentile women (2 Chron. 24:26²⁶And these are they that conspired against him; Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabitess. (2 Chronicles 24:26)), fruit of mixed marriages, condemned by the law. So disobedience brings its own bitter reward, and what God’s people sow they always, in some way or other, reap. Joash abundantly deserved his inglorious and terrible end. It can always be said, when the judgments of God are seen to come on such as he: “Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy” (Rev. 16:5-6⁵And I heard the angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus. ⁶For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drink; for they are worthy. (Revelation 16:5‑6)).

Click here to show subject links in the text for more information.