2 Chronicles 24

King James Version

Full text for 2 Chronicles Chapter 24

1¶ Joash [was] seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's 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's 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's office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that [there was] much money, the king's scribe and the high priest's 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.

15¶ But 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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

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.

Medium Summary

Joash ascended to the throne at seven years old and reigned for forty years, initially demonstrating faithfulness to the LORD under the strong influence of Jehoiada the priest. During this period, Joash initiated a significant repair of the dilapidated temple, gathering contributions from all Israel, which led to the successful restoration of the house of God and the creation of new sacred vessels. Upon Jehoiada's death at a venerable age, Joash's reign took a dramatic turn, as he heeded the counsel of Judah's princes who led him and the people to forsake the LORD and worship idols. Despite prophets being sent to call them back, Joash refused to listen and even commanded the stoning of Zechariah, Jehoiada's son, who prophesied against their transgression. As a result of this apostasy, a small Syrian army was divinely empowered to defeat Judah, executing judgment upon Joash. Afflicted with severe diseases, Joash was eventually assassinated by his own servants in retribution for the murder of Zechariah, and he was denied burial in the royal sepulchres.

Long Summary

King Joash began his reign at the tender age of seven, ruling for forty years in Jerusalem, and for a significant period, he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, guided by the venerable priest Jehoiada. Under Jehoiada's influence, Joash developed a strong desire to repair the house of the LORD, which had fallen into disrepair and desecration by Athaliah's sons. He commanded the Levites to collect money from all Israel for this purpose, and when their efforts were slow, he personally intervened to ensure the collection was diligently gathered according to the commandment of Moses. A chest was placed at the temple gate, and the people joyfully contributed, leading to an abundance of funds. The collected money was then used to hire masons, carpenters, and metalworkers, who diligently restored the temple to its former state and strengthened it. After the repair was completed, the remaining funds were used to fashion new vessels of gold and silver for the temple service, and burnt offerings were continually offered during Jehoiada's lifetime. Jehoiada lived to the remarkable age of one hundred and thirty years, and upon his death, he was honored with burial among the kings in the city of David, a testament to his good deeds toward God and Israel. However, following Jehoiada's passing, the princes of Judah swayed Joash, leading him and the people to abandon the house of the LORD and serve groves and idols, incurring divine wrath. The LORD sent prophets to call them back, but they refused to listen. The Spirit of God came upon Zechariah, Jehoiada's son, who boldly rebuked the people and the king for their transgression, warning that forsaking the LORD would lead to being forsaken by Him. Tragically, Joash, forgetting the kindness shown to him by Jehoiada, commanded Zechariah's stoning within the temple court. At the end of the year, a small Syrian army invaded Judah, and the LORD delivered a great host into their hands, executing judgment upon Joash for their apostasy. Joash was left severely diseased, and his own servants conspired against him, slaying him on his bed in retribution for the blood of Jehoiada's son. He was buried in the city of David, but notably, not in the sepulchres reserved for kings.

Core Concepts

  • Righteous Reign (Initial)Joash's early rule was characterized by obedience to the LORD, primarily due to the guiding influence and presence of Jehoiada the priest. This period saw the king's commitment to restoring proper worship and the physical temple.
  • Temple RestorationKing Joash initiated and successfully completed a significant repair and restoration of the house of the LORD, which had been damaged and plundered. This project involved a nationwide collection of funds and the diligent work of craftsmen.
  • Jehoiada's Influence and LegacyJehoiada the priest served as a righteous mentor to Joash, guiding him in the ways of the LORD and facilitating the temple's repair. His death marked a turning point in Joash's reign, and he was honored with a royal burial for his good deeds.
  • Apostasy and IdolatryAfter Jehoiada's death, Joash and the people of Judah abandoned the worship of the LORD, turning instead to the service of groves and idols. This act of forsaking God brought divine wrath upon the nation.
  • Prophetic Rebuke and MartyrdomZechariah, the son of Jehoiada, empowered by the Spirit of God, boldly confronted the king and the people concerning their transgression. His faithful testimony led to his execution by stoning at the king's command, an act of great ingratitude from Joash.
  • Divine Judgment and ConsequencesThe chapter illustrates the direct consequences of Judah's apostasy, as the LORD delivered them into the hands of a smaller Syrian army. Joash's subsequent assassination by his own servants served as a further judgment for his wickedness and the murder of Zechariah.
  • Decline and Unhonored DeathJoash's reign ended in disgrace, marked by divine judgment, severe illness, and assassination. His unhonored burial, outside the sepulchres of the kings, symbolized the loss of his initial righteous standing and the tragic end of his rule.