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.
2 And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.
3 And Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he begat sons and daughters.
4 And it came to pass after this, that Joash was minded to repair the house of the LORD.
5 And 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.
6 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?
7 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.
8 And at the king's commandment they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of the house of the LORD.
9 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.
10 And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end.
11 Now 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.
12 And 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.
13 So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it.
14 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. 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.
16 And 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.
17 Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them.
18 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.
19 Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear.
20 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.
21 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.
22 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.
23 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.
24 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.
25 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 sepulchres of the kings.
26 And these are they that conspired against him; Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabitess.
27 Now 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.
The book of 2 Chronicles is a historical record of the kings of Israel and Judah, and Chapter 24 focuses on the reign of Joash, the seventh king of Judah. This chapter highlights the positive and negative aspects of Joash's rule, including his faithfulness to God and his eventual downfall due to pride and idolatry.
The chapter begins by stating that Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty years in Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 24:1). Joash's reign started off well as he followed the guidance of Jehoiada the priest, who served as a father figure to him (2 Chronicles 24:2-3). Jehoiada instructed Joash to repair the temple of the Lord, which had been neglected and damaged during the reign of Joash's wicked grandmother, Athaliah (2 Chronicles 24:4-5). Joash agreed to this and commanded the Levites to collect money from the people of Judah to restore the temple (2 Chronicles 24:6-7).
The people responded generously, and the repairs were completed. However, there was still not enough money to make all the necessary repairs, so the Levites decided to use the remaining funds to make vessels for the temple and to pay the workers (2 Chronicles 24:8-14). Joash and Jehoiada were pleased with the work, and they dedicated the temple to the Lord with sacrifices and offerings (2 Chronicles 24:15-16).
Despite the positive start to Joash's reign, things took a turn for the worse when Jehoiada died. The officials of Judah came to Joash and persuaded him to abandon the temple of the Lord and serve the idols of the people (2 Chronicles 24:17-18). Joash listened to their advice and abandoned the Lord, causing the people to forsake the temple and worship idols (2 Chronicles 24:19).
This angered God, and He sent prophets to warn Joash and the people of Judah to turn back to Him, but they refused to listen (2 Chronicles 24:19-21). Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, boldly spoke out against the people's idolatry and warned them of God's coming judgment (2 Chronicles 24:20-22). Instead of heeding his warning, the people stoned Zechariah to death in the temple courtyard, fulfilling his prophecy of judgment upon them (2 Chronicles 24:23-25).
God did not let this injustice go unpunished, and He sent the Syrians to attack Judah and Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 24:23-24). The Syrians were successful in their attack, and they killed many of the leaders of Judah and took away all the treasures and sacred vessels from the temple (2 Chronicles 24:23-27).
Joash was severely wounded in the attack, and his own servants conspired against him and killed him in his bed (2 Chronicles 24:25). Thus, Joash's reign, which started with promise and faithfulness to God, ended in rebellion and tragedy.
The main themes of this chapter can be summarized as the consequences of faithfulness and rebellion against God. Joash's reign illustrates the importance of seeking guidance from wise and godly leaders, as seen in his relationship with Jehoiada. The chapter also highlights the danger of pride and idolatry, as Joash's downfall was ultimately due to his pride and turning away from the Lord.
Furthermore, the chapter serves as a warning against the consequences of rejecting God's word and His prophets. The people of Judah refused to listen to the prophets who warned them of God's judgment, and as a result, they faced defeat and destruction.
The death of Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, also serves as a reminder of the consequences of shedding innocent blood. Zechariah's death was a fulfillment of prophecy and a reflection of the people's disobedience and rebellion against God.
Chapter 24 also emphasizes the importance of maintaining the temple of the Lord and keeping it holy. The neglect and damage of the temple during the reign of Athaliah led to the people's abandonment of the Lord and their worship of idols. This serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving and honoring the places of worship dedicated to God.
In addition, the chapter also highlights the consequences of following the advice of wicked and ungodly leaders. The officials of Judah led Joash astray, causing him to abandon the Lord and bring destruction upon the nation. This serves as a warning against the influence of ungodly counsel and the importance of seeking guidance from godly leaders.
Overall, Chapter 24 of 2 Chronicles serves as a cautionary tale of the consequences of faithfulness and rebellion against God. It reminds us of the importance of seeking wise and godly guidance, avoiding pride and idolatry, and heeding the warnings of God's prophets. It also serves as a reminder to honor and preserve places of worship dedicated to God and to reject the influence of ungodly leaders and counsel.
In conclusion, Chapter 24 of 2 Chronicles highlights the reign of Joash, the seventh king of Judah, and the consequences of his faithfulness and rebellion against God. It serves as a warning against the dangers of pride, idolatry, and disobedience, and the importance of seeking godly guidance and preserving places of worship. This chapter reminds us of the consequences of rejecting God's word and the importance of heeding the warnings of His prophets.
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