Joash Turns From The Lord And is Killed
November 9, 2021
Commentary
After Jehoiada the Priest died, the leaders of Judah talked Joash into doing what they wanted (v. 17). The people soon stopped worshiping in the temple and started worshiping idols and symbols of the goddess Amaziah (v. 18). This made the Lord very angry with the people of Judah and Jerusalem, but He still sent prophets who warned them to turn back to Him (v. 19). The people refused to listen. The Holy Spirit spoke to Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, who told everyone what God was saying (v. 20). “Why are you disobeying me and my Laws? This will only bring punishment! You have deserted me, so now I will desert you.” King Joash forgot that Zechariah’s father had always been a loyal friend. So when there was a plot to kill Zechariah, Joash joined the cause and gave the orders to stone him to death in the courtyard of the temple (vv. 21-22).
The Syrian army invaded Judah and Jerusalem in the spring of the following year, killing all of the nation’s leaders and took all of their spoil back to their king in Damascus (v. 23). The Lord let the small Syrian army defeat the larger army of Judah to punish their people for turning away from Him (v. 24). Joash was severely wounded during the battle and soon two of his officials, Abed and Jehozabad, decided to take revenge for Zechariah’s death. They plotted and killed Joash while he was recovering from his wounds (vv. 25-26). Amaziah, son of Joash, became king after his father’s death (v. 27). More is told about the sons of Joash in 1stand 2nd Kings.
Application
Lord, take care of my enemies and never let me be a person of revenge who tries to get even.
2 Chronicles 24:17– 27 (NET)
17 After Jehoiada died, the officials of Judah visited the king and declared their loyalty to him. The king listened to their advice. 18 They abandoned the temple of the Lord God of their ancestors and worshiped the Asherah poles and idols. Because of this sinful activity, God was angry with Judah and Jerusalem. 19 The Lord sent prophets among them to lead them back to him. They warned the people, but they would not pay attention. 20 God’s Spirit energized Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood up before the people and said to them, “This is what God says: ‘Why are you violating the commands of the Lord? You will not be prosperous. Because you have rejected the Lord, he has rejected you!’” 21 They plotted against him and by royal decree stoned him to death in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple. 22 King Joash disregarded the loyalty Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had shown him and killed Jehoiada’s son. As Zechariah was dying, he said, “May the Lord take notice and seek vengeance!”
23 At the beginning of the year the Syrian army attacked Joash and invaded Judah and Jerusalem. They wiped out all the leaders of the people and sent all the plunder they gathered to the king of Damascus. 24 Even though the invading Syrian army was relatively weak, the Lord handed over to them Judah’s very large army, for the people of Judah had abandoned the Lord God of their ancestors. The Syrians gave Joash what he deserved. 25 When they withdrew, they left Joash badly wounded. His servants plotted against him because of what he had done to the son of Jehoiada the priest. They murdered him on his bed. Thus he died and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. 26 The conspirators were Zabad son of Shimeath (an Ammonite woman) and Jehozabad son of Shimrith (a Moabite woman).
27 The list of Joash’s sons, the many prophetic oracles about him, and the account of his building project on God’s temple are included in the record of the Scroll of the Kings. His son Amaziah replaced him as king.