2 Chronicles 24
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 24
Temple Repairs.[a] 1 Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beer-sheba. 2 Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord as long as Jehoiada was alive. 3 Jehoiada selected two wives for him, and he became the father of several sons and daughters.
4 Sometime later, Joash decided to restore the temple of the Lord. 5 After he assembled the priests and the Levites, he said to them: “Go forth to all the towns of Judah and without any delay collect the money that is due each year so that we may make the annual repairs that are necessary. See to it that you act quickly.” However, the Levites did not hasten to proceed immediately.
6 Therefore, the king summoned Jehoiada, the chief priest, and asked 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 by the assembly of Israel for the tent of the testimony?” 7 For the wicked Athaliah and her sons had broken into the house of God and had even given to the Baals the sacred revenues of the temple of the Lord.
8 Therefore, the king ordered that a chest be made and placed outside the gate of the house of the Lord. 9 Then a proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to bring to the Lord the tax which Moses, the servant of God, had imposed on Israel in the desert. 10 As a result, the officials and all the people rejoiced, and they willingly brought their contributions, depositing them in the chest until it was filled.
11 Whenever the chest was brought to the royal officials by the Levites, and it was evident that it contained a large amount of money, the king’s secretary and the representative of the chief priest would come to empty it and then return the chest to its designated place. They did this day after day and collected money in great abundance. 12 Then the king and Jehoiada gave the money to those who were responsible for carrying out the work of the house of the Lord, and they also hired masons and carpenters to restore the house of the Lord, while workers skilled in iron and bronze devoted themselves to making all the necessary repairs.
13 The laborers concentrated on their labor, and the repairs progressed steadily at their hands. They restored the house of God to its original state and strengthened it. 14 After they had completed their work, they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada, and it was used to make vessels for the house of the Lord, vessels for the services and for burnt offerings, and basins and other gold and silver utensils. They continually offered burnt offerings in the Lord’s temple throughout the lifetime of Jehoiada.
15 Jehoiada lived to a ripe old age. He was one hundred and thirty years old when he died. 16 He was buried with the kings in the City of David because of all the good he had done in Israel for God and his temple.
17 Apostasy of King Joash.[b] After the death of Jehoiada, the officials came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to their advice. 18 Then they forsook the temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and they began to worship the sacred poles and the idols. Because of their guilt, God’s wrath descended upon Judah and Jerusalem. 19 Although the Lord sent prophets to lead them back to him, they refused to listen.
20 Then the Spirit of God took possession of Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood up before the people and said to them: “Thus says the Lord: ‘Why do you transgress the commands of the Lord so that you cannot prosper? Because you have abandoned the Lord, he has abandoned you.’ ”
21 However, they conspired against him, and at the king’s order they stoned him to death in the court of the house of the Lord. 22 Thus King Joash, forgetting the loyalty of Zechariah’s father, Jehoiada, killed his son. As he was dying, he said: “May the Lord see this and call you to account.”
23 Retribution. At the turn of the year the Aramean army advanced against Joash. When they reached Judah and Jerusalem, they massacred all the leaders of the people and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. 24 Although the invading Aramean army had come with only a small force, the Lord delivered into their hands a very large army because they had abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors. Thus they executed judgment against Joash.
25 When the Arameans had withdrawn, leaving Joash severely wounded, his servants conspired against him to avenge the blood of the son of the priest Jehoiada, and they killed him on his bed. Thus he died, and they buried him in the City of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.
26 Those who conspired against him were Zabad, the son of Shimeath the Ammonite, and Jehozabad, the son of Shimrith, a Moabite. 27 Accounts of his sons, of the many oracles against him, and of the rebuilding of the house of God are all recorded in the commentary of the book of kings. His son Amaziah succeeded him.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 24:1 King Joash repairs the temple; to this end, he sets up a system that will provide reliable aid for the maintenance of the sacred dwelling: a collection box to receive the offerings of the faithful, and a collection to be taken up throughout the country. After the Exile, this latter collection will become a regular tax on behalf of the sanctuary (see Mt 17:24), and will be demanded even of Jews in the Diaspora outside of Palestine.
- 2 Chronicles 24:17 This particular odious assassination remained impressed on the memory of Israel, since it will still be mentioned in the Gospel (Mt 23:35).
2 Chronicles 24
New King James Version
Joash Repairs the Temple(A)
24 Joash (B)was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 Joash (C)did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3 And Jehoiada took two wives for him, and he had sons and daughters.
4 Now it happened after this that Joash set his heart on repairing the house of the Lord. 5 Then he gathered the priests and the Levites, and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah, and (D)gather from all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that you do it quickly.”
However the Levites did not do it quickly. 6 (E)So the king called Jehoiada the chief priest, and said to him, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and from Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of (F)Moses the servant of the Lord and of the assembly of Israel, for the (G)tabernacle of witness?” 7 For (H)the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house of God, and had also presented all the (I)dedicated things of the house of the Lord to the Baals.
8 Then at the king’s command (J)they made a chest, and set it outside at the gate of the house of the Lord. 9 And they made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to bring to the Lord (K)the collection that Moses the servant of God had imposed on Israel in the wilderness. 10 Then all the leaders and all the people rejoiced, brought their contributions, and put them into the chest until all had given. 11 So it was, at that time, when the chest was brought to the king’s official by the hand of the Levites, and (L)when they saw that there was much money, that the king’s scribe and the high priest’s officer came and emptied the chest, and took it and returned it to its place. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.
12 The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of the Lord; and they hired masons and carpenters to (M)repair the house of the Lord, and also those who worked in iron and bronze to restore the house of the Lord. 13 So the workmen labored, and the work was completed by them; they restored the house of God to its original condition and reinforced it. 14 When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada; (N)they made from it articles for the house of the Lord, articles for serving and offering, spoons and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the Lord continually all the days of Jehoiada.
Apostasy of Joash
15 But Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died; he was one hundred and thirty years old 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 His house.
17 Now after the death of Jehoiada the leaders of Judah came and bowed down to the king. And the king listened to them. 18 Therefore they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served (O)wooden images and idols; and (P)wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass. 19 Yet He (Q)sent prophets to them, to bring them back to the Lord; and they testified against them, but they would not listen.
20 Then the Spirit of God [a]came upon (R)Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God: (S)‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? (T)Because you have forsaken the Lord, He also has forsaken you.’ ” 21 So they conspired against him, and at the command of the king they (U)stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the Lord. 22 Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada his [b]father had done to him, but killed his son; and as he died, he said, “The Lord look on it, and (V)repay!”
Death of Joash(W)
23 So it happened in the spring of the year that (X)the army of Syria came up against him; and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the leaders of the people from among the people, and sent all their [c]spoil to the king of Damascus. 24 For the army of the Syrians (Y)came with a small company of men; but the Lord (Z)delivered a very great army into their hand, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers. So they (AA)executed judgment against Joash. 25 And when they had withdrawn from him (for they left him severely wounded), (AB)his own servants conspired against him because of the blood of the [d]sons 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.
26 These are the ones who conspired against him: [e]Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of [f]Shimrith the Moabitess. 27 Now concerning his sons, and (AC)the many oracles about him, and the repairing of the house of God, indeed they are written in the [g]annals of the book of the kings. (AD)Then Amaziah his son reigned in his place.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 24:20 Lit. clothed
- 2 Chronicles 24:22 Foster father
- 2 Chronicles 24:23 plunder
- 2 Chronicles 24:25 LXX, Vg. son and vv. 20–22
- 2 Chronicles 24:26 Jozachar, 2 Kin. 12:21
- 2 Chronicles 24:26 Shomer, 2 Kin. 12:21
- 2 Chronicles 24:27 Or commentary, Heb. midrash
2 Chronicles 24
English Standard Version
Joash Repairs the Temple
24 (A)Joash[a] was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 (B)And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3 Jehoiada got for him two wives, and he had sons and daughters.
4 After this Joash (C)decided to (D)restore the house of the Lord. 5 And he gathered the priests and the Levites and said to them, “Go out to the cities of (E)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. 6 So the king summoned Jehoiada the chief and said to him, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and Jerusalem (F)the tax levied by Moses, the servant of the Lord, and the congregation of Israel for (G)the tent of testimony?” 7 For (H)the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house of God, and had also used all (I)the dedicated things of the house of the Lord for the Baals.
8 So the king commanded, and they made a chest and set it outside the gate of the house of the Lord. 9 And (J)proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to bring in for the Lord (K)the tax that Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness. 10 And all the princes and all the people rejoiced and brought their tax and dropped it into the chest until they had finished.[b] 11 And 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. 12 And 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. 13 So 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. 14 And when they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, and with it (L)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.
15 But Jehoiada grew old and full of days, and died. He was 130 years old at his death. 16 And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and toward God and his house.
17 Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. Then the king listened to them. 18 And they abandoned the house of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and served (M)the Asherim and the idols. And (N)wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs. 19 (O)Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the Lord. (P)These testified against them, but they would not pay attention.
Joash's Treachery
20 (Q)Then the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah (R)the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God, (S)‘Why do you break the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? (T)Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.’” 21 But (U)they conspired against him, (V)and by command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the Lord. 22 Thus 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 (W)and avenge!”[c]
Joash Assassinated
23 At the end of the year (X)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. 24 Though the army of the Syrians had come with few men, (Y)the Lord delivered into their hand a very great army, (Z)because Judah[d] had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers. Thus they (AA)executed judgment on Joash.
25 When they had departed from him, leaving him (AB)severely wounded, (AC)his servants conspired against him because of the blood of (AD)the son[e] of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, (AE)but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings. 26 Those who conspired against him were Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonite, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabite. 27 Accounts of his sons and of the many oracles against him and of (AF)the rebuilding[f] of the house of God are written in the (AG)Story[g] of the Book of the Kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his place.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 24:1 Spelled Jehoash in 2 Kings 12:1
- 2 Chronicles 24:10 Or until it was full
- 2 Chronicles 24:22 Or and require it
- 2 Chronicles 24:24 Hebrew they
- 2 Chronicles 24:25 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew sons
- 2 Chronicles 24:27 Hebrew founding
- 2 Chronicles 24:27 Or Exposition
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
