犹大王约阿施

24 约阿施七岁登基,在耶路撒冷执政四十年。他母亲叫西比亚,是别示巴人。 耶何耶大祭司在世之日,约阿施做耶和华视为正的事。 耶何耶大为他娶了两个妻子,她们都为他生儿育女。

之后,约阿施有意整修耶和华的殿, 便召集祭司和利未人,对他们说:“你们到犹大各城去向所有以色列人征收银子,用来作每年整修你们上帝殿的费用。你们要立刻办理这事。”可是,利未人没有立刻办理。 王就召来耶何耶大大祭司,问他:“你为什么不吩咐利未人到耶路撒冷和犹大去收税呢?这税是耶和华的仆人摩西和以色列的会众定的,以备圣幕之用。” 因为恶妇亚她利雅的爪牙曾闯入耶和华上帝的殿,拿殿里的圣物去供奉巴力。

于是,王下令造一个箱子,放在耶和华殿的门外, 通告犹大和耶路撒冷的人民要将上帝的仆人摩西在旷野为以色列人定的税带来献给耶和华。 10 全体首领和民众都高高兴兴地把银子带来投进箱子里,直到箱子满了。 11 利未人见箱子满了,就抬到王的官员那里。王的书记和大祭司的属下会把箱子倒空,然后把箱子放回原处。日复一日,他们收了很多银子。 12 王与耶何耶大把银子交给耶和华殿里的办事人员,他们就雇用石匠、木匠、铁匠和铜匠来整修耶和华的殿。 13 工人辛勤整修,工程进展顺利,上帝的殿恢复了原貌,而且非常坚固。 14 完工后,他们把剩余的银子交给王与耶何耶大,这些银子被用来制造耶和华殿里的器具:供奉和献祭用的器皿、碟子和其他金银器皿。耶何耶大在世之日,民众常在耶和华的殿里献燔祭。

耶何耶大的政策被废弃

15 耶何耶大寿终正寝,享年一百三十岁。 16 民众把他葬在大卫城的王陵里,因为他在以色列为上帝和上帝的殿做了美善的事。

17 耶何耶大死后,犹大众首领来朝拜王,王对他们言听计从。 18 他们离弃他们祖先的上帝耶和华的殿,去供奉亚舍拉神像及其他偶像。因他们所犯的罪,上帝的烈怒临到犹大和耶路撒冷。 19 但耶和华仍然派先知到他们中间,引导他们归向祂。先知警告他们,他们却不听。

20 上帝的灵感动了耶何耶大祭司的儿子撒迦利亚,他便站在高处对民众说:“耶和华上帝这样说,‘你们为什么违反耶和华的诫命,以致不得亨通呢?既然你们背弃我,我也必离弃你们。’” 21 他们想谋害撒迦利亚,就照着王的命令,在耶和华殿的院子里用石头打死了他。 22 约阿施王不但不顾念撒迦利亚的父亲耶何耶大对他的恩惠,还杀死了耶何耶大的儿子。撒迦利亚临死的时候说:“愿耶和华鉴察,为我申冤!”

约阿施被杀

23 当年年底,亚兰的军兵前来攻击约阿施,入侵犹大和耶路撒冷,杀了民众的所有首领,把战利品全都送到大马士革王那里。 24 虽然亚兰军只来了一小队,但耶和华把大队的犹大军兵交在他们手中,以惩罚约阿施,因为犹大人背弃了他们祖先的上帝耶和华。

25 亚兰人退兵的时候,约阿施受了重伤,他的臣仆叛变,把他杀死在床上,为耶何耶大祭司的儿子报了血仇。约阿施死后葬在大卫城,但没有葬在王陵里。 26 杀他的是亚扪妇人示米押的儿子撒拔和摩押妇人示米利的儿子约萨拔。 27 至于约阿施的众子、他所受的警告以及他整修上帝殿的事都记在列王史上。他儿子亚玛谢继位。

约阿施作犹大王(A)

24 约阿施登基的时候是七岁,在耶路撒冷作王共四十年。他的母亲名叫西比亚,是别是巴人。 耶何耶大祭司在世的日子,约阿施行耶和华看为正的事。 耶何耶大为他娶了两个妻子,他就生了一些儿女。

下令重修圣殿(B)

此后,约阿施有意重修耶和华的殿, 就召集了众祭司和利未人,对他们说:“你们要去到犹大各城,向所有以色列人募捐金钱,可以年年修建你们 神的殿;你们应急速办理这事。”可是利未人却不急速办理。 于是王把大祭司耶何耶大召来,对他说:“你为甚么不命令利未人把耶和华的仆人摩西和以色列的会众,为法柜的会幕规定的税款,从犹大和耶路撒冷征收回来,作修殿的费用呢?” 原来那恶妇亚他利雅的众子曾经拆毁 神的殿,又把耶和华殿中一切分别为圣的物品用来供奉巴力。

于是王下令,他们就造了一个柜,放在耶和华殿的门外; 又在犹大和耶路撒冷发出通告,叫人把 神的仆人摩西,在旷野规定以色列人缴交的税款带来,献给耶和华。 10 众领袖和人民都欢欢喜喜把税款带来,投进柜中,直到他们都投完了。 11 利未人把银柜抬到王指定负责这事的人那里的时候,他们看见税银很多,王的书记和大祭司的属员就来把银柜倒空,然后抬回原处。天天都是这样,所以收集了很多银子。 12 王和耶何耶大把银子交给耶和华殿的办事人员,他们就雇了石匠和木匠,重建耶和华的殿,又雇了铁匠和铜匠,重建耶和华的殿。 13 作工的人不住工作,重修的工程在他们手下顺利进行;他们把 神的殿重建得和先前一样,并且非常坚固。 14 他们完工以后,就把剩下的银子送到王和耶何耶大面前,用来制造耶和华殿里的器皿、供奉和献祭所用的器皿、盘子,以及各种金银器皿。耶何耶大在世的日子,众人都常在耶和华的殿里献燔祭。

耶何耶大逝世

15 耶何耶大年纪老了,寿数满足就死了;他死的时候,是一百三十岁。 16 他和列王一同埋葬在大卫城里,因为他在以色列为 神和 神的殿作了美善的事。

全国上下离弃耶和华

17 耶何耶大死后,犹大的领袖们来朝拜王;王听从了他们的主意。 18 他们离弃了耶和华他们列祖的 神的殿,去事奉亚舍拉和偶像。因为他们的罪, 神的忿怒临到犹大和耶路撒冷。 19 但耶和华仍然差派先知到他们中间,引导他们归向耶和华;这些先知虽然警告他们,他们却不肯听从。

撒迦利亚责民遭害

20 那时, 神的灵临到耶何耶大祭司的儿子撒迦利亚身上,他就站在比众民高的地方,对他们说:“ 神这样说:‘你们为甚么违背耶和华的诫命,使你们不得亨通呢?因为你们离弃了耶和华,所以耶和华也离弃你们。’” 21 众人要杀害撒迦利亚,于是照着王的命令,在耶和华殿的院子里用石头把他打死。 22 约阿施王没有记念撒迦利亚的父亲耶何耶大对他所施的恩,反而杀了他的儿子。撒迦利亚临死的时候,说:“愿耶和华鉴察,并且责问你!”

亚兰军攻打犹大(C)

23 过了年,亚兰的军队上来攻打约阿施;他们侵入犹大和耶路撒冷,杀了民间的领袖,又把他们的一切战利品都送到大马士革王那里去。 24 亚兰的军队虽然只来了一小队人,耶和华却把一支庞大的军队交在他们手里;因为犹大人离弃了耶和华他们列祖的 神,亚兰人向约阿施执行了惩罚。

约阿施被杀(D)

25 亚兰人离开约阿施的时候,他们丢下约阿施,因为他受了重伤,他的臣仆要杀害他,为了报复耶何耶大祭司的儿子流血的仇;他们在床上杀死他,他就死了;有人把他埋葬在大卫城里,只是没有埋葬在列王的陵墓里。 26 谋害他的是亚扪妇人示米押的儿子撒拔和摩押妇人示米利的儿子约萨拔。 27 至于约阿施的众子,以及许多警戒他的话,还有他重建 神的殿的事,都记在列王记的注释上。约阿施的儿子亚玛谢接续他作王。

約阿施作猶大王(A)

24 約阿施登基的時候是七歲,在耶路撒冷作王共四十年。他的母親名叫西比亞,是別是巴人。 耶何耶大祭司在世的日子,約阿施行耶和華看為正的事。 耶何耶大為他娶了兩個妻子,他就生了一些兒女。

下令重修聖殿(B)

此後,約阿施有意重修耶和華的殿, 就召集了眾祭司和利未人,對他們說:“你們要去到猶大各城,向所有以色列人募捐金錢,可以年年修建你們 神的殿;你們應急速辦理這事。”可是利未人卻不急速辦理。 於是王把大祭司耶何耶大召來,對他說:“你為甚麼不命令利未人把耶和華的僕人摩西和以色列的會眾,為法櫃的會幕規定的稅款,從猶大和耶路撒冷徵收回來,作修殿的費用呢?” 原來那惡婦亞他利雅的眾子曾經拆毀 神的殿,又把耶和華殿中一切分別為聖的物品用來供奉巴力。

於是王下令,他們就造了一個櫃,放在耶和華殿的門外; 又在猶大和耶路撒冷發出通告,叫人把 神的僕人摩西,在曠野規定以色列人繳交的稅款帶來,獻給耶和華。 10 眾領袖和人民都歡歡喜喜把稅款帶來,投進櫃中,直到他們都投完了。 11 利未人把銀櫃抬到王指定負責這事的人那裡的時候,他們看見稅銀很多,王的書記和大祭司的屬員就來把銀櫃倒空,然後抬回原處。天天都是這樣,所以收集了很多銀子。 12 王和耶何耶大把銀子交給耶和華殿的辦事人員,他們就雇了石匠和木匠,重建耶和華的殿,又雇了鐵匠和銅匠,重建耶和華的殿。 13 作工的人不住工作,重修的工程在他們手下順利進行;他們把 神的殿重建得和先前一樣,並且非常堅固。 14 他們完工以後,就把剩下的銀子送到王和耶何耶大面前,用來製造耶和華殿裡的器皿、供奉和獻祭所用的器皿、盤子,以及各種金銀器皿。耶何耶大在世的日子,眾人都常在耶和華的殿裡獻燔祭。

耶何耶大逝世

15 耶何耶大年紀老了,壽數滿足就死了;他死的時候,是一百三十歲。 16 他和列王一同埋葬在大衛城裡,因為他在以色列為 神和 神的殿作了美善的事。

全國上下離棄耶和華

17 耶何耶大死後,猶大的領袖們來朝拜王;王聽從了他們的主意。 18 他們離棄了耶和華他們列祖的 神的殿,去事奉亞舍拉和偶像。因為他們的罪, 神的忿怒臨到猶大和耶路撒冷。 19 但耶和華仍然差派先知到他們中間,引導他們歸向耶和華;這些先知雖然警告他們,他們卻不肯聽從。

撒迦利亞責民遭害

20 那時, 神的靈臨到耶何耶大祭司的兒子撒迦利亞身上,他就站在比眾民高的地方,對他們說:“ 神這樣說:‘你們為甚麼違背耶和華的誡命,使你們不得亨通呢?因為你們離棄了耶和華,所以耶和華也離棄你們。’” 21 眾人要殺害撒迦利亞,於是照著王的命令,在耶和華殿的院子裡用石頭把他打死。 22 約阿施王沒有記念撒迦利亞的父親耶何耶大對他所施的恩,反而殺了他的兒子。撒迦利亞臨死的時候,說:“願耶和華鑒察,並且責問你!”

亞蘭軍攻打猶大(C)

23 過了年,亞蘭的軍隊上來攻打約阿施;他們侵入猶大和耶路撒冷,殺了民間的領袖,又把他們的一切戰利品都送到大馬士革王那裡去。 24 亞蘭的軍隊雖然只來了一小隊人,耶和華卻把一支龐大的軍隊交在他們手裡;因為猶大人離棄了耶和華他們列祖的 神,亞蘭人向約阿施執行了懲罰。

約阿施被殺(D)

25 亞蘭人離開約阿施的時候,他們丟下約阿施,因為他受了重傷,他的臣僕要殺害他,為了報復耶何耶大祭司的兒子流血的仇;他們在床上殺死他,他就死了;有人把他埋葬在大衛城裡,只是沒有埋葬在列王的陵墓裡。 26 謀害他的是亞捫婦人示米押的兒子撒拔和摩押婦人示米利的兒子約薩拔。 27 至於約阿施的眾子,以及許多警戒他的話,還有他重建 神的殿的事,都記在列王記的註釋上。約阿施的兒子亞瑪謝接續他作王。

King Joash

24 Joash was seven years old when he became king; he was king for forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Gazelle (Zibiah). She was from Beersheba.

2-3 Taught and trained by Jehoiada the priest, Joash did what pleased God throughout Jehoiada’s lifetime. Jehoiada picked out two wives for him; he had a family of both sons and daughters.

4-6 The time came when Joash determined to renovate The Temple of God. He got the priests and Levites together and said, “Circulate through the towns of Judah every year and collect money from the people to repair The Temple of your God. You are in charge of carrying this out.” But the Levites dragged their feet and didn’t do anything.

Then the king called in Jehoiada the chief priest and said, “Why haven’t you made the Levites bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the tax Moses, servant of God and the congregation, set for the upkeep of the place of worship? You can see how bad things are—wicked Queen Athaliah and her sons let The Temple of God go to ruin and took all its sacred artifacts for use in Baal worship.”

8-9 Following the king’s orders, they made a chest and placed it at the entrance to The Temple of God. Then they sent out a tax notice throughout Judah and Jerusalem: “Pay the tax that Moses the servant of God set when Israel was in the wilderness.”

10 The people and their leaders were glad to do it and cheerfully brought their money until the chest was full.

11-14 Whenever the Levites brought the chest in for a royal audit and found it to be full, the king’s secretary and the official of the chief priest would empty the chest and put it back in its place. Day after day they did this and collected a lot of money. The king and Jehoiada gave the money to the managers of The Temple project; they in turn paid the masons and carpenters for the repair work on The Temple of God. The construction workers kept at their jobs steadily until the restoration was complete—the house of God as good as new! When they had finished the work, they returned the surplus money to the king and Jehoiada, who used the money for making sacred vessels for Temple worship, vessels for the daily worship, for the Whole-Burnt-Offerings, bowls, and other gold and silver liturgical artifacts.

14-16 Whole-Burnt-Offerings were made regularly in The Temple of God throughout Jehoiada’s lifetime. He died at a ripe old age—130 years old! They buried him in the royal cemetery because he had such a distinguished life of service to Israel and God and God’s Temple.

17-19 But after the death of Jehoiada things fell apart. The leaders of Judah made a formal presentation to the king and he went along with them. Things went from bad to worse; they deserted The Temple of God and took up with the cult of sex goddesses. An angry cloud hovered over Judah and Jerusalem because of this sin. God sent prophets to straighten them out, warning of judgment. But nobody paid attention.

20 Then the Spirit of God moved Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest to speak up: “God’s word: Why have you deliberately walked away from God’s commandments? You can’t live this way! If you walk out on God, he’ll walk out on you.”

21-22 But they worked out a plot against Zechariah, and with the complicity of the king—he actually gave the order!—they murdered him, pelting him with rocks, right in the court of The Temple of God. That’s the thanks King Joash showed the loyal Jehoiada, the priest who had made him king. He murdered Jehoiada’s son. Zechariah’s last words were, “Look, God! Make them pay for this!”

23-24 A year or so later Aramean troops attacked Joash. They invaded Judah and Jerusalem, massacred the leaders, and shipped all their plunder back to the king in Damascus. The Aramean army was quite small, but God used them to wipe out Joash’s large army—their punishment for deserting God, the God of their ancestors. Arameans implemented God’s judgment against Joash.

25-27 They left Joash badly wounded and his own servants finished him off—it was a palace conspiracy, avenging the murder of the son of Jehoiada the priest. They killed him in his bed. Afterward they buried him in the City of David, but he was not honored with a grave in the royal cemetery. The temple conspirators were Zabad, whose mother was Shimeath from Ammon, and Jehozabad, whose mother was Shimrith from Moab. The story of his sons, the many sermons preached to Joash, and the account of his repairs on The Temple of God can be found contained in the commentary on the royal history.

Amaziah, Joash’s son, was the next king.