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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。

Joash Repairs the Temple(A)(B)

24 Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba. Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord(C) all the years of Jehoiada the priest. Jehoiada chose two wives for him, and he had sons and daughters.

Some time later Joash decided to restore the temple of the Lord. He called together the priests and Levites and said to them, “Go to the towns of Judah and collect the money(D) due annually from all Israel,(E) to repair the temple of your God. Do it now.” But the Levites(F) did not act at once.

Therefore the king summoned Jehoiada the chief priest and said to him, “Why haven’t you required the Levites to bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the tax imposed by Moses the servant of the Lord and by the assembly of Israel for the tent of the covenant law?”(G)

Now the sons of that wicked woman Athaliah had broken into the temple of God and had used even its sacred objects for the Baals.

At the king’s command, a chest was made and placed outside, at the gate of the temple of the Lord. A proclamation was then issued in Judah and Jerusalem that they should bring to the Lord the tax that Moses the servant of God had required of Israel in the wilderness. 10 All the officials and all the people brought their contributions gladly,(H) dropping them into the chest until it was full. 11 Whenever the chest was brought in by the Levites to the king’s officials and they saw that there was a large amount of money, the royal secretary and the officer of the chief priest would come and empty the chest and carry it back to its place. They did this regularly and collected a great amount of money. 12 The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who carried out the work required for the temple of the Lord. They hired(I) masons and carpenters to restore the Lord’s temple, and also workers in iron and bronze to repair the temple.

13 The men in charge of the work were diligent, and the repairs progressed under them. They rebuilt the temple of God according to its original design and reinforced it. 14 When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada, and with it were made articles for the Lord’s temple: articles for the service and for the burnt offerings, and also dishes and other objects of gold and silver. As long as Jehoiada lived, burnt offerings were presented continually in the temple of the Lord.

15 Now Jehoiada was old and full of years, and he died at the age of a hundred and thirty. 16 He was buried with the kings in the City of David, because of the good he had done in Israel for God and his temple.

The Wickedness of Joash

17 After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them. 18 They abandoned(J) the temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and worshiped Asherah poles and idols.(K) Because of their guilt, God’s anger(L) came on Judah and Jerusalem. 19 Although the Lord sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him, and though they testified against them, they would not listen.(M)

20 Then the Spirit(N) of God came on Zechariah(O) son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands? You will not prosper.(P) Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken(Q) you.’”

21 But they plotted against him, and by order of the king they stoned(R) him to death(S) in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple.(T) 22 King Joash did not remember the kindness Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had shown him but killed his son, who said as he lay dying, “May the Lord see this and call you to account.”(U)

23 At the turn of the year,[a] the army of Aram marched against Joash; it invaded Judah and Jerusalem and killed all the leaders of the people.(V) They sent all the plunder to their king in Damascus. 24 Although the Aramean army had come with only a few men,(W) the Lord delivered into their hands a much larger army.(X) Because Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their ancestors, judgment was executed on Joash. 25 When the Arameans withdrew, they left Joash severely wounded. His officials conspired against him for murdering the son of Jehoiada the priest, and they killed him in his bed. So he died and was buried(Y) in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

26 Those who conspired against him were Zabad,[b] son of Shimeath an Ammonite woman, and Jehozabad, son of Shimrith[c](Z) a Moabite woman.(AA) 27 The account of his sons, the many prophecies about him, and the record of the restoration of the temple of God are written in the annotations on the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son succeeded him as king.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 24:23 Probably in the spring
  2. 2 Chronicles 24:26 A variant of Jozabad
  3. 2 Chronicles 24:26 A variant of Shomer

King Joash of Judah(A)

24 Joash [a] was 7 years old when he began to rule, and he ruled for 40 years in Jerusalem. His mother was Zibiah from Beersheba. Joash did what the Lord considered right, as long as the priest Jehoiada lived.

Jehoiada got Joash two wives, and Joash had sons and daughters.

After this, Joash wanted to renovate the Lord’s temple. He gathered the priests and the Levites and said to them, “Go to the cities of Judah, and collect money throughout Israel to repair the temple of your God every year. Do it immediately!” But the Levites didn’t do it immediately.

So the king called for the chief priest Jehoiada and asked him, “Why didn’t you require the Levites to bring the contributions from Judah and Jerusalem? The Lord’s servant Moses and the assembly had required Israel to give contributions for the use of the tent containing the words of God’s promise.” (The sons of that wicked woman Athaliah had broken into God’s temple and used all the holy things of the Lord’s temple ⌞to worship⌟ other gods—the Baals.)

The king issued an order, and they made a box and placed it outside the gate of the Lord’s temple. Then they issued a proclamation in Judah and Jerusalem that the contributions should be brought to the Lord. (In the desert the Lord’s servant Moses had required Israel to make contributions.) 10 All the officials and all the people were overjoyed. They brought the money and dropped it into the box until it was full. 11 Whenever the Levites brought the box to the king’s officers and they saw a lot of money, the king’s scribe and the chief priest’s officer would empty the box and put it back in its place. They would do this every day, so they collected a lot of money. 12 The king and Jehoiada would give the money to the foremen who were working on the Lord’s temple, and they hired masons and carpenters to renovate the Lord’s temple. They also hired men who worked with iron and bronze to repair the Lord’s temple. 13 As the men worked, the project progressed under the foremen’s guidance. They restored God’s temple to its proper condition and reinforced it.

14 When they finished, they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada, who used it to make utensils for the Lord’s temple. They made dishes and gold and silver utensils for the service and for the offerings. As long as Jehoiada lived, they sacrificed burnt offerings in the Lord’s temple.

Joash’s Sin Leads to His Assassination(B)

15 When Jehoiada was old and had lived out his years, he died. He was 130 years old when he died. 16 He was buried in the City of David with the kings because of the good he had done in Israel for God and the temple.

17 After he died, the officials of Judah bowed in front of the king with their faces touching the ground. Then the king listened to their advice. 18 They abandoned the temple of the Lord God of their ancestors and worshiped idols and the poles dedicated to the goddess Asherah. This offense of theirs brought God’s anger upon Judah and Jerusalem.

19 The Lord sent them prophets to bring them back to himself. The prophets warned them, but they wouldn’t listen. 20 God’s Spirit gave Zechariah, son of the priest Jehoiada, strength. Zechariah stood in front of the people and said to them, “This is what God says: Why are you breaking the Lord’s commands? You won’t prosper that way! The Lord has abandoned you because you have abandoned him.” 21 But they plotted against Zechariah, and by the king’s order they stoned him to death in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple. 22 King Joash did not remember how kind Zechariah’s father, Jehoiada, had been to him. Instead, he killed Jehoiada’s son. As Zechariah died, he said, “May the Lord see ⌞this⌟ and get revenge!”

23 At the end of the year, the Aramean army attacked Joash. They came to Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the people’s leaders. The Arameans sent all the loot they took from Judah and Jerusalem to the king of Damascus. 24 The Aramean army had come with a small number of men, but the Lord handed Joash’s large army over to them because Joash’s soldiers had abandoned the Lord God of their ancestors. So the Arameans carried out ⌞the Lord’s⌟ judgment on Joash. 25 When the Arameans withdrew, they left him suffering from many wounds. His own officials plotted against him for murdering the son of the priest Jehoiada. They killed Joash in his bed. When he died, they buried him in the City of David, but they didn’t bury him in the tombs of the kings. 26 These were the men who conspired against him: Zabad, son of an Ammonite woman named Shimeath, and Jehozabad, son of a Moabite woman named Shimrith. 27 The record about his sons, the many divine revelations against him, and the rebuilding of God’s temple is in the notes made in the Book of the Kings. His son Amaziah succeeded him as king.

Footnotes

  1. 24:1 In the Masoretic text this king of Judah is also called Jehoash, a longer form of Joash.

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. Joash (C)did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest. And Jehoiada took two wives for him, and he had sons and daughters.

Now it happened after this that Joash set his heart on repairing the house of the Lord. 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. (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?” 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.

Then at the king’s command (J)they made a chest, and set it outside at the gate of the house of the Lord. 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

  1. 2 Chronicles 24:20 Lit. clothed
  2. 2 Chronicles 24:22 Foster father
  3. 2 Chronicles 24:23 plunder
  4. 2 Chronicles 24:25 LXX, Vg. son and vv. 20–22
  5. 2 Chronicles 24:26 Jozachar, 2 Kin. 12:21
  6. 2 Chronicles 24:26 Shomer, 2 Kin. 12:21
  7. 2 Chronicles 24:27 Or commentary, Heb. midrash

Joash Reigns over Judah

24 (A)Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Zibiah from Beersheba. (B)And Joash did what was right in the sight of Yahweh all the days of Jehoiada the priest. And Jehoiada took up two wives for him, and he became the father of sons and daughters.

The Levites Did Not Act Quickly

Now it happened afterwards, that Joash [a]had in his heart (C)to restore the house of Yahweh. And he gathered the priests and Levites and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah and gather money from all (D)Israel to [b]repair the house of your God [c]annually, and you shall do the matter quickly.” But the Levites did not act quickly. So the king called for Jehoiada the chief priest and said to him, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and from Jerusalem (E)the levy fixed by Moses the servant of Yahweh on the congregation of Israel (F)for the tent of the testimony?” For (G)the sons of the wicked Athaliah had broken into the house of God and even [d]used the holy things of the house of Yahweh for the Baals.

The House of Yahweh Restored

So the king said the word, and (H)they made a chest and put it outside by the gate of the house of Yahweh. (I)And they [e]made a proclamation in Judah and Jerusalem to bring to Yahweh (J)the levy fixed by Moses the servant of God on Israel in the wilderness. 10 And all the officials and all the people were glad and brought in their levies and [f]dropped them into the chest until they had [g]finished. 11 Now it happened that whenever the chest was brought in to the king’s officer by the hand of the Levites, and when (K)they saw that there was much money, then the king’s scribe and the chief priest’s officer would come, empty the chest, take it, and return it to its place. Thus they did daily and collected much money. 12 And the king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of Yahweh; and they hired masons and [h]carpenters to restore the house of Yahweh, and also craftsmen in iron and bronze to [i]repair the house of Yahweh. 13 So those who did the work labored, and the repair work progressed in their hands, and they [j]restored the house of God [k]according to its specifications and strengthened it. 14 When they had completed, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada; and it was made into utensils for the house of Yahweh, utensils for the ministry and the burnt offering, and pans and utensils of gold and silver. And they were offering burnt offerings in the house of Yahweh continually all the days of Jehoiada.

15 Then Jehoiada became old and full of days, and he died; he was 130 years old at his death. 16 They buried him (L)in the city of David among the kings, because he had done what is good in (M)Israel and [l]to God and His house.

17 But after the death of Jehoiada the officials of Judah came and bowed down to the king, and the king listened to them. 18 And they forsook (N)the house of Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and (O)served the [m]Asherim and the idols; so (P)wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their guilt. 19 Yet (Q)He sent prophets to them to bring them back to Yahweh; though they testified against them, they did not give ear.

People Conspire Against Zechariah

20 (R)Now the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people and said to them, “Thus says God, ‘(S)Why do you trespass against the commandments of Yahweh and do not succeed? (T)Because you have forsaken Yahweh, He has also forsaken you.’” 21 So (U)they conspired against him and at the command of the king they stoned him [n]to death in the court of the house of Yahweh. 22 Thus Joash the king did not remember the lovingkindness which his father Jehoiada had shown him, but he killed his son. And as he died he said, “May (V)Yahweh see and [o]avenge!”

Aram Comes Up Against Judah

23 Now it happened at the turn of the year that (W)the military force of the Arameans came up against him; and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, destroyed all the officials of the people from among the people, and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. 24 Indeed the military force of the Arameans came with a small number of men; yet (X)Yahweh gave a very great military force into their hands, (Y)because they had forsaken Yahweh, the God of their fathers. Thus they executed judgment on Joash.

25 (Z)When they had gone from him (for they left him very sick), his servants conspired against him because of the blood of the [p]son 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 Now these are those who conspired against him: Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess. 27 Now as to his sons and the many [q]oracles against him and (AA)the [r]rebuilding of the house of God, behold, they are written in the [s](AB)treatise of the Book of the Kings. Then Amaziah his son became king in his place.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 24:4 Lit was with a heart
  2. 2 Chronicles 24:5 Lit to strengthen
  3. 2 Chronicles 24:5 Lit from year to year
  4. 2 Chronicles 24:7 Lit made
  5. 2 Chronicles 24:9 Lit gave a voice
  6. 2 Chronicles 24:10 Lit threw
  7. 2 Chronicles 24:10 Lit completed
  8. 2 Chronicles 24:12 Or craftsmen of wood, cf. 2 Sam 5:11; 2 Chr 24:12b
  9. 2 Chronicles 24:12 Lit strengthen
  10. 2 Chronicles 24:13 Lit caused to stand
  11. 2 Chronicles 24:13 Lit upon its proportion
  12. 2 Chronicles 24:16 Lit with
  13. 2 Chronicles 24:18 Wooden symbols of a female deity
  14. 2 Chronicles 24:21 Lit with stones
  15. 2 Chronicles 24:22 Or require; lit seek
  16. 2 Chronicles 24:25 As in some ancient versions; Heb sons
  17. 2 Chronicles 24:27 Or burdens upon
  18. 2 Chronicles 24:27 Lit founding
  19. 2 Chronicles 24:27 Heb midrash