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 (A)the Asherim and the idols. And (B)wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs. 19 (C)Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the Lord. (D)These testified against them, but they would not pay attention.

Joash's Treachery

20 (E)Then the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah (F)the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God, (G)‘Why do you break the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? (H)Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.’” 21 But (I)they conspired against him, (J)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 (K)and avenge!”[a]

Joash Assassinated

23 At the end of the year (L)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, (M)the Lord delivered into their hand a very great army, (N)because Judah[b] had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers. Thus they (O)executed judgment on Joash.

25 When they had departed from him, leaving him (P)severely wounded, (Q)his servants conspired against him because of the blood of (R)the son[c] of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, (S)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 (T)the rebuilding[d] of the house of God are written in the (U)Story[e] of the Book of the Kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his place.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 24:22 Or and require it
  2. 2 Chronicles 24:24 Hebrew they
  3. 2 Chronicles 24:25 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew sons
  4. 2 Chronicles 24:27 Hebrew founding
  5. 2 Chronicles 24:27 Or Exposition

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(A) the temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and worshiped Asherah poles and idols.(B) Because of their guilt, God’s anger(C) 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.(D)

20 Then the Spirit(E) of God came on Zechariah(F) 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.(G) Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken(H) you.’”

21 But they plotted against him, and by order of the king they stoned(I) him to death(J) in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple.(K) 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.”(L)

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.(M) They sent all the plunder to their king in Damascus. 24 Although the Aramean army had come with only a few men,(N) the Lord delivered into their hands a much larger army.(O) 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(P) 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](Q) a Moabite woman.(R) 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.

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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