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 (A)wooden images and idols; and (B)wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass. 19 Yet He (C)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 (D)Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God: (E)‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? (F)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 (G)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 (H)repay!”

Death of Joash(I)

23 So it happened in the spring of the year that (J)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 (K)came with a small company of men; but the Lord (L)delivered a very great army into their hand, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers. So they (M)executed judgment against Joash. 25 And when they had withdrawn from him (for they left him severely wounded), (N)his own servants conspired against him because of the blood of the [d]sons of Jehoiada the priest, and killed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 (O)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. (P)Then Amaziah his son reigned in his place.

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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

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