Joash of Judah (2 Kings 11:1–3; 2 Kings 11:4–11; 2 Kings 11:12–16; 2 Kings 11:17–21; 2 Kings 12:1–16; 2 Kings 12:17–21; 2 Kings 14:1–3; 1 Chronicles 3:11; 2 Chronicles 22:10–12; 2 Chronicles 23:1–21; 2 Chronicles 24:1–14; 2 Chronicles 24:15–16; 2 Chronicles 24:17–22; 2 Chronicles 24:23–24; 2 Chronicles 24:25–27)

The Hidden Child-King of Judah, Also Called Jehoash

The son of Ahaziah, hidden in the house of the LORD for six years from Athaliah, made king at seven years old, who did right while Jehoiada the priest instructed him, restored the house of the LORD, then hearkened to the princes of Judah, slew Jehoiada's son Zechariah, and was himself struck down by his servants.

Second Kings and Second Chronicles tell of Joash, called Jehoash in much of Kings. When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, “saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal” (2 Kings 11:1), Jehosheba “took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons that were slain” (2 Kings 11:2). “And he was with her hid in the house of Jehovah six years. And Athaliah reigned over the land” (2 Kings 11:3). In the seventh year Jehoiada the priest showed the king’s son to the captains; the king’s son was crowned and anointed, and Athaliah was slain (2 Kings 11:4-16). “Joash was seven years old when he began to reign; and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem” (2 Chronicles 24:1).

Kings says that “Jehoash did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him” (2 Kings 12:2); Chronicles says “all the days of Jehoiada the priest” (2 Chronicles 24:2). In that time “Joash was minded to restore the house of Jehovah” (2 Chronicles 24:4). He questioned the priests when the breaches were unrepaired in his three and twentieth year (2 Kings 12:6-7), a chest was set at the gate, and the workmen “set up the house of God in its state, and strengthened it” (2 Chronicles 24:13). Jehoiada died at a hundred and thirty years old and was buried in the city of David among the kings (2 Chronicles 24:15-16).

“Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them” (2 Chronicles 24:17). They forsook the house of the LORD, and when Zechariah the son of Jehoiada rebuked them, they stoned him “at the commandment of the king” (2 Chronicles 24:21). “Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son” (2 Chronicles 24:22). Kings records that Joash sent the hallowed things and the gold to Hazael king of Syria, who went away from Jerusalem (2 Kings 12:17-18); Chronicles says the army of the Syrians “executed judgment upon Joash” (2 Chronicles 24:24). Kings says his servants smote him and “they buried him with his fathers in the city of David” (2 Kings 12:21); Chronicles says “they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings” (2 Chronicles 24:25). The New Testament does not name him.

Strengths

• Did right while Jehoiada instructed him
• Minded to restore the house of the LORD

Weaknesses

• Hearkened to the princes
• Remembered not the kindness of Jehoiada
• Slew the son of Jehoiada

Themes

• The hidden heir
• The house of the LORD
• Right in the days of Jehoiada
• Forsaking the LORD
• Blood and conspiracy

Hidden from Athaliah (2 Kings 11:1–3; 2 Chronicles 22:10–12)

Athaliah destroys the seed royal; Jehosheba steals away the infant Joash with his nurse and hides him in the house of the LORD for six years.

Hidden from Athaliah

“Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal” (2 Kings 11:1).

“But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons that were slain, even him and his nurse, and put them in the bedchamber; and they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not slain” (2 Kings 11:2).

Chronicles gives her as “Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah)” (2 Chronicles 22:11). “And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land” (2 Chronicles 22:12).

Jehoiada makes a covenant with the captains (2 Kings 11:4–11; 2 Chronicles 23:1–10)

In the seventh year Jehoiada brings the captains into the house of the LORD, makes a covenant and an oath with them, shows them the king's son, and posts the guard around him.

Crowned; Athaliah slain (2 Kings 11:12–16; 2 Chronicles 23:11–15)

The king's son is brought out, crowned and anointed; Athaliah cries Treason and is led out and slain at the horses' entry to the king's house.

Crowned; Athaliah slain

“Then he brought out the king’s son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, Long live the king” (2 Kings 11:12).

Athaliah “came to the people into the house of Jehovah: and she looked, and, behold, the king stood by the pillar, as the manner was … Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason! treason!” (2 Kings 11:13-14).

Jehoiada commanded, “Have her forth between the ranks; and him that followeth her slay with the sword” (2 Kings 11:15). “So they made way for her; and she went by the way of the horses’ entry to the king’s house: and there was she slain” (2 Kings 11:16).

Covenant, and the house of Baal broken down (2 Kings 11:17–20; 2 Chronicles 23:16–21)

Jehoiada makes a covenant that they should be the LORD's people; the people break down the house of Baal and slay Mattan, and the king sits on the throne.

Reigns at seven; Jehoiada takes two wives for him (2 Kings 11:21–12:3; 2 Chronicles 24:1–3)

Joash is seven years old when he begins to reign, and he reigns forty years in Jerusalem; his mother is Zibiah of Beer-sheba, he does right in the days of Jehoiada, and Jehoiada takes two wives for him.

The house of the LORD repaired (2 Kings 12:4–16; 2 Chronicles 24:4–14)

Joash is minded to restore the house; when the priests and Levites hasten not, the king calls for Jehoiada, a chest is set at the gate, and the workmen repair the house; of the rest of the money vessels are made for the house.

The house of the LORD repaired

“And it came to pass after this, that Joash was minded to restore the house of Jehovah” (2 Chronicles 24:4). “But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house” (2 Kings 12:6).

“Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and for the other priests, and said unto them, Why repair ye not the breaches of the house?” (2 Kings 12:7). “So the king commanded, and they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of the house of Jehovah” (2 Chronicles 24:8). “And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end” (2 Chronicles 24:10).

“So the workmen wrought, and the work of repairing went forward in their hands, and they set up the house of God in its state, and strengthened it” (2 Chronicles 24:13). “And they offered burnt-offerings in the house of Jehovah continually all the days of Jehoiada” (2 Chronicles 24:14).

Jehoiada dies (2 Chronicles 24:15–16)

Jehoiada waxes old and dies at a hundred and thirty years, and is buried in the city of David among the kings.

The princes, the idols, and the stoning of Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24:17–22)

After Jehoiada's death the king hearkens to the princes of Judah, they forsake the house of the LORD, and Zechariah the son of Jehoiada is stoned at the king's commandment.

The princes, the idols, and the stoning of Zechariah

“Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them. And they forsook the house of Jehovah, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their guiltiness” (2 Chronicles 24:17-18). Prophets were sent, “but they would not give ear” (2 Chronicles 24:19).

“And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of Jehovah, so that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken Jehovah, he hath also forsaken you” (2 Chronicles 24:20).

“And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of Jehovah. Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son” (2 Chronicles 24:21-22). Of Zechariah the verse adds, “And when he died, he said, Jehovah look upon it, and require it” (2 Chronicles 24:22).

Hazael and the Syrian army (2 Kings 12:17–18; 2 Chronicles 24:23–24)

Hazael takes Gath and sets his face toward Jerusalem; Kings has Joash send him the hallowed things and gold, while Chronicles has the army of the Syrians come up, destroy all the princes of the people, and execute judgment upon Joash.

Struck down by his servants (2 Kings 12:19–21; 2 Chronicles 24:25–27)

His servants conspire and smite him; Kings says he was buried with his fathers in the city of David, Chronicles that he was buried in the city of David but not in the sepulchres of the kings, and Amaziah his son reigns in his stead.

Struck down by his servants

“And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and smote Joash at the house of Millo, on the way that goeth down to Silla” (2 Kings 12:20). “For Jozacar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, smote him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Amaziah his son reigned in his stead” (2 Kings 12:21).

Chronicles tells it this way: “And when they were departed for him (for they left him very sick), his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died; and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings” (2 Chronicles 24:25).

It names the conspirators as “Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess” (2 Chronicles 24:26).

Athaliah (2 Kings 11:1–3; 2 Kings 11:14–16)

The mother of Ahaziah destroyed the seed royal and reigned over the land while Joash was hid; she was slain at the king's house.

Jehosheba (2 Kings 11:2; 2 Chronicles 22:11)

The daughter of king Joram and sister of Ahaziah, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, stole Joash away and hid him from Athaliah.

Jehoiada the priest (2 Kings 11:4; 2 Kings 12:2; 2 Chronicles 24:2; 2 Chronicles 24:22)

Brought the captains into covenant, showed them the king's son, and instructed Joash while he did right; Joash later remembered not his kindness.

Ahaziah king of Judah (2 Kings 11:1–2; 1 Chronicles 3:11)

Joash is called the son of Ahaziah, whose death led Athaliah to destroy the seed royal.

Jehoram of Judah (2 Kings 11:2; 2 Kings 12:18)

Jehosheba was his daughter, and Kings lists Jehoram among the fathers whose hallowed things Joash sent to Hazael.

The princes of Judah (2 Chronicles 24:17–18)

They came after Jehoiada's death and made obeisance; the king hearkened unto them and they forsook the house of the LORD.

Zechariah son of Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 24:20–22)

The Spirit of God came upon him to rebuke the people, and he was stoned at the commandment of the king; Joash slew Jehoiada's son.

Hazael (2 Kings 12:17–18)

The king of Syria took Gath, set his face toward Jerusalem, and received the hallowed things and gold that Joash sent.

Amaziah (2 Kings 12:21; 2 Kings 14:1–3; 2 Chronicles 24:27)

His son reigned in his stead, and did right yet according to all that Joash his father had done.

Major sections

• 2 Kings 11–12
• 2 Chronicles 22:10–24:27

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