Chapter 24

1 Joash reigneth well all the days of Jehoiada. 4 He giveth order for the repair of the temple. 15 Jehoiada’s death and honourable burial. 17 Joash, falling to idolatry, slayeth Zechariah the son of Jehoiada. 23Joash is spoiled by the Syrians, and slain by Zabad and Jehozabad. 27 Amaziah succeedeth him.

1. Joash. This chapter dealing with the reign of Joash is parallel with 2 Kings 12. The same general order prevails, but here important details are added (vs. 3, 7, 15–22).

Seven years old. This detail occurs as the last item of the preceding chapter in the record in Kings (2 Kings 11:21). The other details of the verse are the same as in 2 Kings 12:1, with the exception that the synchronism of the accession of Joash in the 7th year of Jehu is found only in Kings.

2. All the days of Jehoiada. “All his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him” (2 Kings 12:2).

4. To repair the house. This statement implies that during the reigns of the previous apostate rulers—Jehoram (ch. 21:6), Ahaziah (ch. 22:3, 4), and Athaliah (ch. 22:10)—when the service of Baal was encouraged (v. 7), the Temple had been allowed to fall into a state of disrepair.

5. Gather of all Israel money. Compare 2 Kings 12:5: “Let the priests take it to them, every man of his acquaintance.” It seems that a general collection was to be taken for the Temple throughout the country, with each Levite taking it locally, of the people of his acquaintance.

From year to year. The repair of the Temple was a major affair, and the collections would cover a number of years.

Hasten the matter. In its state of disrepair the Temple was a reproach to the people and an insult to Jehovah. A devoted priesthood and a consecrated people should have made the repair of the Temple their first business.

Hastened it not According to 2 Kings 12:6 the Temple had not yet been repaired in the 23d year of the reign of Joash. It is implied here that the Levites were responsible for the delay.

6. Called for Jehoiada. It was evidently the king who was primarily concerned about the work of repair on the Temple. As chief priest, Jehoiada should have made this his major concern, but the priests had probably become more interested in their own affairs than in the work of the Lord.

The chief. That is, head of the priests.

Commandment of Moses. These regulations assigned a half-shekel tax for the service of the sanctuary (Ex. 30:13–16). According to 2 Kings 12:4 moneys received from “the dedicated things”—from individuals who had made vows to the Lord or who had dedicated certain animals or objects to Him (see Lev. 27:2–28)—had also been assigned to this project. In addition there were freewill offerings. According to 2 Kings 12:7, 8, the priests had been receiving money from the people but had not turned it over for the work of Temple repair.

7. Broken up the house. This item is not found in Kings. It seems that during their father’s reign Ahaziah and his elder brothers had carried out their mother’s designs against the Temple.

Upon Baalim. It was evidently the purpose of Athaliah to do away with the worship of Jehovah and to substitute in its place the worship of Baal. That a temple for Baal had been built is evident from ch. 23:17.

10. All the princes. It appears that the leading promoters of this project were princes and other secular leaders rather than priests. When once the people caught the spirit of the work, they found joy in giving for so worthy a cause. In this work they were engaged in the service of God, and the joy of the Lord filled their hearts.

11. At what time. Whenever the chest was full, it was brought by Levites to a royal office, where it was emptied in the presence of the high priest or his deputy and a royal scribe. The money was then weighed and placed in bags (see on 2 Kings 12:10, 11).

12. The king and Jehoiada. It is clear from this that the final supervision of the proceedings was in the hands of the king and the high priest. Both appeared to be men of uprightness and integrity, who could be counted upon to see that the money was properly handled, without irregularities.

Masons and carpenters. It is evident from these varied categories of workmen that the Temple must have been in need of extensive repairs. It had probably been partially demolished to provide materials for the temple of Baal (see v. 7 and ch. 23:17).

14. The rest of the money. So much money had been gathered that it was not all needed for the repair of the building. The king and the high priest again were consulted as to the disposition to be made of the surplus funds.

Chronicles makes no mention of the fidelity of the trusted deputies, of whom no accounting was asked, or of the fact that the priests continued to receive certain moneys assigned to them (2 Kings 12:15, 16).

Vessels for the house. See on 2 Kings 12:13.

Offered burnt offerings. The usual Temple ritual continued till the death of Jehoiada.

15. But Jehoiada waxed old. This section (vs. 15–22) dealing with the death and burial of Jehoiada and of the apostasy of Joash after the aged priest’s death, is not found in Kings.

An hundred and thirty. From the days of the Exodus downward, the Bible contains no record of anyone’s having reached an age equal to that of Jehoiada. Since Joash reigned 40 years (v. 1), Jehoiada must have been over 90 years old when the plot against Athaliah was carried into execution and Joash placed on the throne.

16. Among the kings. This was an unusual honor. It was doubtless due in part to the respect in which he was held for his religious devotion, to his services to the nation in connection with the overthrow of Athaliah and the placing of Joash upon the throne, to his connection with the royal family through his young wife (ch. 22:11; cf. ch. 22:2), and to the fact that he must have practically held the office of king for some 10 or 12 years, till Joash became old enough to reign.

17. Came the princes. They came for the purpose of asking some particular favor of the king. The next verse clearly reveals the nature of their petition.

18. Left the house of the Lord. Jehoiada had carried the nation with him in his religious revival, but for many the worship of Jehovah was only a form. Inwardly they were still devoted to idolatry.

Wrath came upon Judah. The Lord could not allow His blessing to rest upon His people when they apostatized from Him and worshiped idols. His protecting hand was therefore withdrawn, and judgments were allowed to overtake the nation.

19. Yet he sent prophets. In His goodness God endeavored to bring His people back to the ways of righteousness. Prophets were sent to make clear the results that would follow if the people continued their disobedience. Only one of these prophets, Zechariah (v. 20), is known by name.

20. The priest. That is, the high priest. Jehoiada was the high priest, and Zechariah was his son. It is a testimony to the fidelity of Jehoiada that he had a son upon whom the Lord could bestow the high honor of the gift of prophecy.

Stood above the people. In order better to gain the attention of the people, Zechariah had taken a position above them. When Ezra read the law to the people he stood upon a platform of wood made for this purpose (Neh. 8:4).

Why transgress ye? The question was one of rebuke. Why transgress when transgression will bring ruin (see Eze. 18:31)?

He hath also forsaken. God does not force His presence and blessing upon anyone. When men refuse His guidance the Lord withdraws His Spirit from them, and then they are left to the mercies of the cruel master whom they have chosen.

21. Commandment of the king. Jehoiada had saved the life of the infant king and elevated him to the throne, and now the king had so little gratitude for the kindness that had been shown him that he ordered the death of the son of his benefactor.

23. The end. Heb. tequpah, literally, “a period of change,” such as the equinox, and hence the end of the year (see Ex. 34:22).

Host of Syria. See on 2 Kings 12:17.

24. Small company. This verse is explanatory of v. 23. Only a small detachment of the invading army defeated a large army led by the princes of Judah. The princes were slain (v. 23), and judgment was thus meted out against the apostate national leaders (see v. 17).

With his faithful few Gideon had destroyed a great host of the Midianites (Judges 7). But when God’s people apostatized, the Lord’s protection was withdrawn and a great host of Hebrews fell into the hands of a small number of the enemy.

They executed judgment. The Lord permitted the enemies of Judah to mete out judgment upon Judah, as He later employed Assyria for a similar purpose (see Isa. 10:5–7; see on 2 Chron. 22:8).

25. When they were departed. Joash kept the invading army of Syrians from sacking Jerusalem itself by sending Hazael the treasures of both Temple and palace (2 Kings 12:18).

Great diseases. Joash had probably been seriously wounded by the Syrians.

Sons of Jehoiada. It seems that other sons of Jehoiada may have been involved in the fate of Zechariah.

Slew him on his bed. This was in the house of Millo (2 Kings 12:20). Millo was probably a strong fortified area in the City of David. David (2 Sam. 5:9; 1 Chron. 11:8) and Solomon (1 Kings 11:27) had worked on Millo.

Sepulchres of the kings. Joash, who had begun his reign with such great promise, was refused the honor of burial in the royal sepulchers. Compare ch. 21:20, which states that Jehoram likewise was refused burial in the sepulchers of the kings because of his evil deeds.

26. Jehozabad. See on 2 Kings 12:21.

27. The burdens laid upon him. That is, the prophetic messages spoken against him. The word here translated “burden,” masЊsЊaХ, comes from the root nasЊaХ, which means “to lift up.” From the idea of lifting up the voice, masЊsЊa, developed “utterance.” MasЊsЊaХ is frequently used of prophetic utterances (Isa. 15:1; 17:1; etc.) and is twice translated “prophecy” (Prov. 30:1; 31:1).

Story. Heb. midrash, an “exposition,” or “commentary.”

Ellen G. White comments

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