And when the Arameans had withdrawn, they left Joash severely wounded. His own servants conspired against him for shedding the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and they killed him on his bed. So he died and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. And when the Arameans had withdrawn,The Aramean invasion had been God’s judgment on Judah after Joash and the nation abandoned the Lord and served idols. Though the Arameans came with a small force, God delivered a much larger Judean army into their hands because Judah had forsaken Him. 2Ki 12:17-18 At that time Hazael king of Aram marched up and fought… they left Joash severely wounded. Joash’s physical weakness reflected the ruin brought by his spiritual rebellion. He had begun his reign under Jehoiada’s faithful guidance, but after Jehoiada’s death he rejected godly counsel, tolerated idolatry, and silenced God’s prophet. 2Ki 8:28-29 Then Ahaziah went with Joram son of Ahab to fight… His own servants conspired against him The king who had betrayed the house of Jehoiada now faced betrayal within his own household. His servants’ conspiracy revealed the deep resentment caused by his violence and unfaithfulness. 2Ki 12:20-21 And the servants of Joash rose up and… for shedding the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, Joash had ordered the death of Zechariah, Jehoiada’s son, even though Zechariah had faithfully called Judah back to the Lord. Joash repaid Jehoiada’s lifelong loyalty by murdering his son in the temple court. Zechariah’s final appeal, “May the Lord see this and call you to account,” was answered in the judgment that followed. Mat 23:35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed… and they killed him on his bed. Joash died helpless and dishonored, unable to escape the consequences of his sin. His death demonstrated that royal power could not shield a king who had rejected God’s covenant and shed innocent blood. 2Sa 4:5-7 Now Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite… So he died and was buried in the City of David, Joash was buried in Jerusalem, the royal city established by David, because he belonged to David’s dynasty. 2Ki 12:21 His servants Jozabad son of Shimeath and Jehozabad… but not in the tombs of the kings. Judah withheld the customary royal honor from Joash because of his shameful end. Jehoiada had been buried among the kings for serving God and preserving Judah; Joash, though a king, was denied that distinction because he forsook the Lord and murdered Jehoiada’s son. 2Ch 21:20 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king,… Persons / Places / Events 1. JoashKing of Judah who initially did what was right in the eyes of the Lord under the guidance of Jehoiada the priest but later turned away from God. 2. Arameans A group of people from Aram (modern-day Syria) who attacked Judah and left Joash severely wounded. 3. Jehoiada the Priest A godly priest who mentored Joash and helped him restore the temple; his son was murdered by Joash. 4. Servants of Joash These individuals conspired against Joash and killed him as retribution for his actions against Jehoiada's son. 5. City of David The burial place of Joash, though he was not honored with a burial in the tombs of the kings due to his unfaithfulness. Teaching Points The Importance of Godly CounselJoash thrived under Jehoiada's guidance but faltered when he ignored godly counsel. We must seek and heed wise, godly advice. Consequences of Betrayal Joash's betrayal of Jehoiada's family led to his demise. Betraying trust and righteousness has severe consequences. The Danger of Turning Away from God Joash's account is a cautionary tale about the dangers of turning away from God after initially following Him. Consistent faithfulness is crucial. Justice and Retribution The conspiracy against Joash was a form of divine justice for his actions. God's justice may not be immediate, but it is certain. Legacy and Honor Joash was not buried with the kings, signifying a loss of honor due to his unfaithfulness. Our actions determine the legacy we leave behind. Bible Study Questions 1. How did Joash's relationship with Jehoiada influence his early reign, and what changed after Jehoiada's death?2. What lessons can we learn from Joash's failure to remain faithful to God throughout his life? 3. How does the principle of sowing and reaping manifest in Joash's life, and how can we apply this principle to our own lives? 4. In what ways can we ensure that we are surrounded by godly counsel and avoid the pitfalls of turning away from God? 5. How does Joash's account challenge us to consider the legacy we are building through our actions and decisions? Connections to Other Scriptures 2 Kings 12Provides a parallel account of Joash's reign, highlighting his initial reforms and subsequent downfall. 2 Chronicles 24:17-22 Details the turning point in Joash's reign when he abandoned the temple of the Lord and killed Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada. Galatians 6:7 Relates to the principle of sowing and reaping, as Joash's actions led to his downfall. Proverbs 29:1 Warns about the consequences of hardening one's heart against correction, which Joash exemplified.
People Amaziah, Aram, Athaliah, David, Jehoiada, Jehozabad, Joash, Levites, Shimeath, Shimrith, Syrians, Zabad, Zechariah, ZibiahPlaces Beersheba, Damascus, JerusalemTopics Bed, Blood, Body, Broken, Buried, Bury, Conspired, David, Death, Departed, Design, Didn't, Died, Dieth, Disease, Diseases, Graves, Jehoiada, Jehoi'ada, Joash, Killed, Kings, Leaving, Murdered, Murdering, Officials, Priest, Resting-place, Secret, Sepulchers, Sepulchres, Servants, Severely, Sick, Slay, Slew, Sons, Themselves, Tombs, Town, Withdrew, WoundedDictionary of Bible Themes 2 Chronicles 24:25Library The King's Farewell'Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 29. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 30. And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we … Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Joash Glad Givers and Faithful Workers The Channel of Power. The Prophet Joel. Conclusion The Old Testament Canon from Its Beginning to Its Close. Chronicles Links 2 Chronicles 24:25 NIV2 Chronicles 24:25 NLT 2 Chronicles 24:25 ESV 2 Chronicles 24:25 NASB 2 Chronicles 24:25 KJV 2 Chronicles 24:25 Commentaries Bible Hub |
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