2 Chronicles 24

2 Chronicles 24:1

H. King Joash (Chap. 24)24:1-3 Joash was only seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. Joash did what was right as long as Jehoiada the priest was alive. Even Joash’s two wives were chosen for him by this influential priest of God. 24:4-14 In order to restore the temple, Joash ordered the Levites to expedite the collection of funds from all Israel. When the Levites failed to respond quickly, he became upset with Jehoiada. Finally a special chest was set before the temple, and the people were commanded to come and deposit their “temple tax.” This was then taken and distributed to the workmen who restored the house of God to its original condition and reinforced it. 24:15-19 When Jehoiada . . . died, after a long and fruitful life, he was honored by being buried with the kings, an unusual honor for one who was not of royalty. But with his godly influence gone, Joash turned to idolaters for advice, to the ruin of his kingdom. Jehovah sent prophets to warn him, but rather than repent, the leader of Judah rebelled. 24:20-27 Zechariah spoke God’s warning to the people, and the king ordered him stoned for it. Joash . . . did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada, the father (or grandfather) of Zechariah, had done to him. Perhaps in answer to Zechariah’s dying prayer, the Lord sent a small . . . army from Syria to plunder Judah and to slay the officials and princes. Those who had given wicked counsel to Joash were killed, and Joash himself, severely wounded, was then murdered by his own servants. Like wicked Jehoram before him, he was denied burial with the kings of Judah. Because Joash forsook the Lord in the latter part of his life, all that he had done earlier was for nothing. He had repaired the temple and had refurnished it, only to hand over its treasures to Hazael the Syrian (2Ki_12:17-18). It is good to start well, but it is far more important to finish well. The Apostle John, knowing the tendency people have to “fade in the stretch,” warns us to “Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward” (2 John 8). Second Kings 12 gives more details about the life and reign of Joash (there called Jehoash); see comments on that chapter.