The Second Book of the Chronicles

⭑ Unlocked Literal Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 24 -

(2 Kings 12:1–16)

Joash was seven years old when he began to reign; he reigned for forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah, of Beersheba.

Joash did what was right in the eyes of Yahweh all the days of Jehoiada, the priest.

Jehoiada took for him two wives, and he became the father of sons and daughters.

It came about after this, that Joash decided to restore the house of Yahweh.

He gathered together the priests and the Levites, and he said to them, “Go out every year to the cities of Judah and gather from all Israel money to repair the house of your God. Make sure that you start right away.” The Levites did nothing at first.

So the king called for Jehoiada, the high priest, and said to him, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the tax levied by Moses the servant of Yahweh and by the assembly of Israel, for the tent of the covenant decrees?”

For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God and had given all the holy things of the house of Yahweh to the Baals.

So the king commanded, and they made a chest and placed it outside at the entrance to the house of Yahweh.

Then they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, for the people to bring in for Yahweh the tax that Moses the servant of God levied on Israel in the wilderness.

All the leaders and all the people rejoiced and brought money in and put it into the chest until they finished filling it.

It happened that whenever the chest was brought to the king’s officials by the hand of the Levites, and whenever they saw that there was much money in it, the king’s scribe and the high priest’s official would come, empty the chest, and take it and carry it back to its place. They did this day after day, gathering large amounts of money.

The king and Jehoiada gave the money to those who did the work of serving in the house of Yahweh. These men hired stonemasons and carpenters to restore the house of Yahweh, and also those who worked in iron and bronze.

So the workmen labored, and the work of repairing went forward in their hands; they set up the house of God in its original design and strengthened it.

When they finished, they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada. This money was used to make furnishing for the house of Yahweh, utensils with which to serve and make offerings-spoons and utensils of gold and silver. They offered burnt offerings in the house of Yahweh continually for all the days of Jehoiada.

Jehoiada’s Death and Burial

Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and then he died; he was 130 years old when he died.

They buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, toward God, and to God’s house.

The Wickedness of Joash

Now after the death of Jehoiada, the leaders of Judah came and did honor to the king. Then the king listened to them.

They forsook the house of Yahweh, the God of their ancestors, and worshiped the Asherah gods and the idols. God’s anger came on Judah and Jerusalem for this wrongdoing of theirs.

Yet he sent prophets to them to bring them again to himself, Yahweh; the prophets testified against the people, but they refused to listen.

The Spirit of God came on Zechariah son of Jehoiada, the priest; Zechariah stood above the people and said to them, “God says this: Why do you transgress the commandments of Yahweh, so that you cannot prosper? Since you have forsaken Yahweh, he has also forsaken you.”

But they plotted against him; at the king’s command, they stoned him with stones in the courtyard of the house of Yahweh.

In this manner, Joash, the king, ignored the kindness that Jehoiada, Zechariah’s father, had done to him. Instead, he killed Jehoiada’s son. When Zechariah was dying, he said, “May Yahweh see this and call you to account.”

The Death of Joash

(2 Kings 12:17–21)

It came about at the end of the year, that the army of Aram came up against Joash. They came to Judah and Jerusalem; they killed all the leaders of the people and sent all the plunder from them to the king of Damascus.

The army of the Arameans had come with a small army, but Yahweh gave them victory over a very great army, because Judah had forsaken Yahweh, the God of their ancestors. In this way the Arameans brought judgment on Joash.

By the time that the Arameans had gone, Joash had been severely wounded. His own servants plotted against him because of the murder of the sons of Jehoiada, the priest. They killed him in his bed, and he died; they buried him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

These were the persons who plotted against him: Zabad son of Shimeath, the Ammonitess; and Jehozabad son of Shimrith, the Moabitess.

Now the accounts about his sons, the important prophecies that were spoken about him, and the rebuilding of the house of God, see, they are written in The Commentary on the Book of the Kings. Amaziah his son, became king in his place.

(2 Kings 12:1–16)

Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah, of Beersheba.

Joash did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

Jehoiada took for him two wives, and he became the father of sons and daughters.

After this, Joash intended to restore the LORD’s house.

He gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather money to repair the house of your God from all Israel from year to year. See that you expedite this matter.” However the Levites didn’t do it right away.

The king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said to him, “Why haven’t you required of the Levites to bring in the tax of Moses the servant of the LORD, and of the assembly of Israel, out of Judah and out of Jerusalem, for the Tent of the Testimony?”

For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up God’s house; and they also gave all the dedicated things of the LORD’s house to the Baals.

So the king commanded, and they made a chest, and set it outside at the gate of the LORD’s house.

They made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in for the LORD the tax that Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness.

All the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had filled it.

Whenever the chest was brought to the king’s officers by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king’s scribe and the chief priest’s officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to its place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.

The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the LORD’s house. They hired masons and carpenters to restore the LORD’s house, and also those who worked iron and bronze to repair the LORD’s house.

So the workmen worked, and the work of repairing went forward in their hands. They set up God’s house as it was designed, and strengthened it.

When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, from which were made vessels for the LORD’s house, even vessels with which to minister and to offer, including spoons and vessels of gold and silver. They offered burnt offerings in the LORD’s house continually all the days of Jehoiada.

Jehoiada’s Death and Burial

But Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died. He was one hundred thirty years old when he died.

They buried him in David’s city among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and toward God and his house.

The Wickedness of Joash

Now after the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came and bowed down to the king. Then the king listened to them.

They abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherah poles and the idols, so wrath came on Judah and Jerusalem for this their guiltiness.

Yet he sent prophets to them to bring them again to the LORD, and they testified against them; but they would not listen.

The Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people, and said to them, “God says, ‘Why do you disobey the LORD’s commandments, so that you can’t prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has also forsaken you.’”

They conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the LORD’s house.

Thus Joash the king didn’t remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son. When he died, he said, “May the LORD look at it, and repay it.”

The Death of Joash

(2 Kings 12:17–21)

At the end of the year, the army of the Syrians came up against him. They came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all their plunder to the king of Damascus.

For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men; and the LORD delivered a very great army into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers. So they executed judgment on Joash.

When they had departed from him (for they left him seriously wounded), his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed, and he died. They buried him in David’s city, but they didn’t bury him in the tombs of the kings.

These are those who conspired against him: Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess.

Now concerning his sons, the greatness of the burdens laid on him, and the rebuilding of God’s house, behold, they are written in the commentary of the book of the kings. Amaziah his son reigned in his place.