2 Chronicles 24

Joash Repairs the Temple

1Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah from Beersheba. 2Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3Jehoiada took two wives for him, and he fathered sons and daughters. 4After this it was in Joash’s heart to repair the house of the LORD. 5He gathered the priests and Levites and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah and gather from all Israel silver to repair the house of your God from year to year, and hurry in the matter.” But the Levites did not hurry. 6So the king called Jehoiada the chief and said to him, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the levy of Moses servant of the LORD and of the assembly of Israel for the tent of the testimony? 7For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house of God and had even used all the holy things of the house of the LORD for the Baals.”

The Chest for the Temple Levy

8The king commanded, and they made one chest and put it outside at the gate of the house of the LORD. 9They made a proclamation in Judah and Jerusalem to bring to the LORD the levy that Moses servant of God had laid upon Israel in the wilderness. 10All the officials and all the people rejoiced, and they brought and threw into the chest until they had finished. 11And it happened whenever the chest was brought to the king’s officials by the hand of the Levites and they saw that there was much silver, the king’s scribe and the official of the chief priest would come and empty the chest, take it, and return it to its place. Thus they did day by day and gathered silver in abundance. 12The king and Jehoiada gave it to those doing the work of the service of the house of the LORD. They hired stonecutters and craftsmen to repair the house of the LORD, and also workers in iron and bronze to strengthen the house of the LORD. 13Those doing the work labored, and the repair advanced in their hand. They restored the house of God according to its proper condition and strengthened it. 14When they had finished, they brought the rest of the silver before the king and Jehoiada, and they made from it vessels for the house of the LORD, vessels for service and for burnt offerings, dishes, and vessels of gold and silver. They offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.

Jehoiada Dies

15Jehoiada grew old and full of days, and he died. He was one hundred thirty years old when he died. 16They buried him in the city of David with the kings because he had done good in Israel and toward God and his house.

Joash Abandons the LORD

17After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came and bowed down to the king. Then the king listened to them. 18They abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and served the Asherah poles and idols. Wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of this guilt of theirs. 19Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the LORD. They testified against them, but they would not listen.

Zechariah Is Murdered

20Then the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood above the people and said to them, “Thus says God: Why are you transgressing the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have abandoned the LORD, he has abandoned you.” 21But they conspired against him and stoned him with stones at the king’s command in the court of the house of the LORD. 22King Joash did not remember the steadfast love that Jehoiada his father had shown him, but killed his son. As he died, he said, “May the LORD see and seek justice.”

Aram Invades Judah

23And it happened at the turning of the year that the army of Aram came up against him. They came to Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the officials of the people from among the people and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. 24Although the army of Aram came with a small number of men, the LORD gave into their hand a very great army because they had abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors. So they executed judgment upon Joash.

Joash Is Assassinated

25When they departed from him—for they left him with severe wounds—his servants conspired against him because of the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest and killed him on his bed. He died, and they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings. 26These are people who conspired against him: Zabad son of Shimeath the Ammonite woman and Jehozabad son of Shimrith the Moabite woman. 27As for his sons, the many pronouncements against him, and the foundation of the house of God, look, they are written in the commentary of the book of the kings. Amaziah his son became king in his place.