2 Chronicles 24: Joash repairs Yahweh's house, then turns away, and Zechariah is stoned
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What happens?
Joash becomes king at seven years old and does what is right all the days of Jehoiada the priest. He tells the priests and Levites to collect money to repair Yahweh's house, a chest is set at the gate, the money comes in and the house is restored. Jehoiada dies at one hundred thirty years old and is buried among the kings. Then the leaders of Judah come and bow down to the king, he listens to them, they abandon Yahweh's house and serve the Asherah poles and idols, and Zechariah the son of Jehoiada speaks against it and is stoned at the king's command. The Syrian army comes, Joash is left with great sicknesses, and his servants kill him on his bed.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words of his own in this chapter. Joash speaks in verses 5 and 6 to the priests and Levites and to Jehoiada. In verse 20 the Spirit of God comes on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada, and he says "God says ..."; these are Zechariah's words as he speaks to the people, so they are not in gold. In verse 22 Zechariah, as he dies, says "May Yahweh look at it, and repay it." God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah, of Beersheba.
In plain English: Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah, from Beersheba.
Good to know: The king is "Joash" in this chapter. In the 2 Kings account the same reign is told with the name "Jehoash" () and also "Joash" (). The text does not say more about the two spellings.
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2Joash did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes all the days of Jehoiada the priest.
In plain English: Joash did what was right in Yahweh's eyes all the days of Jehoiada the priest.
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3Jehoiada took for him two wives, and he became the father of sons and daughters.
In plain English: Jehoiada took two wives for him (or: for himself), and he became the father of sons and daughters. (The Hebrew does not say whether "he" is Joash or Jehoiada.)
Good to know: The WEB says "Jehoiada took for him two wives, and he became the father of sons and daughters". The Hebrew names no one for "him" or "he".
What changes: Read as Joash's wives, Jehoiada took two wives for the king, and Joash fathered the children. Read as Jehoiada's own, Jehoiada took two wives for himself and fathered the children.
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4After this, Joash intended to restore Yahweh’s house.
In plain English: After this, Joash intended to restore Yahweh's house.
5He 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.
In plain English: He gathered the priests and the Levites and said to them, "Go out to the cities of Judah and collect money from all Israel to repair the house of your God, year after year. See that you do the matter quickly." But the Levites did not act quickly.
Good to know: In this verse the king speaks to the priests and the Levites, and the Levites do not act quickly. In he speaks to the priests about the money brought into Yahweh's house, and says that in the twenty-third year of the king the priests had not repaired the house.
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6The 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 Yahweh, and of the assembly of Israel, out of Judah and out of Jerusalem, for the Tent of the Testimony?”
In plain English: The king called Jehoiada the chief and said to him, "Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and from Jerusalem the tax of Moses the servant of Yahweh, and of the assembly of Israel, for the Tent of the Testimony?"
The Hebrew word: "Tax" is masset, which the dictionary gives as "a raising ... a present (as taken), mess, or tribute". It is in 2 verses of 2 Chronicles, here and in verse 9, and this Bible says "tax" in both.
What changes: Read as a present or a tribute, the Levites were to bring what Moses laid on Israel. The text does not say which command of Moses it means.
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7For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up God’s house; and they also gave all the dedicated things of Yahweh’s house to the Baals.
In plain English: For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman (or: Athaliah, the wickedness), had broken into God's house, and they had also used all the holy things of Yahweh's house for the Baals.
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8So the king commanded, and they made a chest, and set it outside at the gate of Yahweh’s house.
In plain English: So the king gave the word, and they made one chest and put it at the gate of Yahweh's house, on the outside.
Good to know: says Jehoiada the priest took a chest, bored a hole in its lid and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into Yahweh's house. This verse says the king gave the word and they put it "at the gate of Yahweh's house, on the outside".
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9They made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in for Yahweh the tax that Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness.
In plain English: They made a proclamation in Judah and in Jerusalem to bring to Yahweh the tax that Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness.
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10All the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had filled it.
In plain English: All the officials and all the people were glad, and they brought it and threw it into the chest until they had finished (or: until it was full).
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11Whenever 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.
In plain English: Whenever the chest was brought to the king's overseer by the hand of the Levites, and they saw that there was much money, the king's scribe and the officer of the chief priest came and emptied the chest, took it up and put it back in its place. They did this day after day and gathered money in great amounts.
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12The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of Yahweh’s house. They hired masons and carpenters to restore Yahweh’s house, and also those who worked iron and bronze to repair Yahweh’s house.
In plain English: The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of Yahweh's house. They hired stone cutters and craftsmen to renew Yahweh's house, and also craftsmen in iron and bronze to repair Yahweh's house.
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13So 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.
In plain English: So the workmen worked, and the repair went forward by their hands. They set up God's house in its right measure (or: as it was planned) and made it strong.
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14When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, from which were made vessels for Yahweh’s house, even vessels with which to minister and to offer, including spoons and vessels of gold and silver. They offered burnt offerings in Yahweh’s house continually all the days of Jehoiada.
In plain English: When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, and from it were made articles for Yahweh's house: articles for the service and for offering, and pans (this Bible: spoons), and articles of gold and silver. They offered burnt offerings in Yahweh's house continually all the days of Jehoiada.
Good to know: This verse says articles for the service, pans and articles of gold and silver were made from the rest of the money. says that no cups of silver, snuffers, basins, trumpets or vessels of gold or silver were made from the money brought into Yahweh's house, because it was given to those who did the work. The text does not explain the difference.
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15But Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died. He was one hundred thirty years old when he died.
In plain English: Jehoiada grew old and was full of days (literally: satisfied with days), and he died. He was one hundred thirty years old when he died.
Good to know: Word for word the Hebrew says Jehoiada was "satisfied with days". The age of one hundred thirty is given only here.
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16They buried him in David’s city among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and toward God and his house.
In plain English: They buried him in David's city with the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and toward God and his house.
Good to know: Jehoiada is buried in David's city "with the kings". Jehoram () and Joash () are buried in David's city but not in the tombs of the kings.
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17Now after the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came and bowed down to the king. Then the king listened to them.
In plain English: After the death of Jehoiada the leaders of Judah came and bowed down to the king. Then the king listened to them.
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18They abandoned the house of Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherah poles and the idols, so wrath came on Judah and Jerusalem for this their guiltiness.
In plain English: They abandoned the house of Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherah poles and the idols (or: images). Wrath came on Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs.
The Hebrew words: "Asherah poles" is asherim, and the dictionary gives the word as "Asherah (or Astarte) a Phoenician goddess; also an image of the same". It is in 11 verses of 2 Chronicles.
What changes: Read as images or poles, the people served wooden figures. Read as the goddess, they served Asherah herself. The text does not say which.
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19Yet he sent prophets to them to bring them again to Yahweh, and they testified against them; but they would not listen.
In plain English: He sent prophets among them to bring them back to Yahweh, and they warned them (or: testified against them), but they would not listen.
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20The 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 Yahweh’s commandments, so that you can’t prosper? Because you have forsaken Yahweh, he has also forsaken you.’”
In plain English: The Spirit of God clothed (this Bible: came on) Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood above the people and said to them, "This is what God says: Why are you going against the commandments of Yahweh, so that you do not prosper? Because you have forsaken Yahweh, he has forsaken you."
The Hebrew word: The words "came on" are word for word "clothed" (labash), which the dictionary gives as "wrap around ... to put on a garment or clothe". It is in 6 verses of 2 Chronicles; this Bible says "clothed" in 2 of them and uses other words in the other 4, such as "came on" here.
Good to know: Zechariah says "God says". The text puts these words in his mouth as he stands above the people, and the words speak of Yahweh in the third person: "you have forsaken Yahweh, he has also forsaken you".
Good to know: speaks of "the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar", and of "Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary". Neither verse mentions Chronicles or says whether it means this Zechariah. says Zechariah the son of Jehoiada was stoned in the courtyard of Yahweh's house.
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21They conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of Yahweh’s house.
In plain English: They plotted against him and stoned him with stones, by the command of the king, in the courtyard of Yahweh's house.
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22Thus 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 Yahweh look at it, and repay it.”
In plain English: So Joash the king did not remember the kindness (or: loyalty) Jehoiada his father had shown him, and he killed his son. As he was dying he said, "May Yahweh look at it, and repay it" (word for word: see it and require it).
The Hebrew words: Word for word Zechariah says "may Yahweh see and require". The word for "require" is darash, the same word as in verse 6 ("required of the Levites"). The dictionary gives it as "to seek or ask; specifically to worship". In 2 Chronicles it is in 28 verses, and this Bible says "seek" in 13 and "sought" in 6. The WEB reads "look at it, and repay it".
What changes: Read as "see and require", he asks Yahweh to see it and to seek it out. Read as "repay", he asks Yahweh to pay it back. The text says no more.
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23At 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.
In plain English: At the turn of the year the army of Aram (this Bible: Syria) came up against him. They came to Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the leaders of the people from among the people, and sent all their plunder to the king of Damascus.
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24For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men; and Yahweh delivered a very great army into their hand, because they had forsaken Yahweh, the God of their fathers. So they executed judgment on Joash.
In plain English: The army of Aram came with only a small number of men, but Yahweh gave a very great army into their hand, because they had forsaken Yahweh, the God of their fathers. So they carried out judgment on Joash.
Good to know: tells it differently: Hazael king of Syria fought against Gath and took it, and Joash took the holy things and the gold from the treasures and sent it to Hazael, who went away from Jerusalem. This verse says the army of Aram came with few men, Yahweh gave a very great army into their hand, and they carried out judgment on Joash. The text does not explain the difference.
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25When 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.
In plain English: When they had gone from him (for they left him with great sicknesses), his own servants plotted against him because of the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest. They killed him on his bed, and he died. They buried him in David's city, but not in the tombs of the kings.
Good to know: Word for word the Hebrew says "the blood of the sons of Jehoiada". Verse 22 says Joash killed Jehoiada's son. says his servants struck him "at the house of Millo" and gives no reason. This verse says he was killed "on his bed". The text does not explain the differences.
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26These are those who conspired against him: Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess.
In plain English: These are the ones who plotted against him: Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonite woman, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabite woman.
Good to know: names them "Jozacar the son of Shimeath" and "Jehozabad the son of Shomer". This verse has "Zabad" for the first, and "Shimrith" for the second's mother, and says Shimeath was an Ammonite woman and Shimrith a Moabite woman. The text does not explain the different names.
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27Now 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.
In plain English: As for his sons, the many oracles (this Bible: the greatness of the burdens) laid on him, and the founding (this Bible: rebuilding) of the house of God, see, they are written in the record (commentary) of the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son became king in his place.
The Hebrew words: "The greatness of the burdens laid on him" is word for word "it will be numerous of the oracle on him". The word for "oracle" (massa) the dictionary gives as "a burden; specifically, tribute ... figuratively, an utterance". "Rebuilding" is "founding". "Commentary" is midrash, which the dictionary gives as "an investigation ... a treatise or elaborate compilation"; it is in 2 verses of 2 Chronicles, here and , and this Bible says "commentary" in both.
What changes: Read as "burdens", the verse speaks of the many loads laid on him. Read as "oracle", it speaks of many sayings against him. The text does not say which.
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