Joash

AI summary: This Joash matters because the cross references place him at the center of a dramatic rescue of the Davidic line and a later warning about unstable faithfulness. He is hidden in the temple, crowned as a boy, guided into early reform, and associated with restoration of temple finances and repairs. Yet his later turn toward unfaithfulness and the murder of Zechariah show how even rescued kings can fail once strong spiritual guidance is removed. Taken together, the material presents this Joash as a king whose life moves from preservation and promise to compromise and judgment.¹

The son of King Ahaziah. While yet an infant, he was saved from the general massacre of the family by his aunt Jehosheba, and was apparently the only surviving descendant of Solomon (2 Chr. 21:4, 17). His uncle, the high priest Jehoiada, brought him forth to public notice when he was eight years of age, and crowned and anointed him king of Judah with the usual ceremonies. Athaliah was taken by surprise when she heard the shout of the people, “Long live the king;” and when she appeared in the temple, Jehoiada commanded her to be led forth to death (2 Kings 11:13-20). While the high priest lived, Jehoash favoured the worship of God and observed the law; but on his death he fell away into evil courses, and the land was defiled with idolatry. Zechariah, the son and successor of the high priest, was put to death. These evil deeds brought down on the land the judgement of God, and it was oppressed by the Syrian invaders. He is one of the three kings omitted by Matthew (1:8) in the genealogy of Christ, the other two being Ahaziah and Amaziah. He was buried in the city of David (2 Kings 12:21). (See JOASH [4].) ³