2 Chronicles 24
1 Joash reigns well all the days of Jehoiada.
4 He gives order for the repair of the temple.
15 Jehoiada's death and honourable burial.
17 Joash, falling into idolatry, slays Zechariah the son of Jehoiada.
23 Joash is spoiled by the Syrians, and slain by Zabad and Jehozabad.
27 Amaziah succeeds him.
Joash <03101> [A.M. 3126-3165. B.C. 878-839. Joash.]
Joash, [Y“wƒsh <\\See definition 03101\\,] or [Y“ƒsh <\\See definition 03101\\>,] is merely an abbreviation of Jehoash, [Yeh“w'ƒsh <\\See definition 03060\\>,] by the elision of [Hˆ,] {hay,} and here also of [Vƒv,] {wav.}
[Jehoash.]
seven years old ........... years <08141 01121 07651> [seven years old.]
As Joash was hidden six years in the temple, and was but seven when he came to the throne, he could have been but one year old when secreted by his aunt.
[A.M. 3126-3162. B.C. 878-842.]
Joash <03101> [Joash.]
lifetime ... Jehoiada <03117 03077> [all the days of Jehoiada.]
chose two <05375 08147> [took for him.]
Not for himself, as the Jewish expositors suppose, but for Joash; for Jehoiada's advanced age renders it highly improbable that he should take them for himself. He was born in the reign of Solomon, and lived through six successive reigns; and must, on any computation, have been upwards of 100 years old when Joash began to reign.
two wives <0802 08147> [two wives.]
repair <02318> [A.M. 3148. B.C. 856. repair. Heb. renew.]
assembled ................. collect ......... Israel <03478 06908> [gather of all Israel.]
Levites .................................... Levites <03881> [Howbeit.]
made <01875> [Why hast thou.]
tax <04864> [the collection.]
This was the poll-tax fixed by Moses, of half a shekel, which was levied on every man of twenty years old and upwards, as "a ransom for their souls, that there might be no plague among them."
tent <0168> [tabernacle.]
Athaliah .... sons <06271 01121> [the sons of Athaliah.]
As Jehoram's sons, Ahaziah excepted, whether by Athaliah or any other, were all slain before his death (ch. 22:1), this spoilation of the temple must have taken place in his life-time.
Wicked <04849> [that wicked.]
holy <06944> [the dedicated.]
worship <06213> [did they bestow.]
king <04428> [at the king's.]
edict <06963> [proclamation. Heb. voice. collection.]
gladly <08055> [rejoiced.]
<06256> [at what time.]
royal ............. royal scribe <04428 05608> [the king's scribe.]
It was necessary to associate with the high priest some civil authority and activity, in order to get the neglected work performed.
went through <06213> [Thus they did.]
gave ....... assigned <05414 06213> [gave it to such.]
carpenters <02672> [masons.]
worked ...... repairs <05927 0724 03027 04399> [the work was perfected by them. Heb. the healing went up upon the work by their hand.]
restored <05975> [they set, etc.]
That is, "they restored it to its former proper state."
measurements specified <04971> [in his state.]
items ....... items ............. various other <03627> [vessels of the house.]
items ....... items ...... service ........ various other <03627 08335> [vessels to minister.]
pans <05927 03709> [to offer withal. or, pestils.]
<05927> [And they offered.]
It appears from this, that the daily morning and evening sacrifices had been previously intermitted; and that they were again neglected after the death of Jehoiada.
lifetime <03117> [all the days.]
grew <07646 03117> [A.M. 3162. B.C. 842. and was full of days.]
{WyyisbÆ’ yammim,} "satiated with days;" which seems to be a metaphor taken from a guest regaled by a plentiful banquet, used to express the termination of life without reluctance.
130 <03967> [an hundred.]
City <05892> [in the city.]
accomplished <06213> [because.]
After <0310> [A.M. 3162-3165. B.C. 842-839. Now after.]
officials ... Judah <08269 03063> [the princes of Judah.]
king ......... king <04428> [Then the king.]
abandoned <05800> [And they left.]
angry <07110> [wrath.]
sent <07971> [Yet he sent.]
attention <0238> [but they would.]
Spirit <07307> [And the Spirit.]
energized Zechariah <03847 02148> [came upon. Heb. clothed.]
son <01121> [the son.]
violating <05674> [transgress.]
rejected ...... rejected <05800> [because.]
plotted <07194> [conspired.]
stoned <07275 068> [stoned him.]
disregarded <02142> [remembered.]
killed ... son <01121 02026> [but slew his son.]
Lord <03068> [The Lord.]
These words were prophetic, and not imprecatory; and should be rendered as Houbigant proposes, in the future tense: "The Lord will look upon it, and avenge it." The event soon verified this prediction; for, before the year was expired, the Syrians came up against Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people, and Joash himself was slain in his bed by his own servants. Many circumstances served to aggravate this barbarous act. Zechariah was a high-priest and a prophet, upright and unblameable in the discharge of his high offices; this murder was perpetrated within the very precincts of the courts of the Lord; and this truly good man was by blood the nearest relative of Joash, and the son of the man who had save him from being murdered, and raised him to the throne!
seek <01875> [and require it.]
beginning <08622> [A.M. 3165. B.C. 839. at the end. Heb. in the revolution.]
<02428> [the host.]
leaders <08269> [princes.]
Damascus <01834> [Damascus. Heb. Darmesek.]
invading <0935> [came.]
handed over <05414> [delivered.]
gave <06213> [So.]
wounded <04251 07227> [great diseases.]
servants <05650> [his own servants.]
<01818> [for the blood.]
son ... Jehoiada <03077 01121> [the sons of Jehoiada.]
Houbigant reads, "the sons of Jehoiada;" but perhaps Joash slew some other sons of Jehoiada.
tombs <06913> [not.]
Zabad <02066> [Zabad. or, Jozachar.]
Shimrith <08116> [Shimrith. or, Shomer.]
prophetic oracles <04853> [burdens.]
building project <03247> [repairing. Heb. founding.]
record of <04097> [story. or, commentary.]
Amaziah <0558> [Amaziah.]
