Day 153: 2 Kings 12-13, 2 Chronicles 24

We find out at the end of 2 Kings 11 and the beginning of 2 Chronicles 24 that Joash became king in Judah at the age of seven. That's right...a seven year old king. I wonder how much power a seven-year-old would really have? If the only chapter you read about Joash was 2 Kings 12 you would get the idea that Joash was a very good king...perhaps one of the best kings Judah ever had. We read this at the beginning of 2 Kings 12:

Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. (2 Kings 12:2)

Joash implemented a plan to rehab the temple because it had fallen into such disrepair. It is amazing to me just how far the people have fallen from the worship of the one true God...the God that proves Himself to them over and over. Here is an example of the kind of thing that was going on when Joash undertook his reforms:

Now the sons of that wicked woman Athaliah had broken into the temple of God and had used even its sacred objects for the Baals. (2 Chronicles 24:7)

Joash did a lot of good in his reign but as I said you can't stop with 2 Kings 12...you have to read 2 Chronicles 24 to get the whole picture. There's a hint in 2 Kings 12:2, the verse I cited earlier. Notice the last part...

Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. (2 Kings 12:2)

Remember how I questioned how much power a 7 year old king could have? Well, it seems to me that maybe Jehoiada the priest was the one who was actually behind all the good that Joash was credited for. We read this in 2 Chronicles 24:

After the death of Jehoiada, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them. They abandoned the temple of the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and worshiped Asherah poles and idols. Because of their guilt, God’s anger came on Judah and Jerusalem. Although the LORD sent prophets to the people to bring them back to him, and though they testified against them, they would not listen.   (2 Chronicles 24:17-19)

Once Jehoiada was out of the way Joash was swayed by the corrupt officials..."and he listened to them".

I find myself with the impression that Joash didn't really rule at all. It seems like he was simply a figurehead. As long as he had good spiritual guidance from someone mature and faithful to the Lord he did great things...but as soon as this influence was gone others were able to gain access and influence him away from the Lord.

Joash was king for 40 years and at the age of 47 he was killed by his own officials...

His officials conspired against him and assassinated him at Beth Millo, on the road down to Silla. The officials who murdered him were Jozabad son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer. He died and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. And Amaziah his son succeeded him as king. (2 Kings 12:20-21)

Once again, 2 Chronicles adds a few other details:

When the Arameans withdrew, they left Joash severely wounded. His officials conspired against him for murdering the son of Jehoiada the priest, and they killed him in his bed. So he died and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. (2 Chronicles 24:25)

 It seems like Joash was king in name only...in the end he wasn't even buried in "the tombs of the kings".