“Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Zibiah of Beersheba.”
Cross references: : 2 Kings 12:1
“And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.”
Who was a faithful counselor, and governed him by the word of God.
“And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that ye hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites hastened it not.”
He meaneth not the ten tribes, but only the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin.
“And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the servant of the LORD, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?”
Exod. 30:13 For he was the high Priest.
“For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD did they bestow upon Baalim.”
The Scriptures doth term her thus, because she was a cruel murderer, and a blasphemous idolatress.
“Now it came to pass, that at what time the chest was brought unto the king's office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king's scribe and the high priest's officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to his place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.”
Such as were faithful men, whom the king had appointed for that matter.
“And the king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the LORD, and also such as wrought iron and brass to mend the house of the LORD.”
Signifying that this thing was done by advice and counsel, and not by any one man’s affection.
“So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it. the work: Heb. the healing went up upon the work”
Hebrew, a medicine was upon the work, meaning it was repaired.
“And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the house of the LORD, even vessels to minister, and to offer withal, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada. to offer: or, pestils”
For the wicked kings his predecessors, and Athaliah had destroyed the vessels of the Temple, or turned them to the use of their idols.
“And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house.”
Signifying that they could not honor him too much, who had so excellently served in the work of the Lord, and in the affairs of the commonwealth.
“Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them.”
Which were flatterers, and knew now that the king was destitute of him who did watch over him as a father, and therefore brought him to most vile idolatry.
“Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear.”
They took heaven and earth and all creatures to witness, that except they returned to the Lord, he would most grievously punish their infidelity and rebellion, Neh. 9:26 .
“And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you. came: Heb. clothed”
In a place above the people, to the intent that he might be heard.
“And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD.”
There is no rage so cruel and beastly as of them whose hearts God hath hardened, and which delight more in superstition and idolatry than in the true service of God and pure simplicity of his word.
“Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require it.”
Revenge my death and require my blood at your hands: or he speaketh this by prophecy, because he knew that God would do it. This Zechariah is also called the son of Berechiah, Matt. 23:35 , because his progenitors were Iddo, Berechiah, Jehoiada, etc.
“For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash.”
That is, reproved and checked him, and handled him rigorously.
“And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings.”
Meaning, Zechariah, which was one of Jehoiada’s sons, and a Prophet of the Lord.
“Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens laid upon him, and the repairing of the house of God, behold, they are written in the story of the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead. repairing: Heb. founding story: or, commentary”
That is, concerning his sons, etc. That is, the reparation.