2 Chronicles 24:17-25
Chapter 24
The Judaeans abandoned the house of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and worshiped the Asherah poles and idols. Because of this sinful activity, God was angry with Judah and Jerusalem.
He sent prophets to bring them back to the Lord, but they would not listen when they spoke.
The spirit of God took control of Zechariah, son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood up before the people and said: “God says this: Why are you disobeying the commandments of the Lord? You cannot prosper. You have abandoned the Lord, and he will abandon you.”
They then plotted against him and, by order of the king, stoned him in the court of the Lord’s house.
King Joash forgot the kindness of Jehoiada, the father of Zechariah, and killed Jehoiada’s son, who cried out as he died: “Let the Lord see and do justice!”
When a year had gone by, the Aramaean army made war on Joash. They reached Judah and Jerusalem and killed all the officials among the people, sending back to the king of Damascus all that they had plundered from them.
Though the Aramaean army was small, the Lord delivered an army of great size into its power, for they had abandoned him, the God of their ancestors.
The Aramaeans wounded Joash, and when they withdrew, they left him a very sick man, and his officers, plotting against him to avenge the death of the son of Jehoiada, the priest, murdered him in his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, though not in the king’s tomb.
Commentaries
The Kings of Judah Until the Exile.
The final section of the Chronicler’s work focuses on the history of the kingdom of Judah, covering from Solomon to the exile, with little mention of the Northern Kingdom. For the Chronicler, the kingdom of Judah represents the entire nation of Israel. The primary standard for judging each king is their loyalty to God. Four notable figures stand out as models of this loyalty: Asa, Jehoshaphat, Josiah, and especially Hezekiah. The prophets are also depicted alongside the kings, delivering messages that include warnings and sincere calls to stay loyal to the Lord. Ultimately, the Chronicler encourages the post-exilic community to seek God and remain faithful to the One who has remained true to his people despite their difficulties.
Joash of Judah.
The Chronicler presents Joash’s reign in two parts, based on his idea of justice. First, the king shows obedience to the law of Moses, guided by the priest Jehoiada (1-14a). Then, he turns to idol worship and murder under the influence of the nobility, leading to his death at the hands of Jehoiada’s followers (14b-27). The turning point is Jehoiada’s death; while he was alive, Joash did what was right in the Lord’s eyes (2). The public stoning of Prophet Azariah signifies the king’s rejection of God’s word (20ff).