1 Joash was seven years old when he began to reign; and he reigned
forty years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Zibiah, of Beersheba.
2 Joash did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh all the days of
Jehoiada the priest. 3 Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he became the
father of sons and daughters. 4 It happened after this, that Joash was
minded to restore the house of Yahweh. 5 He gathered together the priests
and the Levites, and said to them, Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather
of all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year; and
see that you hasten the matter. However the Levites didn’t hurry.
6 The king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said to him, Why haven’t you
required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the tax
of Moses the servant of Yahweh, and of the assembly of Israel, for the tent
of the testimony? 7 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
Yahweh did they bestow on the Baals. 8 So the king commanded, and they
made a chest, and set it outside at the gate of the house of Yahweh.
9 They made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in for
Yahweh the tax that Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the
wilderness. 10 All the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought
in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end. 11 It was so,
that whenever the chest was brought to the king’s officers by the hand of the
Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king’s scribe and
the chief priest’s officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and
carried it to its place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money
in abundance. 12 The king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of
the service of the house of Yahweh; and they hired masons and carpenters to
restore the house of Yahweh, and also such as worked iron and brass to repair
the house of Yahweh. 13 So the workmen worked, and the work of repairing
went forward in their hands, and they set up the house of God in its state,
and strengthened it. 14 When they had made an end, they brought the rest
of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the
house of Yahweh, even vessels with which to minister and to offer, and
spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. They offered burnt offerings in the
house of Yahweh continually all the days of Jehoiada. 15 But Jehoiada grew
old and was full of days, and he died; one hundred thirty years old was he
when he died. 16 They buried him in the city of David among the kings,
because he had done good in Israel, and toward God and his house. 17 Now
after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to
the king. Then the king listened to them. 18 They forsook the house of
Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols: and
wrath came on Judah and Jerusalem for this their guiltiness. 19 Yet he
sent prophets to them, to bring them again to Yahweh; and they testified
against them: but they would not give ear. 20 The Spirit of God came on
Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people, and
said to them, Thus says God, Why disobey you the commandments of Yahweh,
so that you can’t prosper? because you have forsaken Yahweh, he has
also forsaken you. 21 They conspired against him, and stoned him with
stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of Yahweh.
22 Thus Joash the king didn’t remember the kindness which Jehoiada his
father had done to him, but killed his son. When he died, he said, Yahweh
look on it, and require it. 23 It happened at the end of the year, that
the army of the Syrians came up against him: and they came to Judah and
Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people,
and sent all the spoil of them to the king of Damascus. 24 For the army of
the Syrians came with a small company of men; and Yahweh delivered a very
great host into their hand, because they had forsaken Yahweh, the God of
their fathers. So they executed judgment on Joash. 25 When they were
departed for him (for they left him very sick), his own servants conspired
against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him
on his bed, and he died; and they buried him in the city of David, but they
didn’t bury him in the tombs of the kings. 26 These are those who
conspired against him: Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and
Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess. 27 Now concerning his sons,
and the greatness of the burdens laid on him, and the rebuilding of
the house of God, behold, they are written in the commentary of the book of
the kings. Amaziah his son reigned in his place.
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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