Study Desk

After that time, at the end of two years, his insides came out because of his sickness. And he died in much pain. His people made no fire for him like the fires made for his fathers.

Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for eight years. And no one felt bad when he died. They buried him in the city of David, but not in the graves of the kings.

The people of Jerusalem made his youngest son Ahaziah king in his place. For the army of men who came with the Arabs to the tents had killed all the older sons. So Ahaziah, the son of King Jehoram of Judah, began to rule.

He was twenty-two years old when he became king. And he ruled for one year in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Athaliah, the grand-daughter of Omri.

Ahaziah walked in the ways of those of Ahab's house. For his mother talked him into doing sinful things.

He did what was sinful in the eyes of the Lord, as those of Ahab's house had done. For after his father's death, they talked with him about what to do, and so caused him to be destroyed.

But it was planned by God that Ahaziah would be destroyed by going to Jehoram. For when he came, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi. Jehu was the one the Lord had chosen to destroy the family of Ahab.

Then he looked for Ahaziah, and he was found hiding in Samaria. He was brought to Jehu, and was put to death. Then they buried him, for they said, "He is the son of Jehoshaphat, who followed the Lord with all his heart." So there was no one left of Ahaziah's house who was able to rule the nation.

Joash was hidden with them in the house of God for six years, while Athaliah ruled over the land.

But let no one come into the house of the Lord except the religious leaders and the Levite helpers. They may come in, for they are holy. But let all the other people obey the law against going into the holy place of the Lord.

The Levites and all Judah did all that Jehoiada the religious leader told them. Each one of them took his men who were to come in on the Day of Rest, with those who were to go out on the Day of Rest. For Jehoiada the religious leader did not send away any of the groups.

Then Jehoiada the religious leader brought out the captains of hundreds who were over the army, and said to them, "Bring her out from among the groups of people. And kill with the sword whoever follows her." For the religious leader said, "Do not kill her in the house of the Lord."

So all the people of the land were filled with joy, and the city was quiet. For they had killed Athaliah with the sword.

Jehoiada took two wives for him, and he became the father of sons and daughters.

He gathered the religious leaders and Levites, and said to them, "Go out to the cities of Judah. And gather money from all Israel to pay for the work needed to be done on the house of your God from year to year. Be quick about it." But the Levites did not hurry.

So the king called for Jehoiada the head religious leader, and said to him, "Why have you not made the Levites bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the tax set by Moses the Lord's servant? All the people of Israel were to pay taxes for the tent of the Law."

For the sons of that sinful woman Athaliah had broken into the house of God. They even used the holy things of the Lord's house for the false gods of Baal.

The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who watched over the work being done on the Lord's house. They paid those who worked with stone and wood and iron and brass, for the work done on the Lord's house.

When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada. From it were made the objects used in the Lord's house. These things were made for the worship and the burnt gifts. Then dishes and pots of gold and silver were made. And they gave burnt gifts in the house of the Lord all the time, all the days of Jehoiada.

Yet God sent men who speak for God to bring them back to the Lord. These men of God spoke against them, but they would not listen.