Study Desk

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 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.

So he returned to Jezreel to be healed of the cuts he had received at Ramah, when he fought against King Hazael of Syria. And Ahaziah the son of Jehoram, king of Judah, went down to see Jehoram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.

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.

But Jehoshabeath, the king's daughter, took Ahaziah's son Joash. She stole him from among the king's sons who were being killed. And she put him and his nurse in the bedroom. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the religious leader, and sister of Ahaziah, hid Joash from Athaliah, so she could not kill him.

So they took hold of her. And when she came to the Horse Gate of the king's house, they killed her there.

And Jehoiada put the gate-keepers in their places of the Lord's house. This was so no one would go in who was in any way unclean.

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

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."

So the king had them make a box and set it outside by the gate of the Lord's house.

So the workmen worked hard doing what needed to be done. The house of God was like new again, just as it was planned. They made it strong.

They left the house of the Lord the God of their fathers, and worshiped the false gods of Asherah and the objects made to look like them. So anger came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their sin.

So they made plans against him. At the king's word, they killed Zechariah with stones in the open space of the Lord's house.

So Joash the king did not remember the kindness his father Jehoiada had shown him, but he killed his son. And when Zechariah was dying, he said, "May the Lord see and punish!"

The army of the Syrians came with a small number of men. But the Lord let them win against a very large army. Because the people of Judah and Jerusalem had turned away from the Lord, the God of their fathers. So the Syrians were used to punish Joash.

When they had left Joash, leaving him very sick, his own servants made plans against him because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the religious leader. And they killed him on his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the city of David. But they did not bury him in the graves of the kings.

The men of Judah also took 10,000 men alive. They brought them to the top of a high rock and threw them down from it, so they were all crushed to pieces.

But as he was speaking the king said to him, "Have we chosen you to give words of wisdom to the king? Stop! Or I will have you put to death." So the man who spoke for God stopped, but said, "I know that God has planned to destroy you because you have done this. And you have not listened to what I have said."

You say, ‘See, I have destroyed Edom.' And your heart has become proud by what you say. Now stay at home. Why should you bring trouble so you will fall, and Judah with you?"

So King Joash of Israel met King Amaziah of Judah in battle at Beth-shemesh of Judah.