How would one go about destroying the Messiah’s line? How would one bring down a nation? Infiltration and genetic mixing by the enemies of Yahweh. Elijah’s prophecy extends further than we might have realized. The eradicating of Ahab’s line takes its turn into the southern kingdom. How did Judah become entangled with Ahab? Jehoshaphat. While overall he was a good king; he seemed to make alliances all around him. This strength turned into a weakness for the Kingdom of Judah. We should question how such a good man had such a wicked son. We studied Jehoram of Judah and his unusual death last week. We see that after his death the Kingdom was in jeopardy, and ruled by more evil people. We also see people using the same names in both kingdoms. This is one way they intertwined, they developed family connections. When Yahweh passed by Elijah at Mount Horeb, he gave Elijah specific instructions. Then as time passed we see the fulfillment of Elijah’s prophecy.
1Kings 21:28 G2532 And G1096 came to pass G4487 the word G2962 of the lord G4314 to G* Elijah G3588 the G* Tishbite, G2532 and G2036 he said,
29 G3708 Have you seen G5613 that G2660 Ahab was vexed G* G575 in front G4383 G1473 of me? G473 Because G3739 G3754 G2660 he was vexed G575 in front G4383 G1473 of me, G3756 I shall not bring G1863 G3588 the G2549 evil G1722 in G3588 G2250 his days, G1473 G237.1 but only G1722 in G3588 the G2250 days G3588 G5207 of his son G1473 G1863 will I bring G3588 the G2549 evil G1909 upon G3588 G3624 his house. G1473
2 Kings 10:10 G1492 See G3754 that G3756 there shall not fall G4098 G575 of G3588 the G4487 saying G2962 of the lord G1909 unto G3588 the G1093 ground, G3739 of which G2980 the lord spoke G2962 G2596 against G3588 the G3624 house G* of Ahab. G2532 And G2962 the lord G4160 did G3745 as much as G2980 he spoke G1722 by G5495 the hand G3588 G1401 of his servant G1473 G* Elijah.
2Kings 10:17 G2532 And G1525 he entered G1519 into G* Samaria, G2532 and G3960 he struck G3956 all G3588 the G2641 ones left G3588 G* of Ahab G1722 in G* Samaria, G2193 unto G3588 G853 obliterating G1473 him G2596 according to G3588 the G4487 saying G2962 of the lord, G3739 which G2980 he spoke G4314 to G* Elijah.
Jehoshaphat was mostly a good king who made alliances with Edom and Arabia. He also sent out the Levites to teach the law to the people in the kingdom so as to turn their hearts back to Yahweh. But one alliance he had became his downfall. He made an alliance with Ahab, king of Israel. As we know, Ahab was not a follower of Yahweh until it was prophesied that he would see the extermination of his entire family, and only then did Ahab repent. Jehoshaphat married Ahab’s daughter. This women bore his first son, Jehoram of Judah. Jehophashat’s son was named after her brother, Jehoram of Israel, who became king after his brother Ahaziah died when falling through lattice. Ahaziah heard from Elijah while attempting to hear from the lord of the flies, and died as Elijah prophesied. This marriage was also Jehoshaphat’s downfall. A prophet named Jehu told Jehoshaphat that wrath was upon him from Yahweh.
2Ch 19:1 And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to his house in peace to Jerusalem.
2Ch 19:2 And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee from before the LORD.
2Ch 19:3 Nevertheless there are good things found in thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast prepared thine heart to seek God.
2Ch 20:34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, first and last, behold, they are written in the book of Jehu the son of Hanani, who is mentioned in the book of the kings of Israel.
We do not know what happened to the book of Jehu. But it seems the prophets recorded the acts of the kings. Josephus tells us this.
Josephus Antiquities 9:4:1 (45) Jehoshaphat had a good number of children; but he appointed his eldest son, Jehoram, to be his successor, who had the same name with his mother’s brother, that was king of Israel, and the son of Ahab. (46) Now when the king of Israel was come out of the land of Moab to Samaria, he had with him Elisha the prophet, whose acts I have a mind to go over particularly, for they were illustrious, and worthy to be related, as we have them set down in the sacred books.
Josephus, F., & Whiston, W. (1987). The works of Josephus: complete and unabridged (p. 248). Peabody: Hendrickson.
Josehpus gives us some great insight into Jehosaphat’s relationship with Ahab. Jehoshaphat’ eldest son is Jehoram, who’s mother was a daughter of Ahab and sister to Jehoram of Israel. Hence this woman and Jehoshaphat named their son Jehoram after her brother. Jehoram of Judah then married Athaliah who was also a daughter of Ahab. Technically he married someone who was his aunt or his mother’s sister. It was due to the alliance that Jehoshaphat had made with Ahab that Ahab’s wicked family started merging into Judah. It may be that Jehoshaphat and Jehoram ran Judah together for a while. After Jehoshaphat’s death Jehoram became king.
Josephus Antiquities 9:5:3 (95) Now Jehoram, the king of Jerusalem, for we have said before that he had the same name with the king of Israel, as soon as he had taken the government upon him, betook himself to the slaughter of his brethren and his father’s friends, who were governors under him, and thence made a beginning and a demonstration of his wickedness; nor was he at all better than those kings of Israel who at first transgressed against the laws of their country, and of the Hebrews, and against God’s worship: (96) and it was Athalia, the daughter of Ahab, whom he had married, who taught him to be a bad man in other respects, and also to worship foreign gods. Now God would not quite root out this family, because of the promise he had made to David. However, Jehoram did not leave off the introduction of new sorts of customs to the propagation of impiety, and to the ruin of the customs of his own country.
Josephus, F., & Whiston, W. (1987). The works of Josephus: complete and unabridged (p. 252). Peabody: Hendrickson.
Jehoram was twenty two when he became king. All the things that Jehoshaphat did to connect Edom to Judah and to befriend the Arabians was undone when Jehoram was king. Someone was controlling Jehoram.
Josephus Antiquities 9:5:3 (102) It was not long after this that an army of those Arabians that lived near to Ethiopia, and of the Philistines, fell upon the kingdom of Jehoram, and spoiled the country and the king’s house; moreover, they slew his sons and his wives; one only of his sons was left him, who escaped the enemy; his name was Ahaziah; (103) after which calamity, he himself fell into that disease which was foretold by the prophet, and lasted a great while (for God inflicted this punishment upon him in his belly, out of his wrath against him), and so he died miserably, and saw his own bowels fall out. The people also abused his dead body; (104) I suppose it was because they thought that such his death came upon him by the wrath of God, and that therefore he was not worthy to partake of such a funeral as became kings. Accordingly, they neither buried him in the sepulchres of his fathers, nor vouchsafed him any honors, but buried him like a private man, and this when he had lived forty years, and reigned eight; and the people of Jerusalem delivered the government to his son Ahaziah.
Josephus, F., & Whiston, W. (1987). The works of Josephus: complete and unabridged (p. 252). Peabody: Hendrickson.
Ahaziah is now king in Judah, but he doesn’t live long.
2 Kings 8:25 G1722 In G2094 [2year G1428 1 the twelfth] G3588 G* of Jehoram G5207 son G* of Ahab G935 king G* of Israel G936 [6reigned G* 1Ahaziah G5207 2son G* 3of Jehoram G935 4king G* 5of Judah].
26 G5207 [2 was a son G1501 3of twenty G2532 4and G1417 5two G2094 6years of age G* 1Ahaziah] G1722 in G3588 G936 his taking reign. G1473 G2532 And G936 he reigned G1763 a year G1722 in G* Jerusalem. G2532 And G3686 the name G3588 G3384 of his mother G1473 G* was Athaliah, G2364 daughter G* of Omri G935 king G* of Israel.
2364 Dodson:θυγάτηρ a daughter
a daughter; hence (Hebraistic?), of any female descendent, however far removed; even of one unrelated: my young lady.
θυγάτηρ
thugatēr thoo-gat'-air
Apparently a primary word (compare “daughter”); a female child, or (by Hebraism) descendant (or inhabitant)
KJV Usage: daughter.
Sometimes daughter means “heir”. Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab, granddaughter of Omri. Ahazaiah was twenty two when he reigned. He was named after Ahaziah, the eldest son of Ahab, the one who tried to consult with the lord of the flies, Athaliah’s brother. We can see the intertwining of the names and family. It would seem that Jehoshaphat made this alliance after he was already connected to Ahab via Ahab’s daughter.
1 Kings 22:4 G2532 And G2036 [3said G3588 G935 1 the king G* 2of Israel] G4314 to G* Jehoshaphat, G1487 Shall you not ascend G305 G3326 with G1473 me G1519 unto G* Ramoth G* Gilead G1519 for G4171 war?
5 G2532 And G2036 Jehoshaphat said, G* G2531 As G1473 you, G3779 thus G2532 also G1473 I. G2531 As G3588 G2992 your people, G1473 G3779 thus G2532 also G2992 my people. G1473 G2531 As G3588 G2462 your horses, G1473 G3588 so also G2462 my horses. G1473 G2532 And G2036 [4said G* 1Jehoshaphat G935 2king G* 3of Judah] G4314 to G935 the king G* of Israel, G1905 Ask G1211 indeed G4594 today G3588 of the G2962 lord .
Jehoshaphat says “Just as you in this matter I, just as your people in this matter my people, just as your horses my horses”. He is claiming a binding connection, Judah will do whatever Israel does. This is why wrath came upon Jehoshaphat. This is why evil overtook Judah.
2 Kings 8:27 G2532 And G4198 he went G1722 in G3598 the way G3624 of the house G* of Ahab, G2532 and G4160 he did G3588 the G4190 wicked thing G1799 before G2962 the lord, G2531 as G3588 the G3624 house G* of Ahab, G3754 for G1059.2 [2son-in-law G3624 3of the house G* 4of Ahab G1510.2.3 1he is].
Jehoshaphat married a woman from Ahab’s house. Jehoram married a woman from Ahab’s house, and now Jehoram’s son is going to reign for one year. Ahazaih of Judah, son of Jehoram of Judah is also a son -in-law of Ahab, meaning he married a granddaughter of Ahab. Ahaziah of Judah is going with his uncle Jehoram of Israel against Hazael king of Syria. As we know from Elijah’s meeting with Yahweh, Hazael was to be anointed king. Yahweh also said this:
1Ki 19:17 And it shall come to pass, that him that escapeth the sword of Hazael shall Jehu slay: and him that escapeth from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha slay.
This is interesting as Yahweh seems to be eliminating the evil people in the north, but this prophecy relates to the south also.
2 Kings 8:28 G2532 And G4198 he went G3326 with G* Jehoram G5207 son G* of Ahab G1519 to G4171 war G3326 against G* Hazael G935 king G* of Syria G1722 in G* Ramoth G* Gilead. G2532 And G3960 [3struck G3588 1the G* 2Syrians] G3588 G* Jehoram.
29 G2532 And G1994 [3returned G3588 G935 1king G* 2Jehoram] G3588 G2394.4 to be treated medically G1722 in G* Jezreel G575 from G3588 the G4127 wounds G3739 of which G3960 [3struck G1473 4him G3588 1the G* 2Syrians] G1722 in G* Ramoth G* Gilead, G1722 during G3588 G4170 his waging war G1473 G3326 against G* Hazael G935 king G* of Syria. G2532 And G* Ahaziah, G5207 son G* of Jehoram G935 king G* of Judah G2597 went down G3588 G1492 to see G3588 G* Jehoram G5207 son G* of Ahab G1722 in G* Jezreel, G3754 because G731.2 he was infirm. G1473
Hazael strikes Jehoram of Israel and he is wounded, but he doesn’t die. Someone else kills him. What does the prophecy say? Now Elisha tells one of the sons of the prophets to anoint Jehu.
2 Kings 9:1 G2532 And G* Elisha G3588 the G4396 prophet G2564 called G1520 one G3588 of the G5207 sons G3588 of the G4396 prophets, G2532 and G2036 he said G1473 to him, G2224 Tie up G3588 G3751 your loin, G1473 G2532 and G2983 take G3588 the G5316.2 flask G3588 G1637 of this oil G3778 G1722 in G3588 G5495 your hand, G1473 G2532 and G4198 be gone G1519 unto G* Ramoth G* Gilead!
2 G2532 And G1525 you shall enter G1563 there, G2532 and G3708 you shall see G1563 there G* Jehu G5207 son G* of Jehoshaphat G5207 son G* of Nimshi. G2532 And G1525 you shall enter, G2532 and G450 you shall raise G1473 him G1537 from G3319 the midst G3588 G80 of his brethren. G1473 G2532 And G1521 you shall bring G1473 him G1519 into G3588 the G5009 closet G1722 of G5009 a storeroom.
Who is Jehu? He is a son of Jehosaphat, a grandson of Nimishi. This makes him an uncle of Ahaziah of Judah, and a nephew of Jehoram of Israel. Obviously Jehu’s nephew, Jehoram of Judah, did not kill him when he killed his other brothers and his fathers friends because Jehu was living in Ramothgilead, which is in the northeast, on the east side of the Jordan river. Jehu wasn’t living in Judah, he was living in the city of refuge which was also a Levitical city.
2 Kings 9:14 G2532 And G4962 [6confederated G* 1Jehu G5207 2son G* 3of Jehoshaphat G5207 4son G* 5of Nimshi] G4314 against G* Jehoram. G2532 And G* Jehoram G5442 guarded G1722 in G* Ramoth G* Gilead, G1473 he G2532 and G3956 all G* Israel G575 before G4383 G* Hazael G935 king G* of Syria.
Jehu was anointed by a prophet via Elisha and via Elijah’s meeting with Yahweh at Mount Horeb. Jehu then kills his nephew Ahaziah.
2 Kings 9:27 G2532 And G* Ahaziah G935 king G* of Judah G1492 beheld, G2532 and G5343 he fled G3598 the way G* of Beth-agan. G2532 And G1377 [2pursued G3694 3after G1473 4him G* 1Jehu]. G2532 And G2036 he said, G2532 Even G1065 indeed G1473 him, G3960 strike G1473 him G1909 upon G3588 the G716 chariot! G1722 And the did so in G3588 the G306.1 ascent G* of Gur, G3739 which G1510.2.3 is G3588 the one of G* Ibleam. G2532 And G5343 he fled G1519 into G* Megiddo, G2532 and G599 died G1563 there.
Jehu killed his uncle, Jehoram of Israel, his nephew Ahaziah of Judah, and then kills Jezebel. Jehu has the nannies and servants kill the descendants of Ahab. He then kills the forty two brothers of Ahaziah at the pit of the shearing house in Samaria. Jehu then takes over the kingdom of Israel and kills the prophets of Baal. Ahaziah’s mistake was that he allied with his uncle Jehoram as his grandfather Jehosaphat allied with Ahab. Now Athaliah, Jehoram of Judah’s wife, Jehoram of Israel’s sister, also Ahaziah’s mother, takes over the kingdom.
Josephus Antiquities 9:7:1(140) Now when Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab, heard of the death of her brother Joram, and of her son Ahaziah, and of the royal family, she endeavored that none of the house of David might be left alive, but that the whole family might be exterminated, that no king might arise out of it afterward; (141) and, as she thought, she had actually done it; but one of Ahaziah’s sons was preserved, who escaped death after the manner following:—Ahaziah had a sister by the same father, whose name was Jehosheba, and she was married to the high priest Jehoiada. (142) She went into the king’s palace, and found Jehoash, for that was the little child’s name, who was not above a year old, among those that were slain, but concealed with his nurse; so she took him with her into a secret bed chamber, and shut him up there; and she and her husband Jehoiada brought him up privately in the temple six years, during which time Athaliah reigned over Jerusalem and the two tribes.
Athaliah took over Judah. She had no right to as she was a daughter of Ahab and although it looked like the Messiah’s line would be broken, Yahweh had a plan. Athaliah reigned six years and killed all the other royal seed of the line of David so that no one else could claim the throne. But one baby was mistakenly not killed.
During her reign Athaliah took materials from the temple and constructed the temple of Baal in Judah. Remember, Jehu had just killed the prophets of Baal and torn down the temple, but now Athaliah is building a temple to Baal in Judah.
Jehosheba was a daughter of Jehoram of Judah, but Athaliah may not have been her mother. She is the sister of Ahaziah of Judah. Being married to Jehoiada the high priest was unique as there was not a lot of mixing of the priestly lines and the kingly lines. There are always Jehoshebas’ or Jehoiadas’ who are at work for Yahweh when situations look desperate. Elijah’s prophecy will not fail.
2 Chronicles 22:10 G2532 And G* Athaliah G3588 the G3384 mother G* of Ahaziah G1492 saw G3754 that G2348 [2died G3588 G5207 1her son], G1473 G2532 and G450 she rose up G2532 and G622 destroyed G3956 all G3588 the G4690 seed G3588 of the G932 kingdom G1722 in G3588 the G3624 house G* of Judah.
11 G2532 But G2983 [6took G* 1Jehoshabeath G3588 2the G2364 3daughter G3588 4of the G935 5king] G3588 G* Joash G5207 son G* of Ahaziah, G2532 and G2813 stole G1473 him G1537 from G3319 the midst G3588 of the G5207 sons G3588 of the G935 king, G3588 of the G2289 ones being put to death. G2532 And G1325 she put G1473 him G2532 and G3588 G5160 his nourishment G1473 G1722 in G3588 the G5009 storeroom G3588 of the G2825 beds. G2532 And G2928 [5hid G1473 6him G3588 1the G2364 2daughter G3588 G935 3of king G* 4Jehoram], G* Jehoshabeath G3588 the G79 sister G* of Ahaziah G3588 the G1135 wife G* of Jehoiada G3588 the G2409 priest. G2532 And G2928 she hid G1473 him G575 from G4383 the face G3588 G* of Athaliah, G2532 and G3756 she did not G615 kill G1473 him.
12 G2532 And G1510.7.3 he was G2633.1 being hid G3326 with G1473 her G1722 in G3588 the G3624 house G3588 G2316 of God G1803 six G2094 years. G2532 And G* Athaliah G936 reigned G1909 over G3588 the G1093 land.
Who killed all the seed of the line of David? Athaliah. Jehu killed forty two of Ahaziah of Judah’s brothers, but Athaliah killed all the other relations. It seems as if it might have been a bad idea to kill all of Ahaziah’s brothers because that gave the kingdom to Ahab’s daughter Athaliah, but it would not be long before Yahweh enacts a change.
Josephus Antiquities 9:7:2. (143) Now, on the seventh year, Jehoiada communicated the matter to certain of the captains of hundreds, five in number, and persuaded them to be assisting to what attempts he was making against Athaliah, and to join with him in asserting the kingdom to the child. He also received such oaths from them as are proper to secure those that assist one another from the fear of discovery; and he was then of good hope that they should depose Athaliah. (144) Now those men whom Jehoiada the priest had taken to be his partners, went into all the country, and gathered together the priests and Levites, and the heads of the tribes out of it, and came and brought them to Jerusalem, to the high priest. (145) So he demanded the security of an oath of them, to keep private whatsoever he should discover to them, which required both their silence and their assistance. So when they had taken the oath, and had thereby made it safe for him to speak, he produced the child that he had brought up, of the family of David, and said to them, “This is your king, of that house which you know God hath foretold should reign over you for all time to come: (146) I exhort you, therefore, that one-third part of you guard him in the temple, and that a fourth part keep watch at all the gates of the temple, and that the next part of you keep guard at the gate which opens and leads to the king’s palace, and let the rest of the multitude be unarmed in the temple, and let no armed person go into the temple, but the priest only.” (147) He also gave them this order besides, “That a part of the priests and the Levites should be about the king himself, and be a guard to him, with their drawn swords, and to kill that man immediately, whoever he be, that should be so bold as to enter armed into the temple; and bade them be afraid of nobody, but persevere in guarding the king.” (148) So these men obeyed what the high priest advised them to, and declared the reality of their resolution by their actions. Jehoiada also opened that armory which David had made in the temple, and distributed to the captains of hundreds, as also to the priests and Levites, all the spears and quivers, and what kind of weapons soever it contained and set them armed in a circle round about the temple, so as to touch one another’s hands, and by that means excluding those from entering that ought not to enter. (149) So they brought the child into the midst of them, and put on him the royal crown, and Jehoiada anointed him with the oil, and made him king; and the multitude rejoiced, and made a noise, and cried, “God save the king!”
To us, six years under the rule of an evil woman would seem like hell, but the prophecy is still in effect. The people were not strong supporters of Yahweh, but there was still a priestly line in Judah. It must have sounded strange to hear “God save the king” after six years.
2 Kings 11:13 G2532 And G191 Athaliah heard G* G3588 the G5456 sound G3588 of the G5143 running G3588 of the G2992 people, G2532 and G2064 she went G4314 to G3588 the G2992 people G1519 into G3624 the house G2962 of the lord .
14 G2532 And G1492 she saw. G2532 And G2400 behold, G3588 the G935 king G2476 stood G1909 at G3588 the G4769 column G2596 according to G3588 G2917 their practice. G2532 And G3588 the G5605.1 singers G2532 and G3588 the ones with G4536 trumpets G4012 were around G3588 the G935 king. G2532 And G3956 all G3588 the G2992 people G3588 of the G1093 land G5463 were rejoicing, G2532 and G4537 trumpeting G1722 with G4536 trumpets. G2532 And G1284 Athaliah tore G* G3588 G2440 her garments, G1473 G2532 and G994 she yelled, G4886 Conspiracy, G4886 conspiracy.
Josephus Antiquities 9:7:3. (150) When Athaliah unexpectedly heard the tumult and the acclamations, she was greatly disturbed in her mind, and suddenly issued out of the royal palace with her own army; and when she was come to the temple, the priests received her, but as for those that stood round about the temple, as they were ordered by the high priest to do, they hindered the armed men that followed her from going in. (151) But when Athaliah saw the child standing upon a pillar, with the royal crown upon his head, she rent her clothes, and cried out vehemently, and commanded [her guards] to kill him that had laid snares for her, and endeavored to deprive her of the government; but Jehoiada called for the captains of hundreds, and commanded them to bring Athaliah to the valley of Cedron, and slay her there, (152) for he would not have the temple defiled with the punishments of this pernicious woman; and he gave order, that if anyone came near to help her, he should be slain also; wherefore those that had the charge of her slaughter took hold of her, and led her to the gate of the king’s mules, and slew her there.
Athaliah ruled for six years. Jehoash was seven years old when he became king. We find out that the temple of Baal was built before Jehoram of Judah’s death.
Josephus Antiquities 9:7:4. (153) Now as soon as what concerned Athaliah was, by this stratagem, after this manner, dispatched, Jehoiada called together the people and the armed men into the temple, and made them take an oath that they would be obedient to the king, and take care of his safety, and of the safety of his government; after which he obliged the king to give security [upon oath] that he would worship God, and not transgress the laws of Moses. (154) They then ran to the house of Baal, which Athaliah and her husband Jehoram had built, to the dishonor of the God of their fathers, and to the honor of Ahab, and demolished it, and slew Mattan, that had his priesthood. (155) But Jehoiada intrusted the care and custody of the temple to the priests and Levites, according to the appointment of king David, and enjoined them to bring their regular burnt offerings twice a day, and to offer incense according to the law. He also ordained some of the Levites, with the porters, to be a guard to the temple, that no one that was defiled might come there.
While Athaliah was worshipping at the temple of Baal, Yahweh was keeping a child safe in His temple.
Josephus Antiquities 9:7:5. (156) And when Jehoiada had set these things in order, he, with the captains of hundreds, and the rulers, and all the people, took Jehoash out of the temple into the king’s palace, and when he had set him upon the king’s throne, the people shouted for joy, and betook themselves to feasting, and kept a festival for many days; but the city was quiet upon the death of Athaliah. (157) Now Jehoash was seven years old when he took the kingdom: his mother’s name was Zibiah, of the city Beersheba. And all the time that Jehoiada lived, Jehoash was careful that the law, should be kept, and very zealous in the worship of God; (158) and when he was of age, he married two wives, who were given to him by the high priest, by whom were born to him both sons and daughters. And thus much shall suffice to have related concerning king Jehoash, how he escaped the treachery of Athaliah, and how he received the kingdom.
Josephus, F., & Whiston, W. (1987). The works of Josephus: complete and unabridged (pp. 255–256). Peabody: Hendrickson.
Jehoash reigned for forty years.
2 Chronicles 24:4 G2532 And G1096 it came to pass G3326 after G3778 these things, G2532 that G1096 it came G1909 upon G2588 the heart G* of Joash G1980.1 to repair G3588 the G3624 house G2962 of the lord .
5 G2532 And G4863 he gathered G3588 the G2409 priests G2532 and G3588 the G* Levites, G2532 and G2036 he said G1473 to them, G1831 Go forth G1519 into G3588 the G4172 cities G* of Judah, G2532 and G4863 gather G575 from G3956 all G* Israel G694 money G3588 G2901 to repair G3588 the G3624 house G2962 of the lord G3588 G2316 your God G1473 G575 until G2425 fit, G1763 year G2596 by G1763 year! G2532 And G4692 hasten G2980 to speak! G2532 And G3756 [3hastened not G4692 G3588 1the G* 2Levites].
It came upon the heart of Jehoash to repair the temple. But something went wrong. the Levites and priests did not want to ask for the money from the people.
Josephus Antiquities 9:8:2. (161) Now Jehoash, king of Jerusalem, had an inclination to repair the temple of God; so he called Jehoiada, and bade him send the Levites and priests through all the country, to require half a shekel of silver for every head, towards the rebuilding and repairing of the temple, which was brought to decay by Jehoram, and Athaliah and her sons. (162) But the high priests did not do this, as concluding that no one would willingly pay that money; but in the twenty-third year of Jehoash’s reign, when the king sent for him and the Levites, and complained that they had not obeyed what he enjoined them, and still commanded them to take care of the rebuilding the temple,
Josephus, F., & Whiston, W. (1987). The works of Josephus: complete and unabridged (p. 256). Peabody: Hendrickson.
Jehoiada was in charge of the Levites and priests, but it seemed like they did not listen to Jehoash’s command to rebuild the temple.
2 Chronicles 24:6 G2532 And G2564 [3called G3588 1the G935 2king] G3588 G* Jehoiada G3588 the G758 ruler, G2532 and G2036 he said G1473 to him, G1302 Why did G3756 you not G1567 require G4012 concerning G3588 the G* Levites, G3588 so as G1533 to carry in G575 from G* Judah G2532 and G* Jerusalem G3588 the G2919 adjudged G3024.1 concern G5259 by G* Moses G444 the man G3588 G2316 of God, G3754 for G1826.1 the assembly G3588 G* of Israel G1519 in G3588 the G4633 tent G3588 of the G3142 testimony?
7 G3754 For G* Athaliah G1510.7.3 was G459 lawless, G2532 and G3588 G5207 her sons G1473 G2686.2 tore down G3588 the G3624 house G3588 G2316 of God; G2532 and G1065 also G3956 all G3588 the G39 holy things G3624 of the house G2962 of the lord G4160 they appointed G3588 to the G* Baals.
At this point they made a wooden chest with a hole in the top for people to put their offerings in and they were able to hire the builders and masons to rebuild the temple.
Jehoash’s servants killed Jehoash when he was forty seven. Towards the end of his reign he seems to have enjoyed worship and accolades from the rulers of Judah. It also seems he forgot about Jehoiada’s kindness and killed Jehoiada’s son Zechariah, who was stoned at the order of Jehoash. Let’s look at this.
2 Chronicles 24:15 G2532 And G1095 Jehoiada grew old, G* G2532 and G1510.7.3 was G4134 full G2250 of days. G2532 And G5053 he came to an end G5207 [2a son G1510.6 1being] G1540 a hundred G2532 and G5144 thirty G2094 years G1722 at G3588 G5053 his coming to an end. G1473
16 G2532 And G2290 they entombed G1473 him G1722 in G4172 the city G* of David G3326 with G3588 the G935 kings, G3754 for G4160 he did G19 goodness G3326 with G* Israel, G2532 and G3326 with G3588 G2316 God, G2532 and G3588 G3624 his house. G1473
17 G2532 And G1096 it came to pass G3326 after G3588 the G5054 decease G* of Jehoiada, G1525 [4entered G3588 1the G758 2rulers G* 3of Judah] G2532 and G4352 did obeisance to G3588 the G935 king. G5119 Then G1873 [3heeded G3588 1the G935 2king] G1473 them.
When the rulers of Judah worshipped Jehoash he heeded them. Why were they there? They wanted to worship false gods and idols. This is what Jehoash was listening to.
2 Chronicles 24:18 G2532 And G1459 they abandoned G3588 the G3624 house G2962 of the lord G3588 the G2316 God G3588 G3962 of their fathers, G1473 G2532 and G3000 they served G3588 to G* Ashtoreth G2532 and G3588 the G1497 idols. G2532 And G1096 there came G3709 anger G1909 against G* Judah G2532 and G1909 against G* Jerusalem G1722 in G3588 G4131.1 their trespass. G1473
The rulers of Judah did obeisance to Jehoash and they abandoned the temple and served Ashtoreth and idols. Who was angry with Judah and Jerusalem? Yahweh. Yahweh sends prophets.
2 Chronicles 24:19 G2532 And G649 he sent G4314 to G1473 them G4396 prophets G1994 to turn G1473 them G4314 to G2962 the lord . G2532 And G1263 they testified G1473 to them, G2532 and G3756 they hearkened not. G191
The rulers had turned away from Yahweh, even after Jehoash rebuilt the temple. The people wanted to worship false idols and they rejected the prophets. Zechariah has something to say to them.
2 Chronicles 24:20 G2532 And G4151 spirit G2316 of God G1746 was put on G3588 G* Zechariah G3588 the G3588 son of G* Jehoiada G3588 the G2409 priest, G2532 and G450 he rose G1883 above G3588 the G2992 people, G2532 and G2036 said G1473 to them, G3592 Thus G3004 says G2962 the lord, G2444 Why G1473 do you G3899 pass by G3588 the G1785 commandments G2962 of the lord, G2532 and G3756 your way shall not prosper? G2137 G3754 For G1459 you abandoned G3588 the G2962 lord, G2532 and G1459 he shall abandon G1473 you.
This should have been enough to wake people up.
2 Chronicles 24:21 G2532 And G2007 they assailed G1473 against him, G2532 and G3036 stoned G1473 him G3037 with stones G1223 by G1785 command G* of Joash G3588 the G935 king G1722 in G833 the courtyard G3624 of the house G2962 of the lord .
Where was Zechariah killed? In the courtyard of the temple. Jehoash defiled the temple that he had worked to rebuild by giving the command to kill Zechariah.
2 Chronicles 24:22 G2532 And G3756 [4did not G3403 5remember G* 1Joash G3588 2the G935 3king] G3588 the G1656 mercy G3739 of which G4160 [3performed G* 1Jehoiada G3588 G3962 2his father] G1473 G3326 with G1473 him, G2532 and G2289 he put [2to death G3588 G5207 1his son]. G1473 G2532 And G5613 as G599 he died, G2036 he said, G1492 The lord behold G2962 G2532 even G2919 to judge!
Jehoash did not remember the mercy of Jehoiada. The bravery of Jehoiada and Jehoshabeath saved Jehoash’s life. Noticing the context here pay attention to Jesus’ words.
Mat 23:34 Wherefore, behold, I send unto you prophets, and wise men, and scribes: and some of them ye shall kill and crucify; and some of them shall ye scourge in your synagogues, and persecute them from city to city:
Mat 23:35 That upon you may come all the righteous blood shed upon the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel unto the blood of Zacharias son of Barachias, whom ye slew between the temple and the altar.
Mat 23:36 Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.
Also noted by Luke.
Luk 11:49 Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute:
Luk 11:50 That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;
Luk 11:51 From the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zacharias, which perished between the altar and the temple: verily I say unto you, It shall be required of this generation.
Most scholars believe the name Barachias was a different way of writing Jehoiada’s name, but there is no small amount of controversy over this quote in Matthew, as Luke does not add this name to his record. From Cyclopedia:
“It is probably this Jehoiada who is alluded to in Jer 29:26 as a preeminent incumbent of the office (see Rosenmüller and Hitzig, ad loc.), and he is doubtless the same with the BERECHIAH (Βαραχίας) of Mat 23:25."
Because of Jehoashs’ turn away from Yahweh, the house of Yahweh, and from the prophets, Yahweh sent the Syrians against Judah. Who was leading the Syrians?
2 Chronicles 24:23 G2532 And G1096 it came to pass G1519 at G3588 the G4930 completion G3588 of the G1763 year, G305 [3ascended G1909 4against G1473 5him G1411 1 the force G* 2of Syria], G2532 and G2064 came G1909 against G* Judah, G2532 and G1909 against G* Jerusalem, G2532 and G2704 they utterly destroyed G3956 all G3588 the G758 rulers G3588 of the G2992 people G1537 from among G3588 the G2992 people; G2532 and G3956 all G3588 G4661 their spoils G1473 G649 they sent G3588 to the G935 king G* of Damascus.
Who did the Syrians destroy? The rulers of the people. The same rulers who worshipped Jehoash and wanted to worship Ashtoroth and idols. Who were these Syrians?
2 Kings 12:17 G5119 Then G305 [4ascended up G* 1Hazael G935 2king G* 3of Syria], G2532 and G4170 waged war G1909 against G* Gath, G2532 and G4293.1 was first to take G1473 it. G2532 And G5087 Hazael arranged G* G3588 G4383 his face G1473 G305 to ascend G1909 against G* Jerusalem.
Wasn’t this Elijah’s prophecy? Whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu would slay and whoever escapes Jehu, Elisha would slay, 1 Kings 19:17. Jehu killed Ahaziah and forty two of his brothers, and Hazael then wounded Jehoash of Judah after his heart abandoned Yahweh and allowed idol worship in Judah. This is why Hazael came against Jehoash.
2 Chronicles 24:24 G3754 For G1722 [4with G3641 5a few G435 6men G3854 3came G1411 1 the force G* 2of Syria], G2532 but G3588 G2316 God G3860 delivered up G1519 into G3588 G5495 their hands G1473 G1411 [3force G4183 2vast G4970 1an exceedingly], G3754 for G1459 they abandoned G2962 the lord G3588 the G2316 God G3588 G3962 of their fathers. G1473 …
The rulers abandoned Yahweh, just as Zechariah said. Hazael and the Syrian army executed judgments on Jehoash.
… G2532 And G3326 with G* Joash G4160 they executed G2917 judgments.
When the Syrians leave, Jehoash is infirm.
2 Chronicles 24:25 G2532 And G3326 after G3588 G565 their going forth G1473 G575 from G1473 him, G1722 in G3588 G1459 abandoning G1473 him G1722 with G3119 [2infirmities G3173 1great], G2532 that G2007 [2assailed G1473 3against him G3588 G3816 1his servants] G1473 G1722 because of G129 the blood G3588 of the G5207 sons G* of Jehoiada G3588 the G2409 priest; G2532 and G2289 they killed G1473 him G1909 upon G3588 G2825 his bed, G1473 G2532 and G599 he died. G2532 And G2290 they entombed G1473 him G1722 in G4172 the city G* of David, G2532 but G3756 they did not G2290 entomb G1473 him G1722 in G3588 the G5028 tomb G3588 of the G935 kings.
We find out from Jeremiah’s writing in 2 Kings 12 that Jehoash gave Hazael all his holy things, and the holy things that his father and grandfathers had, as well as all the gold in the treasures in the house of the Lord. After Hazael left him and abandoned him, Jehoash had mega malakia, weakness, illness, or enervation. His young servants epitithēmi lay on him, because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada, and put Jehoash to death in his own bed.
2 Chronicles 24:26 G2532 And G3588 the ones G2007 assailing G1909 against G1473 him -- G* Zabad G5207 son G* of Shimeath G3588 the G* Ammonitess, G2532 and G* Jehozabad G5207 son G* of Shimrith G3588 the G* Moabitess.
27 G2532 And G5207 his sons, G1473 G2532 and G4183 the greatest G3024.1 concerns G2596 about G1473 him, G2532 and G3588 the G2311.1 groundwork G3624 of the house G3588 G2316 of God, G2532 and G3588 the G3062 rest, G2400 behold, G1510.2.3 it is G1125 written G1909 upon G3588 the G1124 writing G975 of the scroll G3588 of the G935 kings. G2532 And G936 [3reigned G* 1Amaziah G5207 2his son] G1473 G473 instead of G1473 him.
What a sad ending to Jehoash’s life. While Jehoash lived most of his life for Yahweh, he turned away from Yahweh when the rulers of Judah worshipped him. Elijah’s prophecy did not fail, Hazael and Jehu destroyed the line of Ahab. The plan of Satanas was to infiltrate Israel and Judah with an evil bloodline. Yahweh’s plan was to eradicate that bloodline. We notice that Matthew does not include Ahaziah, Jehoash, and Jehoash’s son Amaziah in Jesus’s lineage, as the sins of the father extend to the third and fourth generation. David’s line had to be cleansed. Elijah’s prophecy was on target. The weakness of men allows the satan to innocently sneak evil into people’s lives. Remember what Jehu the prophet said?
2 Chronicles 19:2 G2532 And G1831 came forth G1519 to G529 meet G1473 him G* Jehu G3588 the G3588 son of G* Hanani G3588 the G4396 prophet. G2532 And G2036 he said G4314 to G3588 G935 king G* Jehoshaphat, G1487 Shall G268 [3a sinner G1473 1you G997 2help], G2228 or G3404 [3one being detested G5259 4by G2962 5 the lord G1473 1 do you G5373.1 2befriend], no . G1223 Because of G3778 this G1096 [3took place G1909 4against G1473 5you G3709 1 the anger G2962 2of the lord]
“Whether you come to the rescue of sinner or you befriend hated by Yahweh, by means of this, wrath Yahweh upon you.”
Just as Jehoshaphat befriended Ahab, someone who was not worshipping Yahweh, we too in the Body of Christ have a tendency to befriend those who reject Yahweh. If someone could have counseled Jehoshaphat they probably would have said exactly what Paul said to us.
1 Corinthians 15:33 G3361 Be not G4105 misled; G5351 [3corrupt G2239 5morals G5543 4gracious G3657 2companionships G2556 1evil].
34 G1594 Sober up G1346 righteously, G2532 and G3361 do not G264 sin! G56 [4an ignorance G1063 1for G2316 5of God G5100 2some G2192 3have] -- G4314 to G1791 your shame G1473 G3004 I speak.
Evil companionships corrupt gracious morals. Don’t sin, some have an ignorance of the Elohim. Yahweh eradicated Ahab, his wife, his sons, daughters, and his grandchildren, he can do the same today. Keep the faith.
