Joash the bringer of new Hope? (841-796BC)
Ref: 2 Kings 10-13, 2 Chronicles 22-24
The previous article ended with Jehu anointed king of Israel and bringing religious reform. Jehu not only killed Jehoram King of Israel but also his ally Ahaziah King of Judah. He also killed a further 42 members of the Judah royal family. Jehu wouldn’t go on to invade Judah but with the death of its nobles the House of David was diminished causing a power vacuum.
Athaliah Usurps the throne of Judah
In Judah with Ahaziah dead his mother Athaliah the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel seized power. She proceeded to kill all the men that remained of the house of David. However Jehosheba the daughter of King Jehoram of Judah, and sister of Ahaziah king of Judah, took Ahaziah’s one year old son Joash and his nurse, and hid them. Jehosheba was the wife of Jehoida the High Priest and the two of them went on to hide Joash in a house of the temple courts for 6 years.
Thinking she had achieved her aim Athaliah consolidated her rule over Judah. Like her mother Jezebel continued to promote the cult of Baal worship and lead Judah further into depravity. A temple of Baal existed in Jerusalem with its own priesthood, whilst the temple and worship of YaHVeH was neglected.
Joash the boy King
In the spring of 835BC Jehoida the High Priest made preparations to reveal Joash to Judah and install him as king. In a carefully arranged spectacle the 7 year old Joash was brought out of the temple crowned and anointed before the people with everyone gathered rejoicing, blowing trumpets and shouting “long live the King.” When Athaliah heard the noise she came to temple, and seeing what was going on she cried out treason. On the orders of Jehoida Athaliah and her retinue was taken out of the temple courts and killed with the sword. With the people gathered, Jehoida then made a covenant between YaHVeH, the King and the people. As in times past they committed to being YaHVeH’s people and would have no more to do with Baal. Following this the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down with all its images. They also killed Mathan the priest of Baal. Meanwhile Joash was escorted to the palace and seated on the throne of the Kings of Judah.
Under the instruction of Jehoida the High Priest, Joash led the people in restoring the worship of YaHVeH. He took two wives and had children, with his firstborn Amaziah born in 821BC. Joash also turned his attention to the temple which through age and neglect was in need of repairs. He therefore tasked the priests with collecting the money and repairing the temple. By Joash’s 23rd year (814/813BC) he became aware that despite his plans the temple was still yet to be repaired. Therefore Joash called Jehoiada and the priests to give an account. It appears that the money that was brought by the people, was going towards the general upkeep of the priesthood. As a result there was nothing left for the temple repairs. It was then decided that the priest would no longer be responsible for collecting money nor for arranging the repairs of the temple. A new arrangement was made whereby there was a clear distinction between gifts bought to the temple and gifts dedicated specifically for the repair works.
Jehoahaz King of Israel
Sometime between Tishri 814 and Nissan 813BC Jehu king of Israel died and was succeeded by his son Jehoahaz. Jehu had done what the LORD has asked in getting rid of Baal and for that the LORD promised to establish his dynasty to the fourth generation. However Jehu had not continued to follow the LORD nor keep his commands. For this the LORD reduced Israel’s territory. Jehoahaz therefore inherited a weaker kingdom than his father had received, with Hazael having taken all the territory of Israel east of the Jordan. Over Jehoahaz’s 17 year reign things would go from bad to worse. Hazael continued to invade and venture further and further into the heart of Israel. The people of Israel were greatly oppressed and the army was reduced to a mere 50 horsemen, 10 chariots and 10,000 foot soldiers (for comparison Ahab mustered 2,000 chariots against Shalmaneser King of Assyria).
The death of Jehoida the Priest
In 807BC Uzziah son of Amaziah son of Joash King of Judah was born securing the Davidic dynasty. Some years later Jehoida the High Priest who was advanced in years died. The priest who had saved the King and his dynasty was greatly honoured and buried amongst the kings. However following his death Joash started listening to his advisors who led Jerusalem and Judah back into idolatry. The LORD sent prophets to them to bring them back but they were not listened to.
The death of Elisha and new hope for Israel
In 799BC Jehoash was made co-regent of Israel by his father Jehoahaz. The following year Jehoahaz king of Israel died and his son Jehoash reigned in his place. It was early in his reign that the now aged Elisha became sick, and the King went down to visit him. Elisha got the king to shoot an arrow out of the East window which was a sign that the LORD would deliver Israel from the Syrians. He then instructed the king to strike the ground with the arrows. Since Jehoash only did this three times before stopping Elisha was angry. He told him that instead of destroying Syria, he would only have victory over them three times. Elisha died and in the spring of that year raiding bans from Moab came into Israel. This shows Israel’s weakness at the time as well as an increase in the power of Moab. Jehoash however would go on to turn around Israel’s fortunes.
Joash ends Badly
Sometime after Tishri 797 Zechariah the son of Jehoida the priest proclaimed the word of the LORD to the people of Judah. He rebuked them for breaking the commandments and declared that since “you have forsaken the LORD, He also has forsaken you”. To this the people sought to kill him and with the authorisation of Joash the king they stoned him to death in the temple courts.
Joash had started well and under the tutelage of Jehoida the priest had led Judah back to YaHVeH after years of Baal worship. However in his later life he turned away from doing what is right. In spite of the earlier covenant Judah slipped back into idolatry. When confronted by the prophets Joash did not heed them. He was even responsible for the execution of Zechariah, the son of Jehoida the very priest who had raised Joash and put him on the throne. By the end of his reign Judah had been invaded, the treasures used to pay off Hazael and the people had lost faith in him. Joash became the first king of Judah to die of a coup.
Some months later in the spring of 796 Hazael King of Syria invaded Judah with a small force. Israel were so weak at this time that Syria were able to move freely through their territory. Marching down the coast they took the city of Gath before turning towards Jerusalem. On the way they were confronted by Joash and a great army. The Syrians were victorious severely wounding Joash and killing the leaders of the people. To stop the invasion Joash took gold from the temple and the treasury as well as the things he and his father had dedicated to the LORD and used these to pay off Hazael. Joash’s servants then conspired against him and killed him.
The death of Hazael
Hazael shortly after returning to Damascus finally died after having ruled Syria for over 40 years. Hazael was succeeded by his son Ben-Haddad III as King of Syria. This proved to be a bad time for Syria, as with the death of Hazael, Assyria proceeded to invade Syria and besiege Damascus. The Assyrian King Adad Nirari III was seeking to reassert Assyrian dominance over the region. Jehoash King of Israel then came out to Adad Nirari paying homage and bringing tribute. Under Hazael Israel had been brutally weakened. Now thanks to the Assyrians they had relief and by establishing friendly relations, they sought also to avoid becoming the next target.
