2 Chronicles 21-24

Jehoram (21:2–20) God preserves the house of David (21:2–7) God punishes Jehoram (21:8–20) Ahaziah (22:1–9) Ahaziah and the house of Ahab (22:1–4) Ahaziah’s downfall and death (22:5–9) Athaliah (22:10–12) Three declining kings, pt1 (23:1–24:27) Joash (23:1–24:27) Joash’s accession under Jehoiada’s leadership (23:1–21) Joash’s faithfulness while Jehoiada lives (24:1–16) Joash’s apostasy after Jehoiada’s death (24:17–27)

Jehoram (21:2–20)

God preserves the house of David (21:2–7)

God punishes Jehoram (21:8–20)

Ahaziah (22:1–9)

Ahaziah and the house of Ahab (22:1–4)

Ahaziah’s downfall and death (22:5–9)

Athaliah (22:10–12)

Three declining kings, pt1 (23:1–24:27)

Joash (23:1–24:27)

Joash’s accession under Jehoiada’s leadership (23:1–21)

Joash’s faithfulness while Jehoiada lives (24:1–16)

Joash’s apostasy after Jehoiada’s death (24:17–27)

Judah and the house of Ahab (21:2–22:12)

We will see many of the negative side effects of Jehoshaphat’s alliances with Israel. Just to review for a moment, Jehoshaphat made many alliances with Israel, which was his greatest weakness.

Fought with Ahab

Fought with Ahab Made a naval alliance with Ahab’s son Ahaziah Made a marriage alliance by giving his son Jehoram in marriage to Ahab’s daughter Athaliah - makes another alliance with Jehoram/Joram, another son of Ahab

Made a naval alliance with Ahab;’s son

These decisions of Jehoshaphat are one of the primary factors for what happens in chapters 21 and 22.

Made a marriage alliance by giving his son in marriage to Ahab’s

made a marriage alliance by giving his son in marriage to Ahab’s

- makes another alliance with Joram, another son of Ahab

- makes another alliance with a future king of Israel

- Jehoram

21:1-7 The Evil Ways of Jehoram

Upon succeeding his father as king, Jehoram murdered his brothers.

Why would he do that? Probably getting rid of all potential rivals. He secures his power, but also shows a lack of trust in the LORD. He tries to establish his own throne instead of being faithful to the lORD and finding true security for His reign

There is a reason given to us for Jehoram’s actions. His wife. Who is his wife? The daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. Her influence for evil was stronger than Jehoshaphat’s influence for good. So instead of walking in the ways of David, whose ways did Jehoram walk in? He walked in the ways of the Kings of Israel, just as Ahab had done. One example given to us in this chapter is in verse 11.

“Jehoram also built high places in the hills of Judah, and he caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves, and he led Judah astray.” (, CSB)

His relationship with Athaliah and leading the people into idolatry are the main things that leads to his downfall.

But in verse 7, there is a change of tone. Even though Jehoram was so wicked, God was still willing to show mercy. He made a promise to David that He was going to keep, and because of this, He would not completely destroy the house of David. God made the promise to give David and his sons “a lamp” forever. This promise of a “lamp” is a reference to something that was said by the prophet Ahijah to Jeroboam before the dividing of the kingdom in .

21:8-20 The Consequences of Walking in the Ways of the Kings of Israel

But obviously there were still going to be consequences for Jehoram for the evil that he had done. The Lord used several enemies to trouble his reign. Edom and Libnah rebelled against the rule of Judah. Libnah was down on the border next to the Philistines. The reason why Libnah rebelled is given: “because he had abandoned the Lord, the God of his ancestors.”

And because of his evil, Jehoram also receives a letter from someone in verses 12-15: Elijah. This is the only account from the life of Elijah that the Chronicler included in his history, and Kings does not record this letter. But within the letter, there is nothing good said about Jehoram and the events that would happen in his reign. The LORD would strike his family, his possessions, and his health because of the evil he had done.

In verses 16-17, we begin to see the fulfillment of Elijah’s letter. We are told that the LORD roused the spirit of the Philistines and Arabs. They together invaded Judah, possibly even entering Jerusalem if this is where the king’s palace is. They carried off all the possessions found in the king’s palace, along with wives and almost all of his sons except for Jehoahaz/Ahaziah, his youngest son. This may be God’s way of making sure David’s line can continue. We learn in ch23 that the sons taken by those who took them away from Judah killed them.

These are th

carried off all the possessions found in the king’s palace and also his sons and wives

The prophet Elijah sent a letter of doom to the king, predicting defeat and disease for the king. The Lord incited the Philistines and Arabs to attack Judah (21:12–17).

God inflicted the king with a horrible disease in his intestines that was incurable. We are not given a pretty picture of his death that follows. The Chronicler added that no one honored the king at his passing (21:18–20; contrast 16:14).

Lessons for returned exiles:

For the original readers, they are continuing to see the negative effects of not trusting in the LORD and of serving other gods. Hopefully this would keep them focused on serving the LORD and rebuilding their nation.

Second, they possibly would have seen in this passage that God is faithful to his covenant to David even though David’s descendants sin. The blessing of each individual king was conditional, but the promise to David that he would have a descendant on the throne forever was not conditional. The returned exiles could find hope in this as they awaited a descendant of David to come.

promise to David that he would have a descendant on the throne forever was not conditional. The returned exiles could find hope in this as they awaited a descendant of David to come.

Lessons for us: Beyond seeing our need to trust the LORD and to not follow in the steps of those who do evil, we see a couple other applications or lessons:

No matter how good one’s parents may be, this does not mean that the children will be right with the LORD or continue in His ways. We will see many times in the rest of this book that good kings have wicked children and wicked kings at times have good children. Being a good parent and teaching the truth does not necessitate that one’s children will serve the LORD. They have free will and must make this choice for themselves!

A letter of a prophet holds the same authority as the words of a prophet.

Abandoning the LORD brings terrible consequences.

22:1-9 Ahaziah’s Reign

Jehoram’s youngest son, Ahaziah, reigns after his father. He began his rule at the age of 22. Unfortunately, his rule would not last long because of how the house of Ahab affected him. His mother Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab, is still in the picture. Ahaziah walks in the ways of Ahab as his father did instead of the ways of David, following the counsel of his mother.

And Ahaziah follows in the steps of Jehoshaphat in fighting alongside Israel. He joined Ahab’s son Joram/Jehoram in a battle against the Arameans at Ramoth-Gilead (where Ahab was wounded in battle).

was wicked like his father. He walked in the ways “of the house of Ahab” instead of in the ways of his father David. His mother was Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab. Ahaziah visited his uncle, King Joram of Israel at Jezreel, where he was recuperating from a wound received in battle against the Arameans at Ramoth. God used this evil relationship to end Ahaziah’s life (22:1–6). Jehu, a commander in Joram’s armies, was commissioned by the Lord’s prophet to purge Israel of Baal and take the throne of Ahab and his son Joram (). Jehu executed Ahab’s family and also killed Ahaziah and his relatives (22:7–9; also see ).

Jehoram’s youngest son, Ahaziah, was wicked like his father. He walked in the ways “of the house of Ahab” instead of in the ways of his father David. His mother was Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab. Ahaziah visited his uncle, King Joram of Israel at Jezreel, where he was recuperating from a wound received in battle against the Arameans at Ramoth. God used this evil relationship to end Ahaziah’s life (22:1–6). Jehu, a commander in Joram’s armies, was commissioned by the Lord’s prophet to purge Israel of Baal and take the throne of Ahab and his son Joram (). Jehu executed Ahab’s family and also killed Ahaziah and his relatives (22:7–9; also see ).

We are told that while the king of Israel was recovering from his wounds, King Ahaziah of Judah visited King Joram of Israel at Jezreel (relationship - his uncle). God used this evil relationship to end Ahaziah’s life (22:1–6). Jehu, a commander in Jehoram’s armies, was commissioned by the Lord’s prophet to purge Israel of Baal and the family of Ahab (). Jehu executed Ahab’s family and also killed Ahaziah and his relatives (22:7–9; also see ).

Athaliah seized her opportunity to rule Judah by executing the legitimate heirs to the throne. However, the Lord preserved young Joash, the true heir to David’s throne. Jehoshabeath/Jehosheba, the wife of the priest Jehoiada and sister of King Ahaziah, hid him in the temple for six years (22:10–12; also see ). We see in 24:1 that Joash was 7yrs old when he began to reign, which makes him around 1 whenever he is hidden by Jehoshabeath.

The Lineages of Omri and Jehoshaphat

Before we get into Joash’s reign, let stop for a moment and give a short overview of the lineages of Jehoshaphat and of Ahab/Omri. Sometimes as we read through the text there can be some confusion between who is related to who and how they are related. Then the confusion is further complicated when you have the same names for kings of Israel and Judah. So let’s take a moment to make sure we understand who is who in these past few chapters…

SLIDE 4

Jehoshaphat comes along and makes alliances with Ahab. He helps Ahab in battle at Ramoth-Gilead.

He also gives his son Jehoram in marriage to Ahab’s daughter Athaliah. So interesting enough, Athaliah has a brother named Jehoram and also now a husband named Jehoram.

Jehoshaphat then makes a naval alliance with Ahaziah, the son of Ahab in .

Jehoram and Athaliah have many children, two who are named in the text of 2 Chronicles, a son named Ahaziah and a daughter named Jehoshabeath. So now Athaliah also has a brother named Ahaziah and a son named Ahaziah. Jehoram and Athaliah had other sons, but they were taken away and later killed by the Philistines and Arabs, but by God’s mercy, for the sake of His promise to David, He spared Ahaziah so he could reign and keep David’s line going.

After Ahaziah becomes king, he makes an alliance with Jehoram the king of Israel, his uncle (). Both Jehoram and Ahaziah lose their life when Jehu comes and destroys the house of Ahab.

Ahaziah had many sons, including Joash, and seeing that Ahaziah was dead, Athaliah slaughtered the sons of Ahaziah (her grandsons) so that she could take the throne and rule Judah. But thankfully, Ahaziah’s sister Jehoshabeath, rescues her nephew Joash so that there could be a legitimate heir to the throne of David…

Hopefully that straightens some of this mess out for you. This goes to show just how terrible the consequences of Jehoshaphat’s alliances were. So many needlessly died because of his decision to ally himself with Israel.

The focus of chapter 23 is the overthrow of Athaliah and installment of the rightful heir of David, Joash.

The high priest Jehoiada does this in the seventh year (v. 1), that is, when Joash was seven years old (24:1) The significance of this time is not explained. Maybe it took 6 years to build up the courage to do this. Or maybe they wanted to wait until Joash was a little older to try to put him on the throne. We don’t know for sure because we are not told.

Enthroning Joash happens in three stages in this passage:

The first stage (vv. 1–3) is an assembly of Levites and heads of families in Judah (vv. 2–3), convened with the help of some military officers (v. 1) Jehoiada’s knowledge of God’s promise to David comes out in verse 3, ‘Here is the king’s son! He will reign, just as the Lord promised concerning David’s sons'” (23:3).

Directions that the temple be kept holy and that the king be surrounded for protection (vv. 4-7) and the instruction to kill anyone who comes against Joash.

The arming of those guarding Joash and the anointing of Joash as king. He is given his crown and the testimony (the law which he was to make a copy of - Deut 17:18), and he was proclaimed king.

Athaliah hears the noise of the people praising the king and comes to the temple. What she sees is the new king, Joash, standing there with the popular support of the people. All the people of the land were rejoicing. This may go to show how little support Athaliah had among the people. The people, the priests and levites, and the army it seems are all on the side of Jehoiada and Joash.

In verse 15, Athaliah is taken away to be put to death for her treason against the house of David. Thankfully now we are free from the house of Ahab.

So Athaliah is taken away to be put to death for her treason against the house of David.

The Levites and priests assembled the people, and they made a covenant to make Joash king. “Jehoiada said to them in verse 3, ‘Here is the king’s son! He will reign, just as the Lord promised concerning David’s sons'” (23:3).

The chapter closes with Jehoiada, King Joash, and the people making a covenant that they would be the LORD’s people.

A conspiracy led by the priest Jehoiada plotted to enthrone Joash. The Chronicler emphasizes the heroism of the priests. The Levites and priests assembled the people, and they made a covenant to make Joash king. “Jehoiada said to them, ‘Here is the king’s son! He will reign, just as the Lord promised concerning David’s sons'” (23:3).

Jehoiada ordered the priests to guard the king at all times since they alone were qualified to be in the holy temple precincts. Together they enthroned the king (23:1–11).

The priests captured Athaliah and executed both her and Mattan, the high priest of Baal (23:12–21). The writer was particularly concerned about the holiness of the temple in his telling of the story (23:14, 19). The Levites reinstituted the worship of the Lord in the temple as David had provided (23:18).

Organizationally speaking, chapter 24 begins a section (24-26) where we have three kings who start out their reigns serving the Lord and then backslide and fall.

Joash

Amaziah

Uzziah

Emphasis is placed on the role of Jehoiada in Joash’s reign in verses 2-3:

“2 Throughout the time of the priest Jehoiada, Joash did what was right in the Lord’s sight. 3 Jehoiada acquired two wives for him, and he was the father of sons and daughters.” (, CSB)

Joash begun his reign by launching a major restoration project of the temple, which had been neglected during Athaliah’s rule. He requested the Levites to gather the funds that were supposed to be given annually by the people for the LORD’s house (), but they were slow in fulfilling the charge. So Joash provided a chest in the temple itself where the people brought their tax so that the restoration was carried out. The Chronicler mentioned the priest’s failure but softened the tone of the account in Kings. But the workmen do their work in the temple. The temple receives all the repairs it needed and the sacrifices were done as they needed to be during the time of Jehoiada.

He requested the Levites to gather the funds that were supposed to be given annually by the people for the LORD’s house (), but they were slow in fulfilling the charge. So Joash provided a chest in the temple itself where the people brought their tax so that the restoration was carried out (24:1–14; also see ). The Chronicler mentioned the priest’s failure but softened the tone of the account in Kings.

Joash launched a major restoration project of the temple, which had been neglected during Athaliah’s rule. He requested the Levites to gather the funds that were supposed to be given annually by the people for the LORD’s house (), but they were slow in fulfilling the charge. So Joash provided a chest in the temple itself where the people brought their tax so that the restoration was carried out (24:1–14; also see ). The Chronicler mentioned the priest’s failure but softened the tone of the account in Kings.

Then unfortunately the high priest, Jehoiada dies. He was buried in Jerusalem with the kings because of what he had done for God’s people and for God’s house. Now Joash has lost his closest advisor - probably the best mentor he had in his life. Joash goes downhill after this. Apostasy returns. Joash has new counselors that lead him into idolatry and he abandoned the temple of the LORD.

God sent prophets to Joash to try to bring them back, one of which was Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada.

“20 The Spirit of God clothed/came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood above the people and said to them, “This is what God says, ‘Why are you transgressing the Lord’s commands so that you do not prosper? Because you have abandoned the Lord, he has abandoned you.’ ” 21 But they conspired against him and stoned him at the king’s command in the courtyard of the Lord’s temple. 22 King Joash didn’t remember the kindness that Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had extended to him, but killed his son. While he was dying, he said, “May the Lord see and demand an account.”” (, CSB)

Joash refused to listen to God’s prophets. Zechariah, son of Jehoiada, condemned the people for their unfaithfulness and was stoned to death in the king’s presence. As he died, Zechariah swore God’s vengeance on Joash. The Chronicler explained the tragic end of Joash’s rule as God’s judgment on Judah’s wickedness (24:24). Judah was defeated by invading Arameans, and Joash was murdered in his bed (24:23–27; ).

Joash not only rejects the word of the LORD, but he also does not remember the kindness that was shown to him by Jehoiada. Jehoiada saved Joash’s life, and Joash kills his son.

God’s wrath comes because of all of these things. The Chronicler explained the tragic end of Joash’s rule as God’s judgment on Judah’s wickedness (24:24). Judah was defeated by a small number of invading Arameans, and Joash was murdered in his bed (24:23–27; ).

Zechariah’s murder is the last one mentioned in the Hebrew Bible since Chronicles ends the Hebrew arrangement (compare ).

Joash’s reign illustrates the Chronicler’s major theme: God’s blessing on David’s house but also God’s anger when the kings acted wickedly.

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