Tyndale Open Study Notes2 Chronicles 24

Joash ruled from 835 to 796 BC.

Jehoiada selected two wives for Joash, likely to ensure David's royal line had many descendants.

We do not know when Joash first tried to refurbish the temple. After failing to raise funds the first time, Joash called Jehoiada again in the twenty-third year of his reign (2 Kings 12:6). The priests might not have acted because they disagreed about who should fund and oversee the restoration. The king criticized Jehoiada for not acting and suggested a plan to make the offering more voluntary.

The book of Kings states that the money collected for repairing the temple was used only for wages (2 Kings 12:13–14). Chronicles adds that they used the money for temple artifacts only after finishing the repairs.

Living to 130 years shows that Jehoiada received a great blessing from the Lord. His royal burial as a priest-king also shows the people's great respect for him.

• Jehoiada carefully protected the Lord’s temple courtyard from bloodshed and preserved David's dynasty. Ironically, Zechariah, his son, was murdered there by King Joash, whom Jehoiada had protected during the coup. Jesus mentioned this murder when criticizing religious leaders (Matthew 23:35; Luke 11:51).

• “May the LORD see this and call you to account”: This prayer for vengeance was similar to those King David prayed against Saul's injustices (compare Psalms 5:10; 7:9; 9:19–20; 28:4; 56:7; 139:19; see also “Prayers for Vengeance” Theme Note).

God could use war to judge Israel, just like any other nation. In a "holy war," a small force often defeated a much larger army.

Jehoiada received a royal burial (2 Chronicles 24:15–16), but Joash was buried without honor.

The Treatise of the Book of the Kings, which the Chronicler used as a source, is not available to us anymore (see also 2 Chronicles 9:29).