Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 12
Joash was the youngest king ever in Judah – but he had probably the oldest adviser of any king. 2 Chronicles 24:15 records that Jehoiada died at the age of 130 years. In the Bible, only Job (Job 42:16) and the great men in the Book of Genesis lived longer. The Bible associates great age with the ideas of wisdom and of the honour that is due to a person (Leviticus 19:32). Certainly, Jehoiada was a wise man who advised Joash well.
Usually in Israel, it was the responsibility of the father to teach his boys (Proverbs chapter 4). If the father was dead, then the boy’s uncle or other relative would teach him. However, Joash’s father died when Joash was just one year old. At about the same time, Athaliah murdered all his other relatives. So, Jehoiada the chief priest, who had married Joash’s aunt (2 Chronicles 22:11), became Joash’s teacher. When Joash became king, Jehoiada continued to advise him.
Jehoiada was a holy man, and so, during Jehoiada’s long life, Joash continued to serve God. He obeyed God’s law, except that he was not strict about the rules in Deuteronomy 12:5-14. That passage directs God’s people only to offer sacrifices (the gift of animals) at the temple (God’s house in Jerusalem). Joash allowed them to continue the tradition to offer sacrifices on certain hills (1 Kings 3:3-4).
Sadly 2 Chronicles 24:17-27 records that Joash did not remain loyal to God after Jehoiada’s death. The officials of Judah became his advisers then, and they urged him to allow wrong religions in Judah. When Jehoiada’s son, Zechariah, gave a message from God against this, Joash ordered Zechariah’s death. That evil act was the reason why two of Joash’s officials killed Joash himself.
Next part: Joash tries to collect money to repair the temple (2 Kings 12:4-5)
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