Joash יוֹאָשׁ
King of Judah, son of Ahaziah
Biography
Joash, also known as Jehoash, was the king of Judah and the son of Ahaziah. He became king at the age of seven, after being hidden by his aunt Jehosheba for six years following the usurpation of the throne by Athaliah (2Ki.11.2; 2Ch.22.11). During his forty-year reign (2Ki.12.1; 2Ch.24.1), Joash initiated repairs to the temple of the Lord, which had fallen into disrepair (2Ki.12.4-7; 2Ch.24.4).
However, after the death of his mentor, Jehoiada the priest, Joash turned away from the Lord and allowed the worship of idols (2Ch.24.17-18). When Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, prophesied against this wickedness, Joash ordered his execution (2Ch.24.20-22).
Consequently, Judah faced military defeats and Joash was wounded (2Ch.24.23-24). He was eventually assassinated by his own servants and succeeded by his son Amaziah (2Ki.12.20-21; 2Ch.24.25-27). Joash's reign was marked by both early reforms and later apostasy, highlighting the importance of godly leadership and the consequences of turning away from the Lord.
Family
Parents
In Scripture
3 biblical books2 Kings 5 verses
- 2 Kings 11:2
"But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were slain, even him and his nurse, and put them in the bedroom; and they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not slain."
- 2 Kings 12:19
"Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, aren’t they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
- 2 Kings 12:20
"His servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and struck Joash at the house of Millo, on the way that goes down to Silla."
- 2 Kings 13:1
"In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu began to reign over Israel in Samaria for seventeen years."
- 2 Kings 13:10
"In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz began to reign over Israel in Samaria for sixteen years."
1 Chronicles 1 verse
- 1 Chronicles 3:11
"Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son,"
2 Chronicles 5 verses
- 2 Chronicles 22:11
"But Jehoshabeath, the king’s daughter, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stealthily rescued him from among the king’s sons who were slain, and put him and his nurse in the bedroom. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the..."
- 2 Chronicles 24:1
"Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah, of Beersheba."
- 2 Chronicles 24:2
"Joash did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes all the days of Jehoiada the priest."
- 2 Chronicles 24:4
"After this, Joash intended to restore Yahweh’s house."
- 2 Chronicles 24:22
"Thus Joash the king didn’t remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son. When he died, he said, “May Yahweh look at it, and repay it.”"
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script | Strong's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | יוֹאָשׁ | H3101I |
| Named | Hebrew | יְהוֹאָשׁ | H3060G |