2 Kings 12 · a question people ask

Did Joash turn away after Jehoiada died?

In the text

2 Kings doesn't say. It says, "Jehoash did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes all his days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him" (12:2), and it doesn't tell of Jehoiada's death or of any turning. It tells of the repairs (12:4-16), the gifts sent to Hazael (12:17-18) and his servants' conspiracy (12:20-21), and it gives no reason for the conspiracy. 2 Chronicles tells more, in its own account. It says, "Joash did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes all the days of Jehoiada the priest" (2 Chronicles 24:2), that Jehoiada "grew old and was full of days, and he died" (2 Chronicles 24:15), and, "Now after the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came and bowed down to the king. Then the king listened to them" (2 Chronicles 24:17). "They abandoned the house of the LORD" (2 Chronicles 24:18). Zechariah the son of Jehoiada spoke against them (2 Chronicles 24:20), and was stoned "at the commandment of the king" (2 Chronicles 24:21). Chronicles gives the reason for the conspiracy: "for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest" (2 Chronicles 24:25). Kings doesn't tell these things; the two accounts are set side by side here, and nothing more is added.

The verses

“Jehoash did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes all his days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him.”
2 Kings 12:2 · World English Bible
“His servants arose and made a conspiracy, and struck Joash at the house of Millo, on the way that goes down to Silla. For Jozacar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, struck him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in David’s city; and Amaziah his son reigned in his place.”
2 Kings 12:20-21 · World English Bible
“Joash did that which was right in the LORD’s eyes all the days of Jehoiada the priest.”
2 Chronicles 24:2 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 2 Kings 12

2 Kings 12: A hole in the lid

Jehoash did right "all his days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him" (12:2), and 2 Kings leaves it there. The damage was repaired once Jehoiada set a chest with a hole in its lid beside the altar, and no accounting was asked of the men who paid the workmen, "for they dealt faithfully" (12:15), words Josiah would use again (22:7).

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions