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Joash Begins His Rule

12 Joash began to rule during Jehu’s seventh year as king of Israel. Joash ruled 40 years in Jerusalem. Joash’s mother was named Zibiah of Beersheba. 2Joash did the things that the Lord said were right. Joash obeyed the Lord all his life. He did the things that Jehoiada the priest taught him. 3But he did not destroy the high places.* The people still made sacrifices and burned incense at those places of worship.

Joash Orders the Temple Repaired

4–5Joash said to the priests, “There is much money in the Lord’s temple. People have given things to the temple. People have paid the temple tax when they were counted. And people have given money simply because they wanted to. You priests should take that money and repair the Lord’s temple. Each priest should use the money he gets from the people he serves. He should use that money to repair the damages to the Lord’s temple.” 6{But the priests did not do the repairs.} In the 23rd year that Joash was king, the priests {still} had not repaired the temple. 7So king Joash called for Jehoiada the priest and the {other} priests. Joash said to Jehoiada and the other priests, “Why haven’t you repaired the temple? Stop taking money from the people you serve. Stop using that money. That money must be used to repair the temple.” 8The priests agreed to stop taking money from the people. But they also decided not to repair the temple. 9So Jehoiada the priest took a box and made a hole in the top of it. Then Jehoiada put the box on the south side of the altar. This box was by the door where people came into the Lord’s temple. Some of the priests guarded the doorway* of the temple. Those priests took the money people had given to the Lord, and they put that money into that box. 10{Then the people began putting money into that box when they went to the temple.} Whenever the king’s secretary and the high priest saw there was a lot of money in the box, they came and took the money from the box. They put the money in bags and counted it. 11Then they paid the workers that worked on the Lord’s temple. They paid the carpenters and other builders that worked on the Lord’s temple. 12They used that money to pay the stoneworkers and stonecutters. And they used that money to buy timber, cut stone, and everything else to repair the Lord’s temple. 13–14People gave money for the Lord’s temple. But the priests could not use that money to make silver cups, snuffers,* basins, trumpets, or any gold and silver dishes. That money was used to pay the workers. And those workers repaired the Lord’s temple. 15No one counted all the money or forced the workers to tell what happened to the money. Why? Because those workers could be trusted! 16People gave money at the times they offered guilt offerings and sin offerings. But that money was not used to pay the workers. That money belonged to the priests.

Joash Saves Jerusalem from Hazael

17Hazael was the king of Aram. Hazael went to fight against the city of Gath. Hazael defeated Gath. Then he made plans to go fight against Jerusalem. 18Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah had been kings of Judah. They were Joash’s* ancestors.* They had given many things to the Lord. Those things were kept in the temple. Joash also had given many things to the Lord. Joash took all those and all the gold that was in the temple and in his house. Then Joash sent all those expensive things to Hazael king of Aram.

The Death of Joash

19All the great things that Joash did are written in the book The History of the Kings of Judah. 20Joash’s officers made plans against him. They killed Joash at the house of Millo on the road that goes down to Silla. 21Jozabad son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer were Joash’s officers. Those men killed Joash. The people buried Joash with his ancestors* in the City of David.* Joash’s son Amaziah became the new king after him.

high places Places for worshiping God or false gods. These places were often on the hills and mountains. doorway Literally, “threshold.” snuffers They were like small cups used to put out lamps. Joash Or, “Jehoash,” the long form of the name “Joash.” ancestors Literally, “fathers.” This means a person’s parents, grandparents, and all the people they are descended from. City of David A part of the city of Jerusalem.


Jehoahaz Begins His Rule

13 Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria. This was during the 23rd year that Joash son of Ahaziah was king in Judah. Jehoahaz ruled 17 years. 2Jehoahaz did those things the Lord said were wrong. Jehoahaz followed the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat that caused Israel to sin. Jehoahaz did not stop doing those things. 3Then the Lord was angry against Israel. The Lord gave Israel into the power of Hazael king of Aram and Hazael’s son Ben Hadad.

The Lord Has Mercy on the People of Israel

4Then Jehoahaz begged the Lord to help them. And the Lord listened to him. The Lord had seen the troubles of Israel and how the king of Aram troubled the Israelites. 5So the Lord sent a man to save Israel. The Israelites were free from the Arameans. So the Israelites went to their own homes, like they did before. 6But the Israelites still did not stop doing the sins of the family of Jeroboam that caused Israel to sin. The Israelites continued doing the sins of Jeroboam. They also kept the Asherah poles* in Samaria. 7The king of Aram defeated Jehoahaz’s army. The king of Aram destroyed most of the men in the army. He left only 50 horse soldiers, 10 chariots,* and 10,000 foot soldiers. Jehoahaz’s soldiers were like chaff* blown away by the wind at the time of threshing.* 8All the great things that Jehoahaz did are written in the book The History of the Kings of Israel. 9Jehoahaz {died} and was buried with his ancestors.* The people buried Jehoahaz in Samaria. Jehoahaz’s son Jehoash became the new king after him.

Jehoash’s Rule Over Israel

10Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria. This was during the 37th year that Joash was king of Judah. Jehoash ruled Israel for 16 years. 11Jehoash king of Israel did the things the Lord said were wrong. He did not stop doing the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat that caused Israel to sin. Jehoash continued to do those sins. 12All the great things that Jehoash did and his wars against Amaziah king of Judah are written in the book The History of the Kings of Israel. 13Jehoash {died and} was buried with his ancestors.* Jeroboam {became the new king and} sat on Jehoash’s throne. Jehoash was buried at Samaria with the kings of Israel.

Jehoash Visits Elisha

14Elisha became sick. Later, Elisha died from this sickness. Jehoash, king of Israel, went to visit Elisha. Jehoash cried for Elisha. Jehoash said, “My father, my father! Is it time for the chariot of Israel and its horses*?” 15Elisha said to Jehoash, “Take a bow and some arrows.” Jehoash took a bow and some arrows. 16Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” Jehoash put his hand on the bow. Then Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands. 17Elisha said, “Open the east window.” Jehoash opened the window. Then Elisha said, “Shoot.” Jehoash shot. Then Elisha said, “That is the Lord’s arrow of victory! The arrow of victory over Aram! You will defeat the Arameans at Aphek. And you will destroy them.” 18Elisha said, “Take the arrows.” Jehoash took the arrows. Then Elisha said to the king of Israel, “Hit on the ground.” Jehoash hit the ground three times. Then he stopped. 19The man of God* (Elisha) was angry at Jehoash. Elisha said, “You should have hit five or six times! Then you would have defeated Aram until you destroyed it! But now, you will defeat Aram only three times!”

An Amazing Thing at Elisha’s Grave

20Elisha died, and the people buried him. One time in the spring, a group of Moabite soldiers came to Israel. {They came to take things in war.} 21Some Israelites were burying a dead man, and they saw that group of soldiers. The Israelites quickly threw the dead man into Elisha’s grave {and ran away}. As soon as the dead man touched the bones of Elisha, the dead man came back to life and stood up on his feet!

Jehoash Wins Back Cities of Israel

22During all the days that Jehoahaz ruled, Hazael king of Aram caused trouble to Israel. 23But the Lord was kind to the Israelites. The Lord had mercy and turned to the Israelites. Why? Because of his Agreement with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Lord would not destroy the Israelites or throw them away yet. 24Hazael king of Aram died, and Ben Hadad became the new king after him. 25{Before he died,} Hazael had taken some cities in war from Jehoahaz, Jehoash’s father. But now Jehoash took back these cities from Hazael’s son Ben Hadad. Jehoash defeated Ben Hadad three times and took back the cities of Israel.

Asherah poles These poles were used to honor the female god Asherah that the Canaanite people worshiped. chariot(s) A small wagon used in war. chaff The seed coverings and stems separated from the seeds of plants like wheat or barley. Farmers saved the seeds but let the wind blow the useless chaff away. threshing Beating or walking on grain to remove the hulls from the grain. ancestors Literally, “fathers.” This means a person’s parents, grandparents, and all the people they are descended from. Is it time … horses This means, “Is it time for God to come and take you?” See 1 Kings 2:12. man of God Another name for a prophet.


Amaziah Begins His Rule in Judah

14 Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah became king in the second year that Joash son of Jehoahaz was king of Israel. 2Amaziah was 25 years old when he began to rule. Amaziah ruled 29 years in Jerusalem. Amaziah’s mother was Jehoaddin from Jerusalem. 3Amaziah did the things the Lord said were right. But he did not follow God completely like David his ancestor.* Amaziah did all the things that Joash his father had done. 4He did not destroy the high places.* The people still sacrificed and burned incense* in those places of worship. 5At the time that Amaziah had strong control of the kingdom, he killed the officers that had killed his father. 6But he did not kill the children of the murderers because of the rules written in the book The Law of Moses. The Lord gave this command {in the Law of Moses}: “Parents must not be put to death for something their children did. And children must not be put to death for something their parents did. A person should be put to death only for a bad thing that he himself did.”* 7Amaziah killed 10,000 Edomites in the Valley of Salt. In war Amaziah took Sela and called it “Joktheel.” That place is still called “Joktheel” today.

Amaziah Wants War Against Jehoash

8Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, son of Jehu king of Israel. Amaziah’s message said, “Come on, let’s meet together face to face {and fight}.” 9Jehoash king of Israel sent an answer to Amaziah king of Judah. Jehoash said, “The thorn bush in Lebanon sent a message to the cedar tree in Lebanon. It said, ‘Give your daughter for my son to marry.’ But a wild animal from Lebanon passed by and walked on the thorn bush. 10True, you have defeated Edom. But you have become proud because of your victory over Edom. But stay at home and brag! Don’t make trouble for yourself. If you do this, you will fall, and Judah will fall with you!” 11But Amaziah would not listen to Jehoash’s warning. So Jehoash king of Israel went to fight against Amaziah king of Judah at Beth Shemesh in Judah.* 12Israel defeated Judah. Every man of Judah ran home. 13At Beth Shemesh, Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah. Jehoash took Amaziah to Jerusalem. Jehoash broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the corner gate, about 600 feet.* 14Then Jehoash took all the gold and silver and all the dishes in the Lord’s temple and in the treasures of the king’s house. Jehoash also took people to be his prisoners. Then he went back to Samaria. 15All the great things that Jehoash did, including how he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are written in the book The History of the Kings of Israel. 16Jehoash {died and} was buried with his ancestors.* Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. Jehoash’s son Jeroboam became the new king after him.

The Death of Amaziah

17Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived 15 years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel. 18All the great things that Amaziah did are written in the book The History of the Kings of Judah. 19The people made a plan against Amaziah in Jerusalem. Amaziah ran away to Lachish. But the people sent men after Amaziah to Lachish. And those men killed Amaziah in Lachish. 20The people brought Amaziah’s body back on horses. Amaziah was buried at Jerusalem with his ancestors* in the City of David.*

Azariah Begins His Rule Over Judah

21Then all the people of Judah made Azariah the new king. Azariah was 16 years old. 22So King Amaziah died and was buried with his ancestors.* Then Azariah built Elath again and got it back for Judah.

Jeroboam II Begins His Rule Over Israel

23Jeroboam son of Jehoash king of Israel began to rule in Samaria during the 15th year that Amaziah son of Joash was king of Judah. Jeroboam ruled 41 years. 24Jeroboam did the things the Lord said were wrong. Jeroboam did not stop doing the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat that caused Israel to sin. 25Jeroboam took back Israel’s land which ran from the Lebo Hamath to the Arabah Sea.* This happened like the Lord of Israel had told his servant Jonah son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher. 26The Lord saw that all the Israelites had many troubles, slaves and free men. No person was left that could help Israel. 27The Lord did not say that he would take away the name of Israel from the world. So the Lord used Jeroboam son of Jehoash to save the people of Israel. 28All the great things that Jeroboam did are written in the book The History of the Kings of Israel. This includes the story about Jeroboam winning back Damascus and Hamath for Israel. (These cities had belonged to Judah.) 29Jeroboam {died and} was buried with his ancestors*, the kings of Israel. Jeroboam’s son Zechariah became the new king after him.

ancestor(s) Literally, “father(s).” This means a person’s parents, grandparents, and all the people they are descended from. high places Places for worshiping God or false gods. These places were often on the hills and mountains. incense A kind of spice that smells good when it is burned. It was burned as a gift to God. Parents … did See Deut. 24:16. Jehoash … Judah Literally, “He and Amaziah king of Judah looked at each other in the face at Beth Shemesh in Judah.” about 600 feet Literally, “400 cubits.” City of David A part of the city of Jerusalem.  Arabah Sea The Dead Sea.

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