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== Early Life and Family ==

== Early Life and Family ==

Joash's life nearly ended violently before he was a year old. The son of King [[Ahaziah]] by his wife [[Zibia]], Joash was but an infant when Ahaziah died in the [[Jehu]] Revolution in the [[Northern Kingdom]]. Queen mother [[Athaliah]] then seized the throne and killed every remaining prince and princess of the [[House of David]]--except for Joash and his aunt [[Jehosheba]], who rescued him from the royal palace and hid him in the [[Temple of Jerusalem]] for six years.<ref name=CCM>David Holt Boshert, Jr., and David Ettinger, [http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teachings/kings/joash.htm Joash King of Judah], Christ-Centered Mall. Retrieved June 10, 2007</ref> She and her husband [[Jehoiada]] raised him, while Athaliah held the reins of government.<ref name=GeoCities>Authors unknown. "[http://www.geocities.com/thekingsofisrael/biography_JoashOfJudah.html King Joah of Judah - Biography]." ''The Kings of Israel'', hosted at http://www.geocities.com/ Retrieved June 10, 2007.</ref><ref name=Columbia>Authors unknown. "[http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0826119.html Entry for Joash]." ''The Columbia Encyclopedia'', 6th ed., 2007. Retrieved June 10, 2007.</ref>

Joash's life nearly ended violently before he was a year old. The son of King [[Ahaziah]] by his wife [[Zibia]], Joash was but an infant when Ahaziah died in the [[Jehu]] Revolution in the [[Northern Kingdom]]. Queen mother [[Athaliah]] then seized the throne and killed every remaining prince and princess of the [[House of David]]—except for Joash and his aunt [[Jehosheba]], who rescued him from the royal palace and hid him in the [[Temple of Jerusalem]] for six years.<ref name=CCM>David Holt Boshert, Jr., and David Ettinger, [http://www.christcenteredmall.com/teachings/kings/joash.htm Joash King of Judah], Christ-Centered Mall. Retrieved June 10, 2007</ref> She and her husband [[Jehoiada]] raised him, while Athaliah held the reins of government.<ref name=GeoCities>Authors unknown. "[http://www.geocities.com/thekingsofisrael/biography_JoashOfJudah.html King Joah of Judah - Biography]." ''The Kings of Israel'', hosted at http://www.geocities.com/ Retrieved June 10, 2007.</ref><ref name=Columbia>Authors unknown. "[http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/people/A0826119.html Entry for Joash]." ''The Columbia Encyclopedia'', 6th ed., 2007. Retrieved June 10, 2007.</ref>

When he was twenty-two, then-King Joash married [[Jehoaddan]] of [[Jerusalem]] and by her had one son, [[Amaziah]].

When he was twenty-two, then-King Joash married [[Jehoaddan]] of [[Jerusalem]] and by her had one son, [[Amaziah]].

When Joash was seven years old, his uncle [[Jehoiada]] determined to end the illegitimate rule of Athaliah and establish Joash as the rightful king. With the aid of all the company-commanding officers (literally, "captains of hundreds," equivalent to [[Rome|Roman]] [[centurion]]s), Jehoiada recruited every [[Levi (tribe)|Levite]] throughout the Southern Kingdom to protect Joash and shepherd him to the sanctuary of the Temple. There Jehoiada placed the crown on his head, and everyone present pledged him their service and obedience.

When Joash was seven years old, his uncle [[Jehoiada]] determined to end the illegitimate rule of Athaliah and establish Joash as the rightful king. With the aid of all the company-commanding officers (literally, "captains of hundreds," equivalent to [[Rome|Roman]] [[centurion]]s), Jehoiada recruited every [[Levi (tribe)|Levite]] throughout the Southern Kingdom to protect Joash and shepherd him to the sanctuary of the Temple. There Jehoiada placed the crown on his head, and everyone present pledged him their service and obedience.

Athaliah burst into the assembly at this point, tore her royal robes, and cried, "Treason! Treason!" Jehoiada ordered the officers to arrest her, take her outside, and execute her.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=11|verses=4-16}}</ref><ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=23|verses=1-15}}</ref><ref name=GeoCities/> Later that day, Joash took his place in the throne room of the palace.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=11|verses=17-20}}</ref><ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=23|verses=16-21}}</ref> He then gave his first order: to destroy the Temple of [[Baal]] that stood nearby to the [[Temple of Jerusalem]].<ref name=GeoCities/>

Athaliah burst into the assembly at this point, tore her royal robes, and cried, "Treason! Treason!" Jehoiada ordered the officers to arrest her, take her outside, and execute her.<ref name=GeoCities/><ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=11|verses=4-16}}</ref><ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=23|verses=1-15}}</ref> Later that day, Joash took his place in the throne room of the palace.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=11|verses=17-20}}</ref><ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=23|verses=16-21}}</ref> He then gave his first order: to destroy the Temple of [[Baal]] that stood nearby to the [[Temple of Jerusalem]].<ref name=GeoCities/>

== Temple repair ==

== Temple repair ==

The [[Temple of Jerusalem]] was in shocking disrepair when Joash took the throne. Twenty years of mis-rule by [[Jehoram]], [[Ahaziah]], and finally [[Athaliah]] had taken their toll. The temple walls had several holes in them, and the three rulers, or their agents, had taken the dedicated items out of the Temple and used them in the Temple of [[Baal]] and perhaps in various and sundry other [[high place]]s throughout the Southern Kingdom. Joash asked Jehoiada to require a collection, similar to that which [[Moses]] collected to make the [[Tabernacle]], to keep the Temple in repair.

The [[Temple of Jerusalem]] was in shocking disrepair when Joash took the throne. Twenty years of mis-rule by [[Jehoram]], [[Ahaziah]], and finally [[Athaliah]] had taken their toll. The temple walls had several holes in them, and the three rulers, or their agents, had taken the dedicated items out of the Temple and used them in the Temple of [[Baal]] and perhaps in various and sundry other [[high place]]s throughout the Southern Kingdom. Joash asked Jehoiada to require a collection, similar to that which [[Moses]] collected to make the [[Tabernacle]], to keep the Temple in repair.

In the twenty-third year of his reign (856 BC or 813 BC), Joash was displeased to find out that nothing, or next to nothing, had been done. He urged Jehoiada to take the situation in hand. Jehoiada did, by building a special chest for the collection and by personally seeing to the hiring of workmen to repair the Temple. With the money that was left over, Jehoiada was able to replace most of the dedicated items.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=12|verses=4-16}}</ref><ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=24|verses=4-14}}</ref><ref name=CCM/><ref name=GeoCities/>

In the twenty-third year of his reign (856 BC or 813 BC), Joash was displeased to find out that nothing, or next to nothing, had been done. He urged Jehoiada to take the situation in hand. Jehoiada did, by building a special chest for the collection and by personally seeing to the hiring of workmen to repair the Temple. With the money that was left over, Jehoiada was able to replace most of the dedicated items.<ref name=CCM/><ref name=GeoCities/><ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=12|verses=4-16}}</ref><ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=24|verses=4-14}}</ref>

== Backsliding ==

== Backsliding ==

Joash kept true to [[God]] as long as [[Jehoiada]] was alive.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=12|verses=2}}</ref><ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=24|verses=2}}</ref> But even the most dedicated high priest could not live forever. Jehoiada died in the thirty-ninth year of Joash's reign, at the age of 130.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=24|verses=15}}</ref>

Joash kept true to [[God]] as long as [[Jehoiada]] was alive.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Kings|chap=12|verses=2}}</ref><ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=24|verses=2}}</ref> But even the most dedicated high priest could not live forever. Jehoiada died in the thirty-ninth year of Joash's reign, at the age of 130.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=II_Chronicles|chap=24|verses=15}}</ref>

With Jehoiada's death, the nobles of the Southern Kingdom prevailed upon Joash to allow the same idol worship that Jehoiada had encouraged him to oppose. Joash then began to tolerate and even to practice this form of worship--a practice perhaps made easier because Joash never removed any of the [[high place]]s in his territory.<ref name=CCM/><ref name=GeoCities/> Several prophets warned Joash against this policy, saying, {{Bible quote|Because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.|book=II_Chronicles|chap=24|verses=20|version=KJV}}

With Jehoiada's death, the nobles of the Southern Kingdom prevailed upon Joash to allow the same idol worship that Jehoiada had encouraged him to oppose. Joash then began to tolerate and even to practice this form of worship—a practice perhaps made easier because Joash never removed any of the [[high place]]s in his territory.<ref name=CCM/><ref name=GeoCities/> Several prophets warned Joash against this policy, saying, {{Bible quote|Because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you.|book=II_Chronicles|chap=24|verses=20|version=KJV}}

One of these prophets was [[Zechariah (priest)|Zechariah]], son of Jehoiada. In reply, Joash ordered that Zechariah be executed by stoning in the Temple court.<ref name=CCM/> As he died, Zechariah said, {{Bible quote|The LORD look upon it, and require it.|book=II_Chronicles|chap=24|verses=22|version=KJV}}

One of these prophets was [[Zechariah (priest)|Zechariah]], son of Jehoiada. In reply, Joash ordered that Zechariah be executed by stoning in the Temple court.<ref name=CCM/> As he died, Zechariah said, {{Bible quote|The LORD look upon it, and require it.|book=II_Chronicles|chap=24|verses=22|version=KJV}}

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== See Also ==

== See also ==

* [[Athaliah]]

* [[Athaliah]]

* [[Jehosheba]]

* [[Jehosheba]]

* [[Biblical chronology dispute]]

* [[Biblical chronology dispute]]

[[Category:Bible]]

[[Category:Kings of Israel]]

[[Category:Israel]]