2 Chronicles 24:17-19
Now after the death of Jehoiada the princes of Judah came and paid homage to the king. Then the king listened to them. And they abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs. Yet he sent prophets among them to bring them back to the LORD. These testified against them, but they would not pay attention.
Hebrews 5:7-10
In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.
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Every single king in Judah, from David down through Zedekiah, was flawed. They were all called to be God’s “firstborn son”— meaning they represented Israel collectively in their person— inferred from a loaded line in Exodus where Moses before Pharaoh, said “Thus says the LORD, Israel is my firstborn son, and I say to you, ‘Let my son go that he may serve me’” (Exod. 4:22-23). According to Psalm 2, a royal psalm of accession, the kings of Israel and especially Judah, inherited the mantle of “firstborn son.” Predictably, none of them bore it well. We know of the infidelities of David and Solomon, and the same “feet of clay” are duplicated in varying degrees with each succeeding son.
Here in 2 Kings 12, we come to the reign of King Joash. It comes on the heels and quick disposal of the usurping Athaliah in 2 Kings 11. The baby boy Joash is a promising prince. In the last blog entry (“Jehosheba” July 24), we rehearsed this heroic, miraculous escapade: Rescued by his sister, Jehosheba. Raised in the swaddling precincts of the Temple by her husband, the High Priest, Jehoiada. On the seventh day in his seventh year, the young king presented in the Temple. Received with shouts of acclamation and the blowing of the shofar. According to 2 Kings 12:2, Joash “did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all his days, because Jehoiada the priest instructed him.” There’s the hint of trouble: He did well, as long as Jehoida was the eyes, ears and heart of the kingdom.
In 2 Kings 12, Joash is credited with beginning the long process of restoring the Jerusalem Temple from years of neglect and misuse. The account of the raising of the monies needed, and the priestly shortcomings and the faithfulness of the artisans contracted for the work is detailed. Tragically, it then presents Joash pillaging Temple treasures so recently restored to buy off a siege threat from the arch nemesis of Israel, Hazael the Syrian. The Kings version of Joash then ends with his assassination by his own household. That’s it. No reason given for the conspiracy. It seems we’re missing some key elements to the plot.
Let me digress here. I believe each book of the Bible should be interpreted in its own right. We are instinctually driven to harmonize Bible accounts— but when studying a book of the Bible, especially the Gospels, the goal should be to discern what the author/evangelist is singularly trying to communicate. The Bible is a theological literary masterpiece of Divine art, and it paints God’s Story: each book and chapter offering a unique angle to the canvas. However, I’m going to crash my personal study guardrails in this blog entry. We need to turn to 2 Chronicles 24, the Chronicler’s parallel account to fill in the blanks.
According to the Greek version of the Old Testament— the Septuagint (LXX)— filling in the blanks of 1&2 Kings is the function of the two books of Chronicles. In the Septuagint, 1&2 Chronicles is called the Paraleipomenon— which means “A Supplement to Things Omitted” or “Things Left Out” Therefore, in 2 Chronicles 24, we get the “things left out” of the Joash story. To digest with more clarity before proceeding further, it would be helpful if you read 2 Chronicles 24 and then re-read 2 Kings 12— comparing what they add and omit, side-by-side. Then returning to the blog.
Welcome back!— The rabbis have done some psychological sleuthing here, inferring that the main character flaw of King Joash is ingratitude. Alex Israel, in his commentary on 2 Kings presents this fascinating take (II Kings: In a Whirlwind, Maggid, 2019, p.193-196). He suggests that Joash spent his early reign chafing under the watchful eye of Jehoiada, wishing he could do things his own way, but deferring, recognizing the political infeasibility of such a move. This repressed longing is hinted at when Joash cynically attacks Jehoiada for the lackluster priestly effort at raising funds for the Temple restoration (2 Kings 12:7), “Why are you not repairing the house?”
When Jehoiada finally dies (a passing 2 Kings does not note) things take a turn toward full-blown ingratitude on the part of Joash (2 Chronicles 24:17-19). “Now after the death of Jehoiada… they abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs. Yet [the LORD] sent prophets among them to bring them back to the LORD. These testified against them, but they would not pay attention.” It was Jehoiada’s son, Zechariah who came to Joash to deliver the charge. For his part, Joash had the naysaying priest executed in the very Temple courts where years earlier there was joyous celebration of his own consecration and coronation.
Alex Israel writes, “Chronicles views the murder of Zechariah as Joash’s ultimate betrayal, a cruel suppression of the human instinct for gratitude, ignoring and repudiating Jehoiada’s [faithfulness]— his selflessness and loyalty to Joash. Joash callously murders the son of the man who raised him!”
Further, “Joash’s assassins are a Moabite and an Ammonite, two national identities singled out by the Torah for their historical ingratitude: ‘No Ammonite or Moabite may be admitted to the assembly of God… These nations did not welcome you with food and water when you came out of Egypt. Instead, they hired Balaam …to curse you’ (cf. Deut. 23:3-4). In this damning epitaph, Joash’s ingratitude becomes his enduring legacy, his hallmark.”
Finally, “Joash is a king with great promise. Succeeding the evil Athaliah and raised in the Temple by the high priest, he follows God devotedly. However, when he grows up, he repudiates the priestly influence in affairs of state, turning to idolatry and a different national agenda. One sin causes another, as events swiftly lead to the murder of the high priest, Zechariah. In the final account Joash has all the potential, but he fails to live up to these high expectations.”
As we work through the reigns of the various kings of Israel and Judah, we must recognize that humanly speaking, the calling to be God’s “firstborn son” is an impossible vocation! Before releasing a sigh of despair, turn to Matthew’s Gospel, where the Holy Family languishes in exile in Egypt because of the murderous rampage of King Herod. When Herod finally passes, Joseph, Mary and Jesus can come home. Matthew writes (2:15), “This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.’” Of course, the original context of that prophecy in Hosea 11:1 spoke of another firstborn son, i.e. the nation Israel being called “out of Egypt.” Now, with the failure of both nation and kings, it is time for yet another firstborn son to step up and into history. Only Jesus can fulfill that call. This is what the four Gospels teach.
The passage referenced above from Hebrews 5:7-10 speaks of the faithfulness of the Son, ever grateful to the Father. Considering the way Joash recoiled from honoring and carrying out the wishes of his spiritual father, Jehoiada, it is refreshing and encouraging to note the way the Lord Jesus wears his flesh and responsibilities. “He learned obedience through what he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him…” (Heb. 5:8-9).
Jesus, God’s Firstborn Son will never fail us.
Inset Art: “The Coronation of Joash” (1860) by Francesco Hayez. The newly crowned boy-prince Joash, seated on the throne in the Temple courts, while Jehoida the priest stands over him, directing the execution of usurping queen, Athaliah.
