Bible Commentaries
2 Chronicles 24

Introduction

Second Chronicles Chapter 24

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 also [was] Zibiah of Beer-sheba."

We mentioned, in the previous lesson, that Joash lived in the temple with Jehoiada, the high priest. He was undoubtedly trained by him, as well. This is the first mention of his mother. He reigned for forty years. The interesting thing to me in all of this, is as long as the high priest was alive, he ruled in righteousness. When Jehoiada died, he returned to the evil ways of his grandmother.

2 Chronicles 24:2 "And Joash did [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest."

Perhaps, his early reign as king was more as a puppet king, and Jehoiada was actually ruling through the young king.

2 Chronicles 24:3 "And Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he begat sons and daughters."

Even in the choosing of Joash’s wives, Jehoiada acted as a father toward him. It was the custom for the father to choose the bride for his son. Jehoiada would want to be careful in choosing wives for Joash, to be sure not to get someone like Athaliah. This does not mean that he married early in his reign. It means that when he got old enough, he married. It appears, that Jehoida lived several years over twenty of the reign of Joash.

2 Chronicles 24:4 "And it came to pass after this, [that] Joash was minded to repair the house of the LORD."

The temple had run down tremendously during the reign of Athaliah. Jehoiada, probably, brought the needs to the attention of Joash.

2 Chronicles 24:5 "And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that ye hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites hastened [it] not."

This order of Joash for the priests and Levites to go and gather funds to repair the temple, seemed to not be heeded immediately. They put it off to a more convenient time.

2 Chronicles 24:6 "And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, [according to the commandment] of Moses the servant of the LORD, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?"

Even though Jehoiada was a great influence in the life of king Joash, he still was required to do whatever the king commanded him to do. Joash seemed to be a bit disturbed, because of the slackness of carrying out his order. Joash wanted to get started immediately improving the condition of the temple and its contents. He could not understand why Jehoiada would delay.

2 Chronicles 24:7 "For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD did they bestow upon Baalim."

Now, we see why the temple was in such a run-down condition. Athaliah had been so evil, that she had taken the holy things of the temple, and put them in the temple they had built for Baal.

2 Chronicles 24:8 "And at the king’s commandment they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of the house of the LORD."

This chest was a place to put the offerings of the people, as they brought them to the temple to help with the repair. The king was determined this work would go on.

2 Chronicles 24:9 "And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to the LORD the collection [that] Moses the servant of God [laid] upon Israel in the wilderness."

This call for money to repair the temple went out to all of the cities, and not just to Jerusalem. The chest would be across from the brasen altar. Everyone was to bring half a shekel of silver, whether they were rich or poor. If everyone brought a minimum of this amount, they would have all they needed. They could bring more, if they desired, but not less.

2 Chronicles 24:10 "And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end."

This meant that everyone was happy about helping with the repair of the temple. They all gave their fair share.

2 Chronicles 24:11 "Now it came to pass, that at what time the chest was brought unto the king’s office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that [there was] much money, the king’s scribe and the high priest’s officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to his place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance."

Every time the chest was full, they brought the money to the king to care for it. It was filled at least once a day, and much money came in for the work. The high priest and the scribe were in charge of it in the temple. They, also, were responsible for carrying it to the king for safe keeping.

2 Chronicles 24:12 "And the king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the LORD, and also such as wrought iron and brass to mend the house of the LORD."

This particular offering was not for the priests. This money was spent entirely on the materials, and the manpower to repair the temple and bring it back to its greatness. They hired brick masons, carpenters, engravers, iron workers, and those who worked with metals such as brass. This was a big undertaking, and would cost a lot of money.

2 Chronicles 24:13 "So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it."

2 Chronicles 24:14 "And when they had finished [it], they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the house of the LORD, [even] vessels to minister, and to offer [withal], and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada."

They finished the structure first, and then used the money that was left to buy the utensils and things of service needed in the temple. It seemed, as long as Jehoiada was alive, the temple worship went along the way it had been intended. Jehoiada, the high priest, had great influence over the spiritual activities of the nation of Judah.

2 Chronicles 24:15 "But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old [was he] when he died."

Many a modern church has similar problems to this. Sometimes, the leader that founded a church is very strong, and keeps the church and its people in what appears to be right standing with God. Sometimes, when the founder dies, it falls into unclean hands, and the whole congregation goes bad. Jehoiada lived a very long life, and died at 130 years of age.

2 Chronicles 24:16 "And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house."

Jehoiada had been a very good high priest. He had actually led the nation of Judah back to God, through the young king he had raised. He had done much for Judah, and was buried honorably.

2 Chronicles 24:17 "Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them."

Joash is somewhere around 30 years of age at this time. He had depended heavily on Jehoiada for the decisions he had made. At the death of Jehoiada, he was, possibly, a little unsure of himself. He listened to the princes, instead of checking with God.

2 Chronicles 24:18 "And they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served groves and idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their trespass."

Joash let them persuade him to let them worship in the groves, and worship idols. Not all of the people left the LORD and His temple. Perhaps, not even the king, but he was responsible for those that did follow false gods, because he allowed it. God is a jealous God. He would not allow the worship of false gods. The wrath of God is toward these evil people of Judah and Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 24:19 "Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto the LORD; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear."

2 Chronicles 24:20 "And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you."

God tried to warn them through Zechariah. He was priest, because he was the son of Jehoiada. The words that he spoke to them were not his own, but the Words the Spirit of the LORD had given him for them. There has always been a Zechariah, who will endanger his own life to bring the message of truth to the people. He was trying to cause them to repent, and return to the LORD. Many a servant of God, like Zechariah here, has paid with his life to bring the truth. They stoned Stephen to death for the very same thing.

2 Chronicles 24:21 "And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD."

In this particular case, it is even worse, because Joash, the king, ordered the stoning. He had forgotten Jehoiada saved his life, from such a fate. Worse than that, he had forgotten what Jehoiada had taught him about the LORD. The king had turned his back on God.

2 Chronicles 24:22 "Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon [it], and require [it]."

It was bad enough to kill any priest, but it was even more terrible to do this to the son of Jehoiada, who had cared for him and saved his life. The LORD was seeing all of this, and would require this life at the hand of Joash.

2 Chronicles 24:23 "And it came to pass at the end of the year, [that] the host of Syria came up against him: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them unto the king of Damascus."

The punishment was not long in coming. The king of Syria, Hazael, came against them, and defeated them in a great battle. They took the great wealth they had accumulated, and killed the princes, as well.

2 Chronicles 24:24 "For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash."

God’s wrath was against Joash and his men, so a very small army from Syria were able to defeat them. They had forsaken God, and He forsook them.

2 Chronicles 24:25 "And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings."

The Syrians did not bother to take Joash home with them. He was seriously ill in his own bed, and they just left him. We do not know what illness he had, or whether it began in the battle, or not. We do know he was seriously ill. The very people, who had helped make him king, now killed him, because of what he did to Jehoiada’s son. He did not have an honorable place of burial. He was buried in Jerusalem, but not with David and those of honor.

2 Chronicles 24:26 "And these are they that conspired against him; Zabad the son of Shimeath an Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith a Moabitess."

It is not important, really, who actually killed Joash. God killed Joash for his sins.

2 Chronicles 24:27 "Now [concerning] his sons, and the greatness of the burdens [laid] upon him, and the repairing of the house of God, behold, they [are] written in the story of the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead."

Some very good things could be said of Joash. He truly did great things for God. He chose his friends among those who were not of God, and that was his downfall. The repairing of the temple is written about in the book of Kings in the Bible. Amaziah was, possibly, his only son left. He would reign in his father’s stead.

2 Chronicles 24 Questions

1. 2 Chronicles 24:1 said, Joash was _________, when he began to reign.

2. He reigned __________ years in Jerusalem.

3. Where had Joash lived, until he became king?

4. How long did Joash rule in righteousness?

5. How many wives did Jehoiada take for him?

6. Jehoiada acted as a _________ to Joash.

7. What did Joash tell the priests to do, that they did not do immediately?

8. Who did Joash call to talk to about this?

9. Who is the wicked woman in 2 Chronicles 24:7?

10. What had she done with the dedicated things?

11. Where did the king put the chest to take the offerings?

12. What did he want to gather the money for?

13. Where was this offering to come from?

14. How much was each person to bring?

15. How did the people feel about taking up this offering?

16. Who brought the chest to the king?

17. Who came to empty the chest?

18. How often did they have to empty the chest?

19. What did they use the money for?

20. What did they make with the gold and silver?

21. How old was Jehoiada, when he died?

22. Who did Joash start believing, after the death of Jehoiada?

23. What did they cause Joash to do?

24. He sent ____________ to them to bring them back to Him.

25. Which particular prophet brought them a message from God?

26. What was the message?

27. What did the people do to the prophet?

28. What was the last thing the prophet said?

29. What country did God send against Jerusalem?

30. What happened to Joash?

31. Where else was this recorded?

Verses 1-3

2Ch 24:1-3

2 Chronicles 24:1-3

END OF THE REIGN OF JOASH

"Joash was seven years old when he began to reign; and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Zibiah, of Beersheba. And Joash did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah all the days of Jehoiada the priest. And Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he begat sons and daughters."

These three verses are parallel with 2 Kings 12:1-4. (See our comments there.)

E.M. Zerr:

2 Chronicles 24:1. It was a common practice of historians to make a brief statement that covered the life of a prominent man, in general, then follow with the details. The entire life of Joash was only 47 years, because he met a violent death as we shall see.

2 Chronicles 24:2-3. This paragraph also is a general statement, extending over the entire life of Joash. As long as he had the good influence of Jehoiada to guide him, he did what was right. He listened to the wise counsel of the priest even in the selection of wives, when he became old enough for marriage.

Verses 4-7

2Ch 24:4-7

2 Chronicles 24:4-7

JOASH MADE EXTENSIVE REPAIRS AND RECONSTRUCTION OF THE TEMPLE; WHICH HAD BEEN ROBBED AND PLUNDERED BY ATHALIAH

"And it came to pass after this, that Joash minded to restore the house of Jehovah. And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said unto them, Go out into the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year; and see that ye hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites hastened it not. And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the tax of Moses the servant of Jehovah, and of the assembly of Israel, and for the tent of the testimony. For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of Jehovah did they bestow upon the Baalim."

E.M. Zerr:

2 Chronicles 24:4. The antecedent of this is the birth of the children of Joash. The statement shows that the king, though being influenced by the good priest, yet was acting "on his own" since he was no longer a minor. All buildings are subject to decay, especially if neglected. The interest in idolatrous worship had detracted from the building where the true worship was practiced. Joash wished to undo the damage by repairing the house of the Lord.

2 Chronicles 24:5. The Levites in general, and the priests in particular, were told to go out at once and begin collecting money from the people. It was expected that much time would be required to complete the work, hence it is stated they were to attend to this collection from year to year. But they were told to be prompt in starting the collecting, an order that was not obeyed.

2 Chronicles 24:6. Jehoiada was doubtless feeling the weight of years. He was a good man and interested in the work of the Lord, but had become somewhat slow in promoting the work of collecting the money. The reference to the law of Moses does not mean that the repair of the house of God, such as was needed just now, was specifically meant by the law. At any time that money was needed for the Lord’s service the people in general were to furnish it. The Levites were not required to make this contribution since they had no income resulting from production.

2 Chronicles 24:7. The usual degeneration of a building referred to above, was not the only thing that had damaged the house of the Lord. The sons of Athaliah had used violence against it, and had taken the treasures out of it and used them in the service of Baalim (plural for Baal).

Verses 8-14

2Ch 24:8-14

2 Chronicles 24:8-14

A COLLECTION BOX INSTALLED AT THE TEMPLE GATE

"So the king commanded, and they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of Jehovah. And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in for Jehovah the tax that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness. And all the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end. And it was so, that at what time the chest was brought unto the king’s officers by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, the king’s scribe and the chief priest’s officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to its place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance. And the king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the service of the house of Jehovah; and they hired masons and carpenters to restore the house of Jehovah, and also such as wrought iron and brass to repair the house of Jehovah. So the workmen wrought, and the work of repairing went forward in their hands, and they set up the house of God in its state, and strengthened it. And when they had made an end, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the house of Jehovah, even vessels wherewith to minister and to offer, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt-offerings in the house of Jehovah continually all the days of Jehoiada."

2 Chronicles 24:5-14 is parallel with 2 Kings 12:5-16; and most of our comments on these paragraphs will be found in our Commentary on Second Kings.

We wish to stress, however, the repeated references to the teachings of Moses, thus sustaining the unimpeachable witness of Chronicles to the continual existence of the Pentateuch from the days of Moses throughout the history of Israel.

2 Chronicles 24:15-22 appear only here and are not in Kings.

E.M. Zerr:

2 Chronicles 24:8-9. This chest was a slotted box to receive the money. Since it was a special collection, it was proper to provide a convenient place in which the people could deposit their gifts. The obligation laid upon them by Moses referred to the law of contributions in general; the special collection would come under that law. The proclamation was spread throughout the country, but the people were to bring their money to Jerusalem and put it in this chest.

2 Chronicles 24:10. Rejoiced, and brought in. This is suggestive of the same principle taught by Paul in 2 Corinthians 9:7. God will not bless a gift that is offered while the donor is in an unwilling frame of mind. It must have been a genuine pleasure to contribute to such a worthy cause that was before the people of Judah. Their holy temple had been violated through the influence of one of the wickedest of women, and its treasures turned over to a false god. That woman was out of the way and the true worship again was being restored. Until they had made an end means the contributions kept coming in until sufficient funds were collected to pay for the needed repairs.

2 Chronicles 24:11. The space in the chest would not hold the entire amount of money required for the work on hand. When it was necessary to empty it, two men took charge of the money.

2 Chronicles 24:12. This verse is a simple business statement of how the money was put out after having been collected from the people. The setup indicates that men with the proper trades were employed to repair the ’house.

2 Chronicles 24:13. Work was perfected means it was completed. To set the house in his state denotes that it was put back into its original condition and reinforced.

2 Chronicles 24:14. Since the holy vessels had been taken out of the temple, it was necessary to get some more. Hence a part of the money was used for that purpose as well as for repairing the house. The verse covers all of the days of Jehoiada regarding the service. After the building had been repaired and the holy vessels replaced, the true service of sacrifices was reinstated and continued.

Verses 15-19

2Ch 24:15-19

2 Chronicles 24:15-19

THE SHAMEFUL APOSTASY OF JOASH

"But Jehoiada waxed old and was full of days, and he died; a hundred and thirty years old was he when he died. And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and toward God and his house. Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them. And they forsook the house of Jehovah, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols: and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their guiltiness. Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again unto Jehovah; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear."

E.M. Zerr:

2 Chronicles 24:15-16. Jehoiada was a priest, but he was buried among the kings because of his good deeds in behalf of the Lord and his house. It will be remembered that he virtually was a king while Joash was young, and influenced him for good. It was fitting, therefore, to give him that kind of a burial.

2 Chronicles 24:17. This is a verse where we may "read between the lines." Obeisance is from a word with a wide range of meaning. Strong defines it, "a primitive root; to depress, i. e. prostrate (especially reflexively in homage to royalty or God.)" In the King James Version it has been translated by, bow down, humbly beseech, fall down, crouch, etc. Since "humbly beseech" is one of the meanings, the connection shows that the princes had "an ax to grind," and preceded their petition with a flattering attitude toward the king. It had the effect they desired, for it says the king hearkened.

2 Chronicles 24:18. Idols were always wrong, groves were usually so. But there was a certain amount of indefiniteness about the right and wrong of them. See my comments at 2 Kings 17:16 on the groves and trees. Judah, and Jerusalem. are mentioned together because the first was the name of the kingdom, and the second was its capital.

2 Chronicles 24:19. The prophets had a great work to perform in the time of the Old Testament. They uttered the predictions of God when directed to do so, and were the ones who stood on the "walls of Zion" to admonish the people concerning their duties, and the danger of departing from the living God. Would not give ear corresponds to Isaiah 1:3. The reason the people did not know any better in the days of that man of God was, they "did not consider." In the days of Jehoiada, or soon thereafter, the people "would not give ear." As one result, they overlooked their duties and brought upon themselves the wrath of God.

Verses 20-22

2Ch 24:20-22

2 Chronicles 24:20-22

JOASH’S HEARTLESS MURDER OF ZECHARIAH

"And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of Jehovah, so that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken Jehovah, he hath forsaken you. And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of Jehovah. Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, Jehovah look upon it and require it."

These two paragraphs reveal that Joash, at heart, was a true descendant of his evil ancestor Ahab. As long as Jehoiada was available as a wise and able counselor, Joash did very well; but as soon as Jehoiada was dead, the princes of Judah seduced him with their flattery and induced him to reopen the high places with their licentious worship of the pagan idols.

Jehoiada’s son Zechariah, under the influence of the Spirit of God, pronounced a severe warning; but the king’s response was to honor the conspiracy of the evil princes and order the man of God stoned to death within the court of the temple itself.

Zechariah’s prayer that God would see their terrible crime and pronounce a judgment against them was honored immediately.

E.M. Zerr:

2 Chronicles 24:20. Spirit of God came, etc. The prophets, like the apostles of Christ, were inspired only while writing or speaking the messages of God. Zechariah was inspired to deliver an admonition to the people. Stood is from a word with both a literal and a figurative meaning. Doubtless it was used in both senses here. It was important that the hearers see the speaker as well as hear him. The same precaution has been taken in other cases, for we read that Ezra stood upon a pulpit of wood (Nehemiah 8:4). It was true also that Zechariah was above or over the people in importance and knowledge. He explained that God had forsaken them because they had forsaken him. Zechariah was not a prophet in the ordinary sense of the word, but was specially inspired for the occasion so that he might give the people authoritative instruction.

2 Chronicles 24:21. This stoning is mentioned by Christ in Matthew 23:35, but in that place Zacharias is called the son of Barachias, while our present passage shows him to have been the son of the priest Jehoiada. Smith’s Bible Dictionary gives a reasonable explanation by saying that Barachias was his grandfather. There is nothing strained about the explanation, for we are sure of some other instances where a grandson was called a son. Belshazzar is called the son of Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel 5:22, when we know he was his grandson, according to secular history, for Nabunidas, father of Belshazzar, married the daughter of Nebuchadnezzar, and Belshazzar was their son. Rawlinson, Ancient History, Page 49. In the court is equivalent to between the temple and the altar in the statement of Jesus.

2 Chronicles 24:22. The pronouns are somewhat confusing. The antecedent of his in both cases is Zechariah. Him refers to Joash, while he in both instances means Zechariah. Using the nouns for the pronouns, the verse would read thus: "Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada, Zechariah’s father had done to Joash, but slew Jehoiada’s son. And when Zechariah died," etc. Require it means that the Lord would require the guilty person to suffer for it. The suffering will be shown in the events to be recorded in the next few verses.

Verses 23-24

2Ch 24:23-24

2 Chronicles 24:23-24

GOD’S SUMMARY PUNISHMENT OF JUDAH AND JERUSALEM

"And it came to pass at the end of the year, that the army of the Syrians came up against him: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them unto the king of Damascus. For the army of the Syrians came with a small company; and Jehovah delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken Jehovah, the God of their fathers. So they executed Judgment upon Joash."

It was especially appropriate that the Syrians killed all the princes, the very people who had seduced Joash to accept idolatry. Significantly, this judgment fell upon Joash and his kingdom within less than a year following the heartless murder of Zechariah. But God was not finished with his judgment against Joash. The next paragraph gives the conclusion of it.

E.M. Zerr:

2 Chronicles 24:23. Syria was the country just north of Palestine. The host of Syria means the army of that government. They came to Jerusalem, which was the capital of Judah. The princes were leading men among the people of Judah, and were destroyed by the Syrian army. When they got the men of Judah under control, they took their personal belongings from them and sent them back home to their king. He was at Damascus because that was the capital of Syria.

2 Chronicles 24:24. Small company is mentioned to emphasize the fact that the Lord was helping the Syrians. If they could overcome a very great host of the Israelites, it would have to be by the help of God. In helping the Syrians against Joash and the princes of Judah, the threat was carried out that was meant by the words require it.

Verses 25-27

2Ch 24:25-27

2 Chronicles 24:25-27

JOASH’S ILLNESS AND MURDER BY HIS OWN SERVANTS

"And when they were departed from him (for they left him very sick), his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons[1] of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died; and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchre of the kings. And these are they that conspired against him: Zabad the son of Shemeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess. Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens laid upon him, and the rebuilding of the house of God, behold, they are written in the commentary of the book of the kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead."

2 Chronicles 24:23-27 is parallel with 2 Kings 12:18-21; and we have written additional comments on these verses in that commentary.

E.M. Zerr:

2 Chronicles 24:25. The army of Syria was content at the havoc that had been wrought against the princes of Judah and the property that had been acquired; they did not care about Joash personally. Besides, he had fallen a victim of some disease and could do no harm to anybody, so the invaders left him to his fate, whatever that might be. But the king was not destined to escape personal judgment even though the Syrians departed from him. Being in bed, his own servants attacked him because of his wrongs against the sons of Jehoiada. There was nothing right in the actions of Joash in his treatment of the sons of the priest, but two wrongs do not make one right. These servants of the king did wrong also when they took advantage of him in his sickness, and assassinated him. They not only slew him, but further dishonored his body by refusing it burial in the sepulchres of the kings.

2 Chronicles 24:26. The most interesting fact of this conspiracy is that it was headed by some descendants of Lot, the Ammonites and Moabites.

2 Chronicles 24:27. A reference is made to some "outside" history. See my comments at 1 Kings 14:19 for explanation of such a subject.