Bible Dictionaries
Joash

Holman Bible Dictionary

(joh' assh) Personal name meaning, “Yahweh gives.” 1. In Judges 6:11 , the father of Gideon. He was a member of the tribe of Manasseh who lived at Ophrah. 2. In 1 Chronicles 4:21-22 , one of the sons of Shelah. 3. In 1 Chronicles 7:8 , one of the sons of Becher. 4. In 1 Chronicles 12:3 , one of David's warriors. He was a son of Shemaah the Gibeathite. 5. In 1 Chronicles 27:28 , one of David's officers, who was in charge of the stores of oil. 6. In 1 Kings 22:26 , a son of Ahab, the king of Israel, and one of those to whom Micaiah the prophet was handed over.

7. In 2 Kings 11:2 , the infant son of King Ahaziah of Judah who survived the bloodbath carried out by Athaliah, the queen mother, following the murder of Ahaziah. Joash was hidden by Jehosheba his aunt for six years, at the end of which time he was popularly proclaimed as the legitimate ruler of Judah in a move instigated by Jehoiada. Athaliah was executed, and Joash took the throne at the age of seven. During the king's minority, Jehoiada, the priest, exercised a strong positive influence in both the civil and religious life of the nation. The death of Jehoiada, however, marked a notable decline in the quality of the rule of Joash. Finally, the king was assassinated as the result of a palace conspiracy. See Israel; Chronology of Biblical Period; Athaliah; Jehoiada .

8. In 2 Kings 13:10 , the son and successor of Jehoahaz as king of Israel. He ruled for sixteen years during the early part of the eighth century B.C. His visit to the dying prophet Elisha is described in 2 Kings 13:14-19 . During the course of that visit, the prophet promised the king three victories over Syria. Subsequently, Joash enjoyed military success not only against Syria but also against neighboring Judah. He defeated Amaziah of Judah in battle at Beth-shemesh and actually entered Jerusalem and plundered the Temple. At his death he was succeeded on the throne by his son Jeroboam II. See Israel; Chronology of Biblical Period.

Gene Henderson.