2 Chronicles 24 - New Catholic Bible (NCB)

Chapter 24

Temple Repairs.[a] 1 Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned for forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beer-sheba. 2 Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord as long as Jehoiada was alive. 3 Jehoiada selected two wives for him, and he became the father of several sons and daughters.

4 Sometime later, Joash decided to restore the temple of the Lord. 5 After he assembled the priests and the Levites, he said to them: “Go forth to all the towns of Judah and without any delay collect the money that is due each year so that we may make the annual repairs that are necessary. See to it that you act quickly.” However, the Levites did not hasten to proceed immediately.

6 Therefore, the king summoned Jehoiada, the chief priest, and asked him: “Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the tax levied by Moses, the servant of the Lord, and by the assembly of Israel for the tent of the testimony?” 7 For the wicked Athaliah and her sons had broken into the house of God and had even given to the Baals the sacred revenues of the temple of the Lord.

8 Therefore, the king ordered that a chest be made and placed outside the gate of the house of the Lord. 9 Then a proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to bring to the Lord the tax which Moses, the servant of God, had imposed on Israel in the desert. 10 As a result, the officials and all the people rejoiced, and they willingly brought their contributions, depositing them in the chest until it was filled.

11 Whenever the chest was brought to the royal officials by the Levites, and it was evident that it contained a large amount of money, the king’s secretary and the representative of the chief priest would come to empty it and then return the chest to its designated place. They did this day after day and collected money in great abundance. 12 Then the king and Jehoiada gave the money to those who were responsible for carrying out the work of the house of the Lord, and they also hired masons and carpenters to restore the house of the Lord, while workers skilled in iron and bronze devoted themselves to making all the necessary repairs.

13 The laborers concentrated on their labor, and the repairs progressed steadily at their hands. They restored the house of God to its original state and strengthened it. 14 After they had completed their work, they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada, and it was used to make vessels for the house of the Lord, vessels for the services and for burnt offerings, and basins and other gold and silver utensils. They continually offered burnt offerings in the Lord’s temple throughout the lifetime of Jehoiada.

15 Jehoiada lived to a ripe old age. He was one hundred and thirty years old when he died. 16 He was buried with the kings in the City of David because of all the good he had done in Israel for God and his temple.

17 Apostasy of King Joash.[b] After the death of Jehoiada, the officials came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to their advice. 18 Then they forsook the temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, and they began to worship the sacred poles and the idols. Because of their guilt, God’s wrath descended upon Judah and Jerusalem. 19 Although the Lord sent prophets to lead them back to him, they refused to listen.

20 Then the Spirit of God took possession of Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood up before the people and said to them: “Thus says the Lord: ‘Why do you transgress the commands of the Lord so that you cannot prosper? Because you have abandoned the Lord, he has abandoned you.’ ”

21 However, they conspired against him, and at the king’s order they stoned him to death in the court of the house of the Lord. 22 Thus King Joash, forgetting the loyalty of Zechariah’s father, Jehoiada, killed his son. As he was dying, he said: “May the Lord see this and call you to account.”

23 Retribution. At the turn of the year the Aramean army advanced against Joash. When they reached Judah and Jerusalem, they massacred all the leaders of the people and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. 24 Although the invading Aramean army had come with only a small force, the Lord delivered into their hands a very large army because they had abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors. Thus they executed judgment against Joash.

25 When the Arameans had withdrawn, leaving Joash severely wounded, his servants conspired against him to avenge the blood of the son of the priest Jehoiada, and they killed him on his bed. Thus he died, and they buried him in the City of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.

26 Those who conspired against him were Zabad, the son of Shimeath the Ammonite, and Jehozabad, the son of Shimrith, a Moabite. 27 Accounts of his sons, of the many oracles against him, and of the rebuilding of the house of God are all recorded in the commentary of the book of kings. His son Amaziah succeeded him.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 24:1 King Joash repairs the temple; to this end, he sets up a system that will provide reliable aid for the maintenance of the sacred dwelling: a collection box to receive the offerings of the faithful, and a collection to be taken up throughout the country. After the Exile, this latter collection will become a regular tax on behalf of the sanctuary (see Mt 17:24), and will be demanded even of Jews in the Diaspora outside of Palestine.
  2. 2 Chronicles 24:17 This particular odious assassination remained impressed on the memory of Israel, since it will still be mentioned in the Gospel (Mt 23:35).

You Might Also Like:

2 Chronicles 24 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

24 A son of seven years [is] Joash in his reigning, and forty years he hath reigned in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother [is] Zibiah of Beer-Sheba. 2 And Joash doth that which is right in the eyes of Jehovah all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3 And Jehoiada taketh for him two wives, and he beg...
Read More

2 Chronicles 24 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

24 Joash was of seven years (Joash was seven years old), when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem; the name of his mother was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 And he did that, that was good before the Lord, in all the days of Jehoiada, the priest. 3 And Joash took two wives, of which he...
Read More

2 Chronicles 24 - World English Bible (WEB)

24 Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah, of Beersheba. 2 Joash did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3 Jehoiada took for him two wives, and he became the father of sons and d...
Read More

2 Chronicles 24 - The Voice (VOICE)

It is significant that the chronicler does not end Athaliah’s story with a summary of her reign or the location of her burial as all other kings’ stories end. She is a usurper who is not destined to rule Israel because she is not part of the Davidic line. But her reign does not nullify God’s promise...
Read More

2 Chronicles 24 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Joash Repairs the Temple24 Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem 40 years. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba. 2 Joash did what was right in the eyes of Adonai all the days of Jehoiada the kohen. 3 Jehoiada took two wives by whom he fathered sons and dau...
Read More

2 Chronicles 24 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Joash Repairs the Temple24 Jo′ash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem; his mother’s name was Zib′iah of Beer-sheba. 2 And Jo′ash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the days of Jehoi′ada the priest. 3 Jehoi′ada got for him two wives, and h...
Read More

2 Chronicles 24 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Joash Repairs the Temple24 Jo′ash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem; his mother’s name was Zib′iah of Beer-sheba. 2 And Jo′ash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the days of Jehoi′ada the priest. 3 Jehoi′ada got for him two wives, and h...
Read More

2 Chronicles 24 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Joash Repairs the Temple24 Joash was seven years old when he began to reign; he reigned forty years in Jerusalem; his mother’s name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.(A)2 Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of the priest Jehoiada.(B)3 Jehoiada got two wives for him, and he became t...
Read More

2 Chronicles 24 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Joash Repairs the Temple24 Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother was Zibiah from Beersheba. 2 Joash did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight throughout the lifetime of Jehoiada the priest. 3 Jehoiada chose two wives for Joash, and he had ...
Read More

2 Chronicles 24 - New Life Version (NLV)

Joash Becomes King24 Joash was seven years old when he became king. And he ruled forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the religious leader. 3 Jehoiada took two wives for him, and he became t...
Read More

2 Chronicles 24 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Joash Repairs the Temple(A)24 Joash (B)was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 Joash (C)did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3 And Jehoiada took two wives for him, and...
Read More

2 Chronicles 24 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Joash repairs the temple24 Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba. 2 Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years of Jehoiada the priest. 3 Jehoiada chose two wives for him, ...
Read More

2 Chronicles 24 - New International Version (NIV)

Joash Repairs the Temple(A)(B)24 Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba. 2 Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord(C) all the years of Jehoiada the priest. 3 Jehoiada chose two wives for hi...
Read More

2 Chronicles 24 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Joash Repairs the Temple24 Joash was seven years old when he became king. He ruled in Jerusalem for 40 years. His mother’s name was Zibiah. She was from Beersheba. 2 Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. Joash lived that way as long as Jehoiada the priest was alive. 3 Jehoiada chose tw...
Read More

2 Chronicles 24 - New English Translation (NET)

Joash’s Reign24 Joash was seven years old when he began to reign. He reigned for forty years in Jerusalem. His mother[a] was Zibiah, who was from Beer Sheba. 2 Joash did what the Lord approved[b] throughout the lifetime[c] of Jehoiada the priest. 3 Jehoiada chose two wives for him who gave him son...
Read More