Jehoash — Tyndale Open Bible Dictionary

Name of two OT kings, occurring only in the book of 2 Kings. The name means “the Lord is strong” or “the Lord hath bestowed.” Joash, the shorter form of the name, frequently appears in the Kings and Chronicles narratives.

1. Son of Ahaziah and seventh king of Judah (835–796 BC). Jehoash ascended the throne after the wicked Athaliah had been killed at the command of Jehoiada the priest. As an infant, he was hidden by his aunt Jehosheba in the temple and thus survived the slaughter of the king’s household by Athaliah (2 Kgs 11:1-3; 2 Chr 23:10-12). After remaining six years within the temple precinct, Jehoash was declared king at the age of seven and ruled for 40 years (2 Kgs 11:21–12:1 OET KI2 11:21 · OET KI2 12:1; 2 Chr 24:1-3).

Show passage in OET: KI2 11:1–3

OET-RV KI2 11:1

11 When Ahazyah’s mother Atalyah (Athaliah) saw that her son had been killed, she went and had all of his descendants executed so that none of them could claim the throne.

OET-RV KI2 11:2

2 However, King Yoram’s (Joram) daughter Yehosheva took Yoash, the son of her sister Ahazyah, and hid him in the bedroom along with his wet-nurse. Although he was on the list of the king’s sons to be executed, they hid him from Atalyah, and so he wasn’t killed.

OET-RV KI2 11:3

3 Then he was able to stay hidden with her in the temple for the six years while Atalyah ruled Yehudah (Judah).

OET-LV KI2 11:1

11 And_ˊAtal^yāh the _mother _of ʼAḩaz^yāh and if/because _that son _of_her he _was _dead and_she/it _arose and_she _destroyed DOM all _of the _offspring _of (the)_royalty.

OET-LV KI2 11:2

2 And_ Yəhōsheⱱaˊ/(Jehosheba) the _daughter _of the _king Yəhōrām/(Joram) the _sister _of ʼAḩaz^yāh _she/it _took DOM Yōʼāsh/(Joash) the _son _of ʼAḩaz^yāh and_she _stole DOM_him/it from_among _of the _sons _of the_king the DOM_him/it and_DOM nurse _of_his in_the _chamber _of the _beds and_they _hid DOM_him/it from_face/in _front _of ˊAtal^yāh and_not he _was _put _to _death.

OET-LV KI2 11:3

3 And_he/it _was with_her the _house _of YHWH he_was_hiding _himself six years and_ˊAtal^yāh was_reigning over the_earth/land.

Show passage in OET: CH2 23:10–12

OET-RV CH2 23:10

10 He stationed all the people, each one holding their weapon, right across the end of the temple, around the altar and the temple, and all around the king.

OET-RV CH2 23:11

11 Then they brought out young Yoash, put a crown on his head, gave him a scroll with the agreement on it, and proclaimed him as king. Then Yehoyada and his sons anointed him with olive oil and shouted, “Long live the king!”

OET-RV CH2 23:12

12 When Atalyah (Athaliah) heard the sound of people running, and people praising the king, she went to the temple

OET-LV CH2 23:10

10 And_he _stationed DOM all _of the_people and_each weapon _of_his was_in_hand _of_his from_the _side _of the _house (the)_right to the _side _of the _house (the)_left to_altar and_to_house at the_king all _around.

OET-LV CH2 23:11

11 And_they _brought _out DOM the _son _of the_king and_they _put on/upon/above_him/it DOM the_crown and_DOM the_transcript and_they _made _king DOM_him/it and_they_anointed _him Yəhōyādāˊ and_sons _of_his and_they _said the_king may _he _live.

OET-LV CH2 23:12

12 And_ ˊAtal^yāh _she _heard DOM the _sound _of the _people who_were_running and_who_were_praising DOM the_king and_she _went to the_people the _house _of YHWH.

Show passage in OET: KI2 11:21; KI2 12:1

OET-RV KI2 11:21

21 Yoash was only seven when he became king of Yehudah (Judah).

OET-RV KI2 12:1

12 Yoash became king in Yerushalem (Jerusalem) in the seventh year of Yehu’s (Jehu) reign over Yisrael (Israel). (His mother was Tsivyah from Be’er -Sheva (Beersheba).) He reigned for forty years

OET-LV KI2 12:1

12  Was_a _son _of seven years Yəhōʼāsh/(Jehoash) when_he_became _king.

OET-LV KI2 12:2

2  In_year seven of_Yēhūʼ/(Jehu) Yəhōʼāsh he _became _king and_forty year[s] he _reigned in_Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) and_name _of his/its_mother was_Zibiah from_Bəʼēr- sheⱱaˊ.

Show passage in OET: CH2 24:1–3

OET-RV CH2 24:1

24 Yoash was seven years old when he became Yehudah’s (Judah) king, and he reigned from Yerushalem (Jerusalem) for forty years. His mother was Tsivyah from Be’er -Sheva (Beersheba).

OET-RV CH2 24:2

2 Yoash did what pleased Yahweh throughout the lifetime of Yehoyada the priest.

OET-RV CH2 24:3

3 Yehoyada procured two wives for him, and they bore him sons and daughters.

OET-LV CH2 24:1

24 Was_a _son _of seven years Yōʼāsh/(Joash) when_he_became _king and_forty year[s] he _reigned in_Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) and_name _of his/its_mother was_Tsiⱱ^yāh/(Zibiah) from_Bəʼēr- sheⱱaˊ.

OET-LV CH2 24:2

2 And_ Yōʼāsh _he/it _made the_right in/on_both _eyes _of YHWH all _of the _days _of Yəhōyādāˊ/(Jehoiada) the_priest/officer.

OET-LV CH2 24:3

3 And_he _took to_him/it Yəhōyādāˊ wives two and_he/it _fathered sons and_daughters.

Jump to OET KI2 11:1–3 section.

Jump to OET CH2 23:10–12 section.

Jump to OET KI2 11:21 section. · OET KI2 12:1 section.

Jump to OET CH2 24:1–3 section.

His major activity during his reign was the renovation of the temple (2 Kgs 12:4-5; 2 Chr 24:4-5). When, by his 23d year, little progress had been made (2 Kgs 12:6), he revised the taxation schedule, commanded the people of Judah to bring their contributions directly to the Jerusalem temple, and soon restored the Lord’s house to its proper condition (2 Chr 24:13).

Show passage in OET: KI2 12:4–5

OET-RV KI2 12:4

4 Then Yoash told the priests, “You all must collect all the money that’s donated to Yahweh’s temple, whether it’s the money they’re required to pay or the money that they themselves decide to give as sacred offerings to buy things for the temple.

OET-RV KI2 12:5

5 Each priest must bring what they’ve collected from their acquaintances, and use it to make repairs wherever they find that there’s been damage to the temple.”

OET-LV KI2 12:5

5  And_ Yəhōʼāsh _he/it _said to the_priests all _of the _money _of the _holy _gifts which it _will _be _brought the _house _of YHWH money passing _along everyone the _money _of persons _of his _valuation _of_his all _of the_money which it _will _come _up on the_heart _of a _person to_bring the _house _of YHWH.

OET-LV KI2 12:6

6  Let _them _take to/for_them the_priests each from_with acquaintance _of_his and_they they _will _repair DOM the _damage _of the _house to_all/each/any/every where it _will _be _found there damage.

Show passage in OET: CH2 24:4–5

OET-RV CH2 24:4

4 Sometime later, Yoash decided it would be good to repair Yahweh’s residence,

OET-RV CH2 24:5

5 and he gathered the priests and Levites, and told them, “Go out to Yehudah’s cities and collect enough money across the country to renovate God’s house in the next few years. Make this a priority.” But the Levites didn’t get on to it,

OET-LV CH2 24:4

4 And_he/it _was afterwards so it _was with the _heart _of Yōʼāsh to_renew DOM the _house _of YHWH.

OET-LV CH2 24:5

5 And_he _assembled DOM the_priests and_the_Lēviyyiy and_he/it _said to/for_them go _out to_the _cities _of Yəhūdāh/(Judah) and_collect from_all Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) money to_repair DOM the _house _of your(pl)_god _of_your(pl) from_sufficiency a _year in_a _year and_you(pl) you(pl)_will _do _quickly to_the _message/thing/matter and_not the_Lēviyyiy they _acted _quickly.

Show passage in OET: KI2 12:6

OET-RV KI2 12:6

6 However, when the priests still hadn’t repaired the damaged portions by the twenty-third year of Yoash’s reign,

OET-LV KI2 12:7

7  And_he/it _was in_year twenty and_three year to/for_the _king Yəhōʼāsh/(Jehoash) not the_priests they _had _repaired DOM the _damage _of the _house.

Show passage in OET: CH2 24:13

OET-RV CH2 24:13

13 So they started on the work, and the temple restoration went ahead. They rebuilt the temple following its original specifications, and strengthened it.

OET-LV CH2 24:13

13 And_ the _doers _of the _work _they _worked and_ the_repair _it _went _up for_work by_hand _of_their and_they _erected DOM the _house _of the_ʼElohīm on measurement _of_its and_they_strengthened _it.

Jump to OET KI2 12:4–5 section.

Jump to OET CH2 24:4–5 section.

Jump to OET KI2 12:6 section.

Jump to OET CH2 24:13 section.

After the death of the priest Jehoiada, Jehoash and Judah forsook the Lord and served the Asherim and the idols (2 Chr 24:15-18). Not heeding the prophetic warning of divine judgment (v 20), Jehoash and his people were conquered by the Arameans. Though Jehoash had once been able to avert a siege of Judah by paying tribute to Hazael (2 Kgs 12:17-18), the same strategy did not work a second time. The Arameans plundered Judah and Jerusalem, sending the spoil to Hazael in Damascus (2 Chr 24:23-24). Jehoash was assassinated by his servants Jozacar (Jozabad/Zabad) and Jehozabad while recuperating from wounds incurred in battle with the Arameans (2 Kgs 12:20-21; 2 Chr 24:25-26).

Show passage in OET: CH2 24:15–18

OET-RV CH2 24:15

15 By then, Yehoyada was getting old, and he died at the age of 130,

OET-RV CH2 24:16

16 and they buried him with the kings in ‘The City of David’, because he’d done so much good for Yisrael (Israel), and for God and his temple.

OET-RV CH2 24:17

17 After Yehoyada’s death, Yehudah’s (Judah) leaders went to young King Yoash and declared their loyalty to him, and he listened to them.

OET-RV CH2 24:18

18 Then they abandoned the temple of their ancestors’ god Yahweh, and they worshipped the Asherah poles and idols, and God was angry at Yerushalem (Jerusalem) and Yehudah because of their disobedience.

OET-LV CH2 24:15

15 And_ Yəhōyādāˊ _he _became _old and_he _was _satisfied days and_he/it _died a _son _of one _hundred and_thirty year[s] at_death _of_his.

OET-LV CH2 24:16

16 And_people_buried _him in_the _city _of Dāvid with the_kings if/because he _had _done good in_Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_with the_ʼElohīm and_his/its_house(hold).

OET-LV CH2 24:17

17 And_after the _death _of Yəhōyādāˊ/(Jehoiada) the _leaders _of Yəhūdāh/(Judah) they _came and_they _bowed _down to/for_the _king then the_king he _listened to_them.

OET-LV CH2 24:18

18 And_they _abandoned DOM the _house _of YHWH the _god _of their _ancestors _of_their and_they _served DOM the _ʼAshērāh_poles and_DOM the_idols and_ severe _anger _he/it _was towards Yəhūdāh and_Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) in_guilt _of_their this.

Show passage in OET: CH2 24:20

OET-RV CH2 24:20

20 Then God’s spirit enveloped Zekaryah (Zechariah), the son of Yehoyada the priest, and he stood up and told the people, “God asks why you people are violating his commands. Because you abandoned Yahweh, he’s abandoned you people.”

OET-LV CH2 24:20

20 And_spirit god it _clothed DOM Zəkar^yāh the _son _of Yəhōyādāˊ the_priest/officer and_he _stood from_under (to)_people and_he/it _said to/for_them thus the_ʼElohīm he _says why are_you(pl) transgressing DOM the _commands _of YHWH and_not you(pl)_will _prosper if/because you(pl)_have _abandoned DOM YHWH and_he _has _abandoned you(pl).

Show passage in OET: KI2 12:17–18

OET-RV KI2 12:17

17 Then Aram’s (Syria) King Hazael attacked Gat and captured it, after which he decided to attack Yerushalem (Jerusalem).

OET-RV KI2 12:18

18 Yehudah’s (Judah) King Yoash took all the sacred things that his ancestors Yehoshafat (Jehoshaphat) and Yehoram (Jehoram) and Ahazyah, the previous kings of Yehudah, had consecrated and his sacred things, and all of the gold that was found in Yahweh’s temple treasuries and in the king’s palace, and he sent them to Aram’s King Hazael who then cancelled his planned attack on Yerushalem.

OET-LV KI2 12:18

18  Then Ḩₐzā^ʼēl the _king _of ʼArām he _went _up and_he _fought on Gat and_he_captured _it and_ Ḩₐzā^ʼēl _he/it _assigned his/its_faces/face to_go _up on Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem).

OET-LV KI2 12:19

19  And_ Yəhōʼāsh/(Jehoash) the _king _of Yəhūdāh/(Judah) _he/it _took DOM all _of the _holy_things which Yəhōshāfāţ/(Jehoshaphat) and_Yəhōrām/(Jehoram) and_ʼAḩaz^yāh ancestors _of_his the _kings _of Yəhūdāh they _had _consecrated and_DOM holy _things _of_his _own and_DOM all _of the_gold which_was_found in_the _treasuries _of the _house _of YHWH and_the _house _of the_king and_he _sent_them to_Ḩₐzā^ʼēl the _king _of ʼArām and_he/it _ascended from_under Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem).

Show passage in OET: CH2 24:23–24

OET-RV CH2 24:23

23 Around the end of the year, the Aramean army attacked Yehudah and Yerushalem, and killed all the people’s leaders. They sent all their plunder back to their king in Damesek (Damascus).

OET-RV CH2 24:24

24 Actually, the Arameans only had a smallish army, but Yahweh allowed them to defeat the much larger army from Yehudah and bring punishment to King Yoash, because they’d abandoned Yahweh, their ancestors’ god.

OET-LV CH2 24:23

23 And_he/it _was to_the _circuit _of the _year it _came _up on/upon/above_him/it the _army _of ʼArām and_they _came to Yəhūdāh/(Judah) and_Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) and_they _destroyed DOM all _of the _leaders _of the _people from_the_people and_all booty _of_their they _sent to_the _king _of Dammeseq.

OET-LV CH2 24:24

24 If/because with_a _small _number _of men they _came the _army _of ʼArām and_YHWH he _gave in_hand _of_their an _army to_increase _in _number exceedingly if/because they _had _abandoned DOM YHWH the _god _of their _ancestors _of_their and_DOM Yōʼāsh they _did judgement(s).

Show passage in OET: KI2 12:20–21

OET-RV KI2 12:20

20 However, his servants got together and planned his assassination, and they ambushed Yoash in Beyt-Milo on the road going down to Sila.

OET-RV KI2 12:21

21 His servants Yozavad (Shim’at’s son) and Yehozavad (Shomer’s son) struck him and he died, and they buried him in his ancestral tomb in the city of David, and his son Amatsyah replaced him as king.

OET-LV KI2 12:21

21  And_ servants _of_his _they _arose and_they _conspired a _conspiracy and_they _struck _down DOM Yōʼāsh house _of Millōʼ which_goes_down Silla.

OET-LV KI2 12:22

22  And_Yōzāⱱād/(Jozabad) the _son _of Shimeath and_Yəhōzāⱱād/(Jehozabad) the _son _of Shomer servants _of_his they_struck _him _down and_he/it _died and_people _buried DOM_him/it with ancestors _of_his in_the _city _of Dāvid and_ ʼAmaʦ^yāh son _of_his _he _became _king in_place _of _him.

Show passage in OET: CH2 24:25–26

OET-RV CH2 24:25

25 When they withdrew, they left Yoash with severe wounds, and then his servants conspired against him because he’d killed the son of the priest Yehoyada. So they killed him in his bed, and although they buried him in ‘The City of David’, he wasn’t buried with the other kings.

OET-RV CH2 24:26

26 The ones who’d conspired to kill him were: Zavad (a son of the Amoni woman Shim’at) and Yehozavad (a son of the Moavi woman Shimrit).

OET-LV CH2 24:25

25 And_when_went_they from_him/it if/because they _had _left DOM_him/it in/on/at/with great they _conspired on/upon/above_him/it servants _of_his _own in_the _blood(s)_of the _sons _of Yəhōyādāˊ/(Jehoiada) the_priest/officer and_they_killed _him on bed _of_his and_he/it _died and_they_buried _him in_the _city _of Dāvid and_not they_buried _him in_the _graves _of the _kings.

OET-LV CH2 24:26

26 And_these are_the_ones _who_conspired on/upon/above_him/it Zāⱱād the _son _of Shimˊat the _ˊAmmōnī_woman and_Yəhōzāⱱād/(Jehozabad) the _son _of Shimrīt the _Mōʼāⱱite_woman.

Jump to OET CH2 24:15–18 section.

Jump to OET CH2 24:20 section.

Jump to OET KI2 12:17–18 section.

Jump to OET CH2 24:23–24 section.

Jump to OET KI2 12:20–21 section.

Jump to OET CH2 24:25–26 section.

2. Son of Jehoahaz and 13th king of Israel (798–782 BC). Jehoash enjoyed a measure of military success that had eluded his father. No longer subject to punitive military exploits from Hazael of Aram, he was able to establish political stability in the northern kingdom. In fact, he subjugated the southern kingdom of Judah while Amaziah was king in Jerusalem (796–767 BC). The conflict between Amaziah and Jehoash was precipitated mainly by Amaziah. Overconfident with his victories in Edom, Amaziah initiated a military conflict with Israel (2 Chr 25:17-19). The battle was fought near Beth-shemesh in the Judean Shephelah. King Jehoash routed the army of Judah, captured Amaziah, and moved on to Jerusalem. Destroying the outer wall from the Ephraim Gate to the Corner Gate, he entered the capital city and plundered the treasures of both the palace and the temple (vv 21-24). He was apparently used as an instrument of the Lord to subdue Judah (v 20).

Show passage in OET: CH2 25:17–19

OET-RV CH2 25:17

17 Some time later, Yehudah’s (Judah) King Amatsyah consulted his advisors, then sent a challenge to Yisrael’s (Israel) King Yoash (son of Yehoahaz, son of Yehu (Jehu)), “Let’s face each other on the battlefield.”

OET-RV CH2 25:18

18 But Yisrael’s King Yoash replied, “A thistle in Levanon sent a message to a cedar in Levanon, saying, ‘Give your daughter to my son for a wife,’ but some random animal passed through the Lebanese countryside and trampled the thistle.

OET-RV CH2 25:19

19 You defeated Edom and now it’s gone to your head. So stay in your chair at home and don’t get over-excited, otherwise both you and Yehudah will be toppled.”

OET-LV CH2 25:17

17 And_ ʼAmaʦ^yāh the _king _of Yəhūdāh/(Judah) _he _took _counsel and_he _sent to Yōʼāsh/(Joash) the _son _of Yəhōʼāḩāz/(Jehoahaz) the _son _of Yēhūʼ/(Jehu) the _king _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) to_say wwww let _us _look _at _one _another faces.

OET-LV CH2 25:18

18 And_ Yōʼāsh the _king _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) _he _sent to ʼAmaʦ^yāh the _king _of Yəhūdāh to_say the_thornbush which was_in_Ləⱱānōn it _sent to the_cedar which was_in_Ləⱱānōn to_say give DOM daughter _of_your to_son _of_my to/for_(a)_woman and_ the _animal _of the_field which was_in_Ləⱱānōn _it _passed _by and_it _trampled DOM the_thornbush.

OET-LV CH2 25:19

19 You _have _said HERE you _have _defeated DOM ʼEdōm and_it_has _lifted _you heart _of_your to_display _honour now remain in_house _of_your to/for_what will _you _engage _in _strife with_harm and_ you _you _will _fall and_Yəhūdāh/(Yihudah) with_you.

Show passage in OET: CH2 25:21–24

OET-RV CH2 25:21

21 So Yisrael’s King Yoash advanced, and the two armies faced each other at Beyt-Shemesh (Heliopolis) in Yehudah,

OET-RV CH2 25:22

22 and Yehudah was badly defeated by Yisrael, and all their warriors fled back home.

OET-RV CH2 25:23

23 Yisrael’s King Yoash captured King Amatsyah (son of Yoash, son of Yehoahaz) at Beyt-Shemesh and took him to Yerushalem (Jerusalem). Then he tore down Yerushalem’s wall from the Efrayim Gate to the Corner Gate—a section about 180m long.

OET-RV CH2 25:24

24 He took back to Shomron (Samaria) all the gold and silver and other valuable items that Oved -Edom had been guarding in the temple, as well as the valuables from the palace and some hostages.

OET-LV CH2 25:21

21 And_ Yōʼāsh the _king _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) _he/it _ascended and_ he and_ʼAmaʦ^yāh the _king _of Yəhūdāh _they _looked _at _one _another faces in_house _of shemesh which belonged_to_Yəhūdāh/(Judah).

OET-LV CH2 25:22

22 And_ Yəhūdāh _it _was _defeated to_(the)_face _of/in _front _of/before Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) and_they _fled each to_tents _of_his.

OET-LV CH2 25:23

23 And_DOM ʼAmaʦ^yāh the _king _of Yəhūdāh the _son _of Yōʼāsh/(Joash) the _son _of Yəhōʼāḩāz/(Jehoahaz) Yōʼāsh the _king _of Yisrā^ʼēl/(Israel) he _seized in_house _of shemesh and_he_brought _him Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) and_he _made _a _breach in_the _wall _of Yərūshālaim/(Jerusalem) from_the _gate _of ʼEfrayim to the _gate _of the _face four hundred(s) cubit[s].

OET-LV CH2 25:24

24 And_all the_gold and_the_silver and_DOM all _of the_vessels which_were_found in_house _of the_ʼElohīm with ˊŌⱱēd- ʼEdōm and_DOM the _treasures _of the _house _of the_king and_DOM the _sons _of the _pledges and_he _returned Shomrōn.

Show passage in OET: CH2 25:20

OET-RV CH2 25:20

20 But King Amatsyah took no notice, because God was planning for him to be defeated for worshipping Edom’s gods.

OET-LV CH2 25:20

20 And_not ʼAmaʦ^yāh he _listened if/because was_from_(the)_god it so _as to_give _them in_a _hand if/because they _had _sought DOM the _gods _of ʼEdōm.

Jump to OET CH2 25:17–19 section.

Jump to OET CH2 25:21–24 section.

Jump to OET CH2 25:20 section.

A contemporary of Jehoash was Elisha the prophet. In spite of the pervasive wickedness in Israel and the apostasy of the king himself (2 Kgs 13:10-11), Jehoash still sought the counsel of this prophet of the Lord. While Elisha was on his deathbed, Jehoash sought the prophet’s blessing (v 14). Elisha assured the king that the Arameans would be defeated by Israel at Aphek and that Israel would enjoy three decisive victories over this same enemy (vv 15-19). During his 16-year reign, Jehoash achieved political stability in the northern kingdom. Though considered an evil king, he was used as an instrument of judgment against Amaziah of Judah and enjoyed the blessing of Yahweh against Aram.