2 Chronicles 24
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. 2Joash did that which was right in the eyes of Allah all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he became the father of sons and daughters. 4It happened after this, that Joash was minded to restore the house of Allah. 5He gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year; and see that you hasten the matter. However the Levites did not hurry. 6The king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said to him, Why haven't you required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the tax of Musa the servant of Allah, and of the assembly of Israel, for the tent of the testimony? 7For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of Allah did they bestow on the Baals. 8So the king commanded, and they made a chest, and set it outside at the gate of the house of Allah. 9They made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in for Allah the tax that Musa the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness. 10All the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end. 11It was so, that whenever the chest was brought to 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. 12The king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the service of the house of Allah; and they hired masons and carpenters to restore the house of Allah, and also such as worked iron and bronze to repair the house of Allah. 13So the workmen worked, and the work of repairing went forward in their hands, and they set up the house of God in its state, and strengthened it. 14When they had made an end, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, of which were made vessels for the house of Allah, even vessels with which to minister and to offer, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. They offered burnt offerings in the house of Allah continually all the days of Jehoiada. 15But Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died; one hundred thirty years old was he when he died. 16They buried him in the city of Dawud among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and toward God and his house. 17Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king listened to them. 18They forsook the house of Allah, the God of their fathers, and worshiped the Asherim and the idols: and wrath came on Judah and Jerusalem for this their guiltiness. 19Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again to Allah; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear. 20The Spirit of God came on Zakariyya Ibn Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people, and said to them, Thus says God, Why disobey you the commandments of Allah, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken Allah, he has also forsaken you. 21They conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of Allah. 22Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son. When he died, he said, Allah look on it, and require it. 23It happened 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 to the king of Damascus. 24For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men; and Allah delivered a very great army into their hand, because they had forsaken Allah, the God of their fathers. So they executed judgment on Joash. 25When they were departed for him (for they left him very sick), his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed, and he died; and they buried him in the city of Dawud, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings. 26These are those who conspired against him: Zabad Ibn Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad Ibn Shimrith the Moabitess. 27Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens laid on him, and the rebuilding of the house of God, behold, they are written in the commentary of the book of the kings. Amaziah his son reigned in his place.