2 Chr 22.1-12 begins to tell us about the only son left to Yehoram named Yehoahaz, also known as Ahaziah (God has taken), who succeeds his father. He is the only son left to Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. They made him king because raiding Arabs had killed his older brothers. He would reign one year. He was wicked and was influenced by his mother and he eventually falls in judgment, along with Ahab’s house, by Yehu, the son of Nimshi. This was from the Lord (v 7). His connection with the house of Ahab was so close he entered an alliance with Israel against the Syrians and visited Yehoram when he was injured. Yehu was raised up by Yehovah to bring judgment against the dynasty of Omri (2 Kings 9.7). He did not have a direct command to bring judgment on the King of Judah, but he does anyway (2 Chr 22.8). Ahaziah, a blood relative of Ahab, was under God’s judgment against Ahab and his descendants. He failed to separate from Yehoram and suffered the consequences. Now, the Queen Mother (the givorah-22.2) was Athaliah (afflicted of Yehovah) and she will be a picture of Ha Satan and the False Messiah. We have discussed her and the eschatological implications earlier in 2 Kings 11, but we will go over these concepts briefly again because they are important to our understanding.
v 1…Then the inhabitants of Jerusalem made Ahaziah (also known as Yehoahaz), his youngest son (21.17), king in his place, for the band of men who came with the Arabs to camp had slain all the older sons. So Ahaziah the son of Yehoram king of Judah began to reign.
v 2…Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Athaliah, the granddaughter of Omri (and daughter of Ahab and Jezebel).
v 3…He also walked in the ways of the house of Ahab (21.6), for his mother was his counselor to do wickedly (to commit idolatry).
v 4…And he did evil in the sight of the Lord like the house of Ahab, for they were his counselors after the death of his father, to his destruction (they gave him bad advice to the destruction of his soul and body).
v 5…He also walked according to their counsel, and went with Jehoram the son of Ahab king of Israel to wage war against Hazael king of Syria at romaoth-gilead. But the Syrians wounded Joram.
v 6…So he returned to be healed in Jereel of the wounds which they had inflicted on him at Ramah, when he fought Hazael king of Syria. And Ahaziah, the son of Yehoram king of Judah, went to see Yehoram the son of Ahab in Jezreel, because he was sick.
v 7…Now the destruction of Ahaziah was from God (of his appointment), in that he went to Joram. For when he came, he went out with Jehoram against Jehu the son of Nimshi, whom the Lord had anointed to cut off the house of Ahab.
v 8…And it came about when Jehu was executing judgment on the house of Ahab (Ahav), he found the princes of Judah and the sons of Ahaziah’s brothers (42 of them), ministering to Ahaziah (in his court), and slew them (2 Kings 10.12-14).
v 9…He also sought Ahaziah, and they caught him while he was hiding in Samaria; they brought him to Jehu, put him to death, and buried him (in Jerusalem-2 Kings 9.27-28). For they said, “He is the son of Yehoshaphat, who sought the Lord with all his heart.” So there was no one of the house of Ahaziah to retain the power of the kingdom.
v 10…Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the offspring of the house of Judah (same as 2 Kings 11; like Ha Satan, Pharaoh, Herod and the False Messiah).
v 11…But Yehoshabeath the king’s daughter took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons who were being put to death, and placed him and his nurse in the bedroom (a type of Yeshua). So Yeho shabeath the daughter of King Yehoram, the wife of Yehoiada the priest, for she was the sister of Ahaziah, hid him from Athaliah so that she would not put him to death.
v 12…And he was hidden with them in the house of God six years (a picture of how Yeshua will be hidden for 6000 years) while Athaliah reigned over the land (she is a type of Ha Satan and the False Messiah; Joash will be hidden for six years and revealed in the seventh year-2 Kings 11.4; just like Yeshua will be hidden for 6000 years, and for six years of the Birth-pains, but will be revealed at the end of seven years).
2 Chr 23.1-21 gives us the same story as 2 Kings 11, so we refer you to that chapter for more detail, and we know that this story is a picture of the 7000 year plan of God. When Athaliah saw that her son was dead, she tried to destroy all the royal offspring, just like Ha Satan, Pharaoh and Herod tried to do. The False Messiah will try to do the same thing.Yehosheva (Yehovah is an oath), the daughter of King Yehoram, the wife of Yehoyada (Yehovah knows) the priest is the last remaining son named Yoash (fire of Yehovah) and hidden in the Temple for six years. Yoash is a picture of Yeshua, the only son who could be king, who survived Herod’s persecution. He is hidden from view in heaven’s Temple for 6000 years. In the seventh year, Yehoyada brings Yoash out for the captains and hundreds of the guards to see. They kept him safe for six years. In the same way, Yeshua was “hidden” in the house of Yehovah where his enemies cannot go, but he will reveal himself to believers. At the end of the sixth year and going into the seventh year, the king’s son is brought out. After 6000 years and going into the last thousand years called the Day of the Lord, Yeshua, the king’s son, will be revealed. They coronated Yoash, and on Rosh Ha Shanah, year 6001 from creation, Yeshua will be coronated as king (Dan 7.9-10; Rev 4-5).Now, Athaliah hears all the commotion in the Temple and realizes there is a legitimate king standing in the Temple. Ha Satan will also realize that his days are numbered when the legitimate king Yeshua is coronated in the Temple in heaven (Dan 7,9-10; Rev 4-5). Athaliah cries, “Treason! Treason!” However, her cries fall on deaf ears and she is taken out of the Temple and killed. In the same way, Yeshua will return to Jerusalem on Yom Kippur (Matt 24.29-31) and he will capture the False Messiah and will kill him outside of the Temple (Rev 19.20-21). This act is seen in the ceremony of the two goats on Yom Kippur (Lev 16). The goat called “L’Azazel” (a name for the False Messiah) is taken out and killed. This act is also pictured in Ezek 29.1-7 and 32.1-8 with Pharaoh, another picture of the False Messiah. After the death of Athaliah, all the pagan houses of Baal, his altars and images were broken into pieces. They killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. In the same way, all Replacement Theology religions and systems will be destroyed when Yeshua returns, and the False Prophet (Mattan is a picture of him) will also be killed (Rev 19.20-21). For a more detailed look into the False Messiah, go to our teachings called “The False Messiah (Introduction)” and “Torah and New Testament Foundations-The False Messiah” on this website.
v 1…Now in the seventh year (Yeshua will be revealed in the seventh year) Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took captains of hundreds: Azariah the son of Yehoram, Ishmael the son of Johanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of zichri, and they entered into a covenant.
v 2…And they went through Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the heads of the fathers’ households of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.
v 3…Then all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And Jehoiada said to them, “Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as the Lord has spoken concerning the sons of David (that his heir would reign on the throne).
v 4…This is the thing which you shall do: one third of you, or the priests and Levites who come in on the sabbath (that is when the courses changed for the week), shall be gatekeepers,
v 5…and one third shall be at the king’s house, and a third at the Gate of the Foundation (also called the Shaar Yesod, later called the Beit ha Moked and Shaar Yeconiah-1 Kings 11.6), and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord.
v 6…But let no one enter the house of the Lord except the priests and the ministering Levites; they may enter, for they are holy (that course had a kedusha to serve that week). And let all the people keep the charge of the Lord (the Levites).
v 7…And the Levites will surround the king (Joash is the only remaining son and a picture of Yeshua who survived and was resurrected and hidden for the seven year birth-pains years in heaven’s Temple where his enemies cannot touch him), each man with his weapon in his hand; and whoever enters the house, let him be killed. Thus be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out (guard his life at all times).”
v 8…So the Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each one of them took his men who were to come in on the sabbath (to change courses), with those who were to go out on the sabbath (their course was over), for Jehoiada the priest did not dismiss any of the divisions (courses).
v 9…Then Jehoiada the priest gave to the captains of hundreds the spears and the large (a zinah) and the small shields (magen) which had been King David’s, which were in the house of God (in the House of the Forest of Lebanon treasury/armory).
v 10…And he stationed all the people each man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, by the altar and by the house, around the king.
v 11…Then they brought out the king’s son (Joash) and put the crown on him, and gave him the testimony (the Edut) and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and said, “Long live the king (ON Rosh ha Shannah of year 6001 from creation, after the gathering of believers to heaven, Yeshua will be coronated at the beginning of the Day of the Lord, the last 1000 years and seventh day of God’s seven thousand year plan).”
v 12…When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king (she will be a picture of the False Messiah), she came into the house of the Lord to the people.
v 13…And she looked, and behold, the king was standing by his pillar (2 Chr 34.33) at the entrance (she realizes there is a legitimate king standing in the Temple and Satan and the False Messiah will realize that their days are numbered when Yeshua is coronated as king in the Temple), and the captains and the trumpeters were beside the king. And all the people of the land rejoiced and blew trumpets, the singers with their musical instruments leading the praise (Levitical choir). Then Athaliah tore her clothes and said, “Treason! Treason!”
v 14…And Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who were appointed over the army, and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks; and whoever follows her, put to death with the sword.” For the priest said, “Let her not be put to death in the house of the Lord.
v 15…So they seized her, and when she arrived at the entrance of the Horse Gate of the king’s house, they put her to death there (when Yeshua returns, the False Messiah will be seized and killed-Rev 19.20-21 like the Azazel goat on Yom Kippur).
v 16…Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king that they should br the Lord’s people.
v 17…And all the people went to the house of Baal, and tore it down (it was somewhere in the area), and they broke in pieces his altars and his images, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars (he is a type of the False Prophet who will be killed along with the False Messiah when Yeshua comes-Rev 19.20; in the same way, all Replacement Theology Christianity and false religious systems will be destroyed).
v 18…Moreover, Jehoiada placed the officers of the house of the Lord under the authority of the Levitical priests, whom David assigned over the house of the Lord, to offer the burnt offerings of the Lord, as it is written in the law (Torah-Num 28.1-8) of Moses-with rejoicing and singing according to the order of David (which he received from the Lord in 1 Chr 28.11-19).
v 19…And he stationed the gatekeepers of the house of the Lord, so that no one should enter who was in any way unclean (most purity laws only applied if you were going into the Temple-see the book, “Pentateuch and Haftorahs” by Joseph Hertz, p. 459).
v 20…And he took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the house of the Lord, and came through the upper gate (called the Shaar El Elyon, also known as the House of the Forest of Lebanon in the southwest corner of the Temple Mount) to the king’s house (just to the south). And they placed the king upon the royal throne.
v 21…So all the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet. For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword.
2 Chr 24.1-27 tells us about the reign of Yoash. He was seven years old when he became king and this chapter tells us about his rise and fall over his forty year reign. His reign was blessed by Yehovah but he (like all of us) fell short of complete commitment. However, the Kingdom of Judah advanced during his reign. After his coronation, he decided to repair the Temple and he wanted the priests and the Levites to collect money annually from all Israel to do it. However, they did not do it quickly because they did not have the same passion about it that Yoash did. This is like us when there is a godly project but we drag our feet. Why the Temple was in disrepair is explained in 2 Chr 24.7 where it says, “For the sons of the wicked Athaliah had broken into the house of God and even used the holy things of the house of the Lord for the Baals.” So the repair was not due to normal wear and tear. They defaced it and took the gold and silver vessels (2 Kings 12.13). Yoash ordered that a box was to be set outside the gate to the temple. This box seems to be different than the one in 2 Kings 12.6-13, which was by Yehoyada’s orders and set on the right side of the altar. There is a possible explanation for these two boxes found in the book called “Divrei Ha Yamim II” (Chronicles) by Mesorah Publications, p. 179. It says, “v. 7 taught that Athaliah and her sons emptied the House treasury in order to use the money for Baal worship. The resources in the treasury consisted of the half-shekalim which every Jew sent annually to the House. Because the treasury was plundered and these shekalim were never used for their intended purpose, it now devolved upon Israel to send not only their current half-shekal to the House but also to make up the loss to the House treasury and send shekalim for previous years. When Yoash sent the Kohanim to travel around Judah in order to raise money for the restoration, he also charged them with collecting the shekalim for past years. Thus, there were two categories of shekalim pouring into the House. Current shekalim and those from previous years. The current shekalim are those dealt with in Kings. These were placed in the chest near the altar. Chronicles deals with those of previous years which were put in the chest near the entrance. The halachic status of these two categories is not the same. From the current ones, the daily sacrifices were brought, and only what remained after that was earmarked for the House repairs. The halachah requires that the dividing of the money between amounts required for the sacrifices and those which are to be used for other purposes, be done three times a year- this is the subject of the Kings passage. By contrast, the shekalim from past years are earmarked entirely for repair and upkeep, and from these moneys the required amount was to be withdrawn daily. This is the meaning of the Chronicles passage.” This offering recalls the offering that was given in Exo 35 to build the Mishkan. God could have made the money “just appear” but he wanted this work funded through the gifts of the people. The project involved two activities, to rebuild and to repair. The word “restore” is “chadash” and chadash is the word used in the phrase “Brit Chadasha” meaning “New Testament/Covenant.” This tells us that the “new” covenant is part of the Torah (Deut 29.1 through 30.10) and is not a “new” covenant that replaces the Torah, or “instead of” but it is going to be restored/renewed in the hearts of the people through the circumcision of the heart (Deut 30.6; Jer 31.33). The work “flourished under their hands” (v 13) and this is a term borrowed from the medical field. This is a healing process that brings life, vigor and power to a place where there had been sickness. Once the work was completed, they brought the money that remained to Yehoyada and it was used for new items for the Temple service (Avodah). Yehoyada died at the age of 130 and he was the oldest guy since Moses. He helped restore the Davidic dynasty, stopped Athaliah and her plans and helped repair the Temple. There is an interesting phrase relating to this in v 16 where it says, “His House.” This is talking about the Temple, which is his house, but it also refers to the Davidic dynasty, the “house of David.” Of all the heroes up to this point, Yehoyada must rank near the top. It was he who made sure that Israel kept moving towards its destiny, which was to bring forth the Messiah and the Redemption, a destiny that goes all the way back to the Book of Genesis. But after the death of Yehoyada, things began to change (v 17-18). Yoash begins to listen to the officials of Judah who were inclined to idolatry in their hearts. Yoash reveals himself to be a weak man and leader. He did good under the influence of Yehoyada, and evil under the influence of the leaders of Judah. These leaders did not want to come to the Temple anymore, and began to serve the Asherim and idols, so wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem. The Lord sent prophets to them, but they would not listen (v 19). Then the Ruach Ha Kodesh (Holy Spirit) came upon Zechariah (Yehovah remembers) ben Yehoyada and he stood above the people in the Temple so they could hear him. He tells them that Yehovah has forsaken them because they have forsaken him. This is included in Chronicles and not in Kings because the returning exiles needed to remember why they were taken captive to Babylon in the first place, and that they needed to draw near to Yehovah now that they were back in the land. But the people conspired against Zechariah about some legal issue, and by the command of Yoash, they stoned him in the court of the house of Yehovah. He is the last righteous one killed in the in the Tanak, and may be the one referred to in Matt 23.35. Yoash did not remember the kindness shown to him by Yehoyada when he saved him as an infant, and murdered his son in the same place Yehoyada anointed Yoash (v 21). Jewish tradition in the Talmud, Taanit 4.5 says that Israel committed seven sins on this day. They killed a priest, a prophet, a judge, shed innocent blood, defiled the Temple, it was a Sabbath, and it was Yom Kippur. As Zechariah dies he says, “May Yehovah see and avenge” (v 22) in keeping with his principles of justice, and he does. A band of marauding soldiers came from Syria at “the turn of the year” (in Tishri) and destroyed (wiped out) the idolatrous officials of the people. They sent their spoils to Syria so that they would not look mercenary (v 23). They executed judgment on Yoash according to what Yehovah said in Lev 26.8, 17, 37. When the Syrians left, Yoash was very sick and his own servants conspired against him because of the “sons of Yehoyada” (plural). This indicates that Zechariah’s murder wasn’t the only “son” of Yehoyada killed, or this refers to the “sons” or “grandsons” who would have been born. This concept can also be seen in the murder of Abel (“the voice of your brother’s bloods is crying to me from the ground”-Gen 4.10). Yehoyada saved Yoash’s future as an infant and the Messianic line, but Yoash robbed Zechariah of his future. So, Yoash was murdered by his own servants on his bed. This was a fitting judgment because Zechariah considered himself safe in the Temple and he also did not figure that Yoash would have him killed because his father had saved him, but he was wrong and unprepared for what happened. In the same way, Yoash was killed on his bed where he was unprepared for an assassination. He was buried in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings because of his crime. Those who conspired against him are listed in 2 Chr 24.26. They are Zabad (dowry, gift) the son of Shimeah (hears or obeys) the Ammonitess, and Yehozabad (Yehovah has given) the son of Shimrith (guarded) the Moabitess. It is not surprising that Yoash’s murderers would come from Ammon and Moab. They refused to help Israel in the wilderness, and Balaam was hired by Moab to curse Israel. Ammon and Moab did not know the meaning of thankfulness and gratitude, but neither did Yoash. So, Amaziah, the son of Yoash became king (v 27).
v 1…Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem; hos mother’s name was Ziniah from Beersheba (the queen mother of “Givorah”).
v 2…And Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest (but not after).
v 3…And Jehoiada took two wives for him (when of age), and he became the father of sons and daughters.
v 4…Now it came about after this (his coronation) that Joash decided to restore (“chadash”-Heb 8.8) the house of the Lord.
v 5…And he gathered the priests and the Levites, and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah, and collect money from all Israel to repair the house of your God annually, and you shall do the matter quickly (they did not have the same passion Joash did).” But the Levites did not act quickly).
v 6…So the king summoned Jehoiada the chief priest and said to him, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and from Jerusalem the levy (tax) fixed by Moses the servant of the Lord on the congregation of Israel, for the tent of the testimony (Temple-Exo 35)?”
v 7…For the sons of the wicked Athaliah had broken into the house of God and even used the holy things of the house of the Lord for the Baals (not just normal wear and tear).
v 8…So the king commanded, and they made a chest and set it outside by the gate of the house of the Lord.
v 9…And they made a proclamation in Judah and Jerusalem to bring to the Lord the levy fixed by Moses the servant of God on Israel in the wilderness (a voluntary gift to build the Mishkan-Exo 35).
v 10…And all the officers and all the people rejoiced and brought in their levies and dropped them into the chest until they had finished (this box seems to be different than then one in 2 Kings 12.6-13 which was by Jehoiada’s orders set up on the right side of the altar; for an explanation for the two boxes, see the above introduction to Ch 24 and the book, “Divrei ha Yamim II (II Chronicles), p. 179).
v 11…And it came about whenever the chest was brought in to the king’s officer by the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, then the king’s scribe and the chief priest’s officer would come, empty the chest, take it, and return it to its place. Thus they did daily and collected much money.
v 12…And the king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of the Lord; and they hired masons and carpenters to restore (“chadash” meaning restored and used in Jer 31 for the “new covenant” which is not a covenant to replace the Torah, or “instead of” the Torah, but it is going to be restored and renewed in the hearts of the people through the circumcision of the heart-Deut 30.6; Jer 31.33) the house of the Lord, and also workers in iron and bronze to repair the house of the Lord (two activities).
v 13…So the workmen labored, and the repair work progressed (flourished) in their hands (a healing term because where there was sickness there was healing), and they restored the house of God according to its specifications (given in 1 Chr 28.11-19).
v 14…And when they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the kings and Jehoiada; and it was made into utensils for the house of the Lord, utensils for the service and the burnt offering, and pans and utensils of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the Lord continually all the days of Jehoiada (Tamid offering-Num 28.1-8).
v 15…Now when Jehoiada reached a ripe old age; he was one hundred and thirty years old at his death (he was the oldest guy since Moses; he helped restore the Davidic dynasty, stopped Athaliah and her plans and repaired the Temple).
v 16…And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done well in Israel and to God and his house (the Temple was God’s house and David’s house).
v 17…But after the death of Jehoiada the officials of Judah came (who had idolatry in their hearts) and bowed down to the king, and the king listened to them (Joash was a weak leader, he did good with Jehoiada, and did bad once he was gone).
v 18…And they abandoned the house of the Lord (said they did not need to come to the Temple in Jerusalem to worship), the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols; so wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for their guilt.
v 19…Yet he sent prophets to them to bring them back to the Lord; though they testified against them (in front of witnesses), they would not listen.
v 20…Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people (in the Temple) and said to them, “Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord and do not prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has also forsaken you.’ ”
v 21…So they conspired against him and at the command of the king they stoned him to death in the court of the house of the Lord (the nobles entrapped Zechariah on some legal issue, then persuaded the weak Joash to take action; he is the last righteous one killed in the Tanach-Matt 23.35).
v 22…Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which his father Jehoiada had shown him (in preserving him as an infant), but murdered his son. And as he died he said, “May the Lord see and avenge (and he does according to his declared principles of justice; this is included in Chronicles and not in Kings because the returning exiles needed to remember why they were taken into captivity and they needed to draw near to Yehovah and not make the same mistakes’ in the Talmud, Taanit 4.5 tells of seven sins that were committed on this day)!”
v 23…And it came about at the turn of the year (in Tishri in the fall) that the army (a band of marauding soldiers) of the Syrians came up against him, and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, destroyed all the officials of the people from among the people, and sent their spoil to the king of Damascus.
v 24…Indeed the army of the Syrians came with a small number of men, yet the Lord delivered a great army into their hands, because they had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers. Thus they executed judgment on Joash.
v 25…And when they departed from him, for they left him very sick, his own servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and murdered him on his bed (Zechariah felt safe and did not think that Joash would kill him, so Joash felt safe on his bed and was killed; Jehoiada saved Joash’s future, but Joash took Zechariah’s future, which makes Zechariah’s murder even more heinous). So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.
v 26…Now these are those who conspired against him: Zabad the son of Shimeah the Ammonitess , and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess (not surprising that his assassins would come from Ammon and Moab; they refused to help Israel in the wilderness and did not know the meaning of gratitude, and neither did Joash.
v 27…As to his sons and the many oracles against him and the rebuilding of the house of God, behold, they are written in the treatise of the Book of the Kings (not the Scripture, but a scribal record about the kings of Judah that is unknown today). Then Amaziah his son became king in his place
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