1 J oash was seven years old when he began his forty-year reign in Jerusalem. His mother was Zibiah of Beersheba.

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.

2 A nd Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

Joash did that which was right in Yahweh’s eyes all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

3 A nd Jehoiada took for him two wives, and he had sons and daughters.

Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he became the father of sons and daughters.

4 A fter this, Joash decided to repair the Lord’s house.

After this, Joash intended to restore Yahweh’s house.

5 H e gathered the priests and the Levites and said to them, Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather from all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year; and see that you hasten the matter. But the Levites did not hasten it.

He gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather money to repair the house of your God from all Israel from year to year. See that you expedite this matter.” However the Levites didn’t do it right away.

6 S o the king called for Jehoiada the high priest and said to him, Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the tax authorized by Moses the servant of the Lord and of the assembly of Israel for the Tent of the Testimony?

The king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said to him, “Why haven’t you required of the Levites to bring in the tax of Moses the servant of Yahweh, and of the assembly of Israel, out of Judah and out of Jerusalem, for the tent of the testimony?”

7 F or the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house of God and also had used for the Baals all the dedicated things of the house of the Lord.

For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up God’s house; and they also gave all the dedicated things of Yahweh’s house to the Baals.

8 A nd at the king’s command they made a chest and set it outside the gate of the house of the Lord.

So the king commanded, and they made a chest, and set it outside at the gate of Yahweh’s house.

9 A nd they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem to bring in for the Lord the tax that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness.

They made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in for Yahweh the tax that Moses the servant of God laid on Israel in the wilderness.

10 A nd all the princes and people rejoiced and brought their tax and dropped it into the chest until they had finished.

All the princes and all the people rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end.

11 W hen the Levites brought the chest to the king’s office, and whenever they saw that there was much money, the king’s secretary and the high priest’s officer came and emptied the chest and carried it to its place again. Thus they did day by day and collected money in abundance.

It 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.

12 A nd the king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the temple service; and they hired masons and carpenters and also those who worked in iron and bronze to repair the house of the Lord.

The king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the service of Yahweh’s house; and they hired masons and carpenters to restore Yahweh’s house, and also such as worked iron and brass to repair Yahweh’s house.

13 S o the workmen labored, and the work of repairing went forward in their hands; and they set up the house of God according to its design and strengthened it.

So the workmen worked, and the work of repairing went forward in their hands, and they set up God’s house in its state, and strengthened it.

14 W hen they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada; from it were made utensils for the Lord’s house, vessels for ministering and for offerings, and cups and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the Lord continually all the days of Jehoiada.

When they had made an end, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, of which were made vessels for Yahweh’s house, even vessels with which to minister and to offer, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. They offered burnt offerings in Yahweh’s house continually all the days of Jehoiada.

15 B ut Jehoiada became old and full of age, and he died. He was 130 years old at his death.

But Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died; one hundred thirty years old was he when he died.

16 T hey buried him in the City of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel and toward God and His house.

They buried him in David’s city among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and toward God and his house.

17 N ow after the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came and made obeisance to King Joash; then the king hearkened to them.

Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king listened to them.

18 T hey forsook the house of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for their sin (guilt).

They abandoned the house of Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherah poles and the idols; and wrath came on Judah and Jerusalem for this their guiltiness.

19 Y et sent prophets to them to bring them again to the Lord; these testified against them, but they would not listen.

Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again to Yahweh; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear.

20 T hen the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood over the people, and he said to them, Thus says God: Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, He also has forsaken you.

The Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God, ‘Why do you disobey Yahweh’s commandments, so that you can’t prosper? Because you have forsaken Yahweh, he has also forsaken you.’”

21 T hey conspired against Zechariah the priest and stoned him at the command of the king in the court of the Lord’s house!

They conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of Yahweh’s house.

22 T hus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada, Zechariah’s father, had done him, but slew his son. And when was dying, he said, May the Lord see and avenge!

Thus Joash the king didn’t remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son. When he died, he said, “May Yahweh look at it, and repay it.”

23 A t the end of the year, the army of Syria came up against Joash. They came to Judah and Jerusalem and destroyed all the princes from among the people and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus.

At the end of the year, 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 their plunder to the king of Damascus.

24 T hough the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, the Lord delivered a very great host into their hands, because Joash and Judah had forsaken the Lord, the God of their fathers. So the Syrians executed judgment against Joash.

For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men; and Yahweh delivered a very great army into their hand, because they had forsaken Yahweh, the God of their fathers. So they executed judgment on Joash.

25 A nd when they had departed from Joash, leaving him very ill, his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and they slew him on his bed. So he died and they buried him in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.

When 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 David’s city, but they didn’t bury him in the tombs of the kings.

26 T he conspirators against Joash were Zabad son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad son of Shimrith the Moabitess.

These are those who conspired against him: Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess.

27 N ow concerning his sons and the greatness of the prophecies uttered against him and the rebuilding of the house of God, they are written in the commentary on the Book of Kings. And Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.

Now concerning his sons, and the greatness of the burdens laid on him, and the rebuilding of God’s house, behold, they are written in the commentary of the book of the kings. Amaziah his son reigned in his place.