Joash was only seven years old when he became the king of Judah. As a little Prince he had never been allowed to run about and play wherever he wished. He had been watched very carefully, lest his own grandmother, the wicked Queen Athaliah, should hear about him and try to kill him.
Joash’s father, who had been the king of Judah, was dead. And all of his brothers and sisters were dead, too. After his father had been killed, by an enemy, in the land of Israel, his grandmother had killed his brothers and sisters so that there should be no one left except herself to sit upon the throne. She had not known about the baby Prince, Joash, whose aunt had hidden him away in a safe place, with his faithful nurse.
For six years Athaliah ruled the people as Queen. But many of the people were displeased to have her rule over them. They knew the throne of David belonged to David’s descendants, and not to strangers, like this cruel woman. For Athaliah was the daughter of a heathen, and she was a heathen, too. She never went to worship in the beautiful temple of the Lord, which stood so near her palace, but she worshiped in an idol’s temple. She even caused her sons to break do win some of the beautiful parts of the temple and use those parts to decorate the temple of her heathen god.
While Athaliah was busy ruling the people, the high priest Jehoiada, was busy planning a way to crown Joash king of Judah. Now Jehoiada was an uncle of the little Prince, and it was Jehoiada’s wife who had rescued the Prince when he was a baby. These kind people loved the Lord, and they had taken care of little Joash and his faithful nurse during the years while the Queen was ruling in Judah.
When Joash had grown from babyhood into a bright-faced little lad, his uncle called for men from different parts of Judah to come to the temple at Jerusalem. He gave them swords and spears, and told them to stand as guards about the temple court. Then when a great crowd of people gathered in the outer court, the high priest brought out the little Prince and placed him beside a pillar where the people could see him. How glad they Were to know that one of David’s descendants had been saved from the cruel hand of the Queen! They watched while the high priest and his, sons anointed little Joash with oil and placed the crown upon his head. Then they shouted with a glad cry, “God save the King!”
Queen’ Athaliah did not know what was taking place at the temple of the Lord. But when she saw the people gathering in the temple court and when she heard them rejoicing, she feared that trouble was coming upon her. So she ran into the temple, right through the crowd of people, and there she saw the little King standing by the pillar, with a crown upon his head. The high priest saw her, and he commanded the men with swords and spears to catch her and carry her away. And they took her out to a gate of the city and killed her there. Her friends, the idol-worshipers, be-came afraid, and they did not oppose the high priest and the new King. Until Joash grew to manhood, his uncle, the high priest, ruled the people. But he kept Joash and taught him how to rule the people aright. And as long as he lived, he helped Joash to be a good King.
When Joash became a man he wished to repair the temple of the Lord. Many years had passed since Solomon had built the temple, and it had grown old. Then, too, Athaliah had caused her sons to tear down some of its beautiful parts and use those parts to decorate the temple of her god, Baal. Now Joash wanted to replace those damaged parts and make the temple look as good as when it was new. At first he told the priests and the Levites to go through the land and ask the people for money to use in repairing the Lord’s house. But the money came so slowly that way, and finally he decided to place a large box, or chest, at the door of the temple where every one who came there to worship might see it. In the lid of this box was a hole, and he wanted the people to drop their money-gifts through the hole into the box.
Joash’s plan worked well, for the people were glad to help make the temple look as good as new. They brought much money, and soon the workmen were busy repairing every worn-out place in the great building. They even made new ornaments of gold and silver to beautify the Lord’s house.
Jehoiada, the high priest, lived to be a very old man. And as long as he lived Joash ruled wisely. But after he died the people who loved to worship idols grew friendly with Joash and persuaded him to do wrong deeds. Finally they caused him to forget God. And in his last days Joash did many things that displeased the Lord. He even commanded wicked men to throw stones at one of Jehoiada’s sons, who was a prophet of the Lord. After this prophet was killed God permitted the Syrians to come down to Judah and rob that country and kill many of the idol-worshipers who had led Joash into sin. Then Joash became sick with great diseases, and while he lay suffering upon his bed some of his servants came into the room and killed him.