INTRODUCTION:  Joash (Jehoash) became king at the age of seven and reigned for forty years. He did well most of his reign until Jehoiada the priest died. At this time, he followed the princes of Judah to his destruction. Joash is one of many kings in the history of Judah who began well but turned from the Lord late in his reign. He even went to the point of murdering the son of the one who had saved his life and put him on the throne. We must all strive to continue faithful to the Lord to the end of our days.

1. THE BEGINNING OF THE REIGN OF JOASH (2 Kings 12:1-3; 2 Chronicles 24:1-3)
1. The Details of His Reign (2 Kings 12:1)
1. Beginning in the seventh year of Jehu king of Israel
2. Reigned for forty years in Jerusalem
3. His mother was Zibiah of Beersheba.
2. The Character of His Early Reign (2 Kings 12:2)
1. He did right in the sight of the Lord.
2. He accepted the instruction of Jehoiada the priest (see 2 Kings 11:17; 2 Chronicles 24:15-16).
3. The Failure of His Early Reign (2 Kings 12:3)
1. The high places were not removed (cp. 2 Kings 14:4; 2 Kings 15:4).
2. The people continued to sacrifice and burn incense in the high places.
2. THE UNSUCCESSFUL REPAIR OF THE TEMPLE (2 Kings 12:4-8; 2 Chronicles 24:4-7)
1. The Plan to Receive an Offering (2 Kings 12:4; 2 Chronicles 24:4-5)
1. All the money of the dedicated things (2 Kings 12:4)
2. All the money that comes into a man’s heart to bring (2 Kings 12:4)
3. All the money gathered by the Levites (2 Chronicles 24:5)
2. The Plan to Use the Offering (2 Kings 12:5)
1. To be taken by the priests
2. To be used to repair the house of the Lord
3. The Failure of the Plan (2 Kings 12:6-8; 2 Chronicles 24:5)
1. The failure of the Levites to gather the offering (2 Chronicles 24:5) – “the Levites hastened it not.”
2. The failure of the priests to make the repairs (2 Kings 12:6) – in the 23rd year of Joash
3. The removal of responsibility from the priests and Levites (2 Kings 12:7-8)
3. THE SUCCESSFUL REPAIR OF THE TEMPLE (2 Kings 12:9-16; 2 Chronicles 24:8-14)
1. The Gathering of the Offering for the Temple (2 Kings 12:9-10)
1. The chest for the offering (2 Kings 12:9)
1. Acquired by Jehoiada
2. Bored a hole in the lid
3. Set at the entry into the house of the Lord
4. Received all the money for the repair of the house
2. The success of the offering (2 Kings 12:10)
1. Much money in the chest
2. The money checked by the king’s scribe and the high priest
3. The money put up in bags for the repairs
2. The Use of the Money for the Needed Repairs (2 Kings 12:11-16)
1. They gave the money to the workers (2 Kings 12:11-12).
2. They did not make vessels for the temple at this time (2 Kings 12:13).
3. The workmen dealt faithfully with the money (2 Kings 12:14-15).
4. The trespass money and sin money went to the priests (2 Kings 12:16).
4. THE DOWNWARD PATH OF JOASH’S REIGN (2 Kings 12:17-18; 2 Chronicles 24:15-24)
1. Joash hearkened to the Princes of Judah (2 Chronicles 24:15-17).
1. After the death of Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 24:15-16)
2. When the princes made obeisance to him (2 Chronicles 24:17)
3. Note: some men stay on track for God only when they have strong leadership. Aaron was such a man and so was Joash.
2. Joash Allowed Perversion of the True Worship (2 Chronicles 24:18-19).
1. They left the house of the Lord (2 Chronicles 24:18).
2. They served groves and idols (2 Chronicles 24:18).
3. They brought God’s wrath upon them (2 Chronicles 24:18).
4. They rejected the prophets of the Lord (2 Chronicles 24:19).
3. Joash Killed Zechariah the Son of Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 24:20-22).
1. Zechariah preached against their wickedness (2 Chronicles 24:20).
1. In transgressing the commandments of God
2. In forsaking the Lord
2. They conspired against Zechariah (2 Chronicles 24:21).
1. They stoned him to death.
2. They did it at the command of Joash.
3. Joash remembered not the kindness of Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 24:22).
4. Joash Had to Face the Army of Syria (2 Kings 12:17-18; 2 Chronicles 24:23-25).
1. Hazael king of Syria took Gath (2 Kings 12:17).
2. Hazael set his face toward Jerusalem (2 Kings 12:17).
3. Joash bought him off with treasures from the house of the Lord (2 Kings 12:18; 2 Chronicles 24:23).
4. The army of Syria still had a great victory (2 Chronicles 24:24-25).
1. With a small company of men
2. Defeating a great host of Judah
3. Because Judah had forsaken the Lord
4. They executed judgment against Joash.
5. They left Joash “in great diseases” (2 Chronicles 24:25).
5. THE END OF THE REIGN OF JOASH (2 Kings 12:19-21; 2 Chronicles 24:25-27)
1. The Rest of the Acts of Joash (2 Kings 12:19)
2. The Death of Joash (2 Kings 12:20; 2 Chronicles 24:25)
1. Because of a conspiracy against him (2 Kings 12:20)
2. Because of the blood of the sons of Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 24:25)
3. They slew him on his bed (2 Chronicles 24:25) in Millo (2 Kings 12:20).
3. The Conspirators against Joash (2 Kings 12:21; 2 Chronicles 24:26)
1. Zabad the son of an Ammonitess
2. Jehozabad the son of a Moabitess
4. The Reign of the Son of Joash – Amaziah  (2 Kings 12:21; 2 Chronicles 24:27)