Jehoiada
“Jehovah knows, or Jehovah has known”
Summary
The high priest who saved the young prince Joash from Athaliah's massacre, orchestrated the overthrow of the usurping queen, and guided Judah during the king's minority.
☩Preservation of the Royal Line
Jehoiada was the high priest during the reign of the wicked Queen Athaliah, who had seized the throne of Judah after killing all the royal offspring she could find. His wife Jehosheba (daughter of King Jehoram and sister of King Ahaziah) secretly rescued the infant prince Joash and hid him in the Temple chambers for six years while Athaliah reigned (2 Kings 11:1-3; 2 Chronicles 22:10-12).
☩The Counter-Revolution
When Joash was seven years old, Jehoiada organized a coup against Athaliah. He summoned the captains of the guard and the Levites, made a covenant with them, and showed them the king's son (2 Kings 11:4-8; 2 Chronicles 23:1-11). On the appointed day, young Joash was crowned and anointed in the Temple court amid shouts of 'Long live the king!' Athaliah rushed to the scene but was led out and executed (2 Kings 11:12-16). Jehoiada then renewed the covenant between the LORD, the king, and the people, and led them to destroy the house of Baal (2 Kings 11:17-18).
☩Influence on Joash
Jehoiada exercised a salutary influence over King Joash during his lifetime. Under his guidance, Joash 'did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest' (2 Kings 12:2; 2 Chronicles 24:2). Jehoiada directed the repairs of the Temple and established the system of collecting funds for its restoration (2 Kings 12:4-16; 2 Chronicles 24:4-14). He died at the extraordinary age of 130 years and was buried with the kings in the city of David because of the good he had done for Israel and for God's house (2 Chronicles 24:15-16). Tragically, after his death, Joash turned to idolatry and even had Jehoiada's son Zechariah stoned to death for prophesying against him (2 Chronicles 24:17-22).
Related Verses51 mentions
References
- 1.James Orr (ed.), "Jehoiada," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 2.John McClintock and James Strong, "Jehoiada," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. IV (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).