2 chronicles 24:22 - 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.”
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What does "2 chronicles 24:22" mean?
This verse from 2 Chronicles 24:22 describes a profound act of ingratitude and foreshadows divine retribution. Let's break it down:
"Thus Joash the king didn’t remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him...": This is the core of the problem. Jehoiada the priest had saved Joash's life as an infant, hiding him from Athaliah's murderous plot to usurp the throne (2 Chronicles 22). Jehoiada acted as a surrogate father, raised Joash, and mentored him. Under Jehoiada's guidance, Joash ruled righteously. After Jehoiada died, Joash abandoned the right path.
"...but killed his son.": Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, likely rebuked Joash for turning away from God and leading the people into idolatry. The Chronicles account portrays Zechariah as delivering a prophetic warning directly from God. Joash, instead of repenting, had Zechariah stoned to death in the courtyard of the Temple.
"When he died, he said, 'May Yahweh look at it, and repay it.'": As Zechariah was dying, he made a final, prophetic statement. He wasn't simply cursing Joash out of personal anger. He was calling upon God, Yahweh, to witness the injustice and to bring just retribution for the shedding of innocent blood and the betrayal of covenant. The phrase "look at it" implies Zechariah wants God to take note and not ignore the wrong. "Repay it" signifies a request for divine justice – that Joash would be held accountable for his actions.
Meaning and Significance:
Ingratitude and Betrayal: The verse highlights the extreme wickedness of Joash's actions. He not only forgot the kindness of Jehoiada but actively murdered Jehoiada's son, who was acting as God's messenger. This represents a complete rejection of God's law and a descent into moral depravity.
Divine Justice: Zechariah's dying words are a prophetic pronouncement. He is essentially prophesying that God will judge Joash for his sin. This foreshadows the events that follow shortly after in the narrative where Aram's army inflicts defeat on Judah, Joash is seriously wounded, and eventually assassinated by his own officials. The Chronicler presents these events as a direct consequence of Joash's wickedness and Zechariah's prophecy being fulfilled.
Importance of Remembrance and Gratitude: The passage emphasizes the importance of remembering and appreciating those who have shown us kindness. Forgetting and betraying those who have helped us is a serious offense, especially when it leads to violence and injustice.
Moral Consequences of Leadership: The verse demonstrates the far-reaching consequences of a leader's choices. Joash's apostasy not only led to the death of an innocent man but also brought divine judgment upon himself and his kingdom.
In essence, 2 Chronicles 24:22 serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of ingratitude, the importance of heeding prophetic warnings, and the inevitability of divine justice.
2 chronicles 24:22 - 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.”
What does "2 chronicles 24:22" mean?
This verse from 2 Chronicles 24:22 describes a profound act of ingratitude and foreshadows divine retribution. Let's break it down:
"Thus Joash the king didn’t remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him...": This is the core of the problem. Jehoiada the priest had saved Joash's life as an infant, hiding him from Athaliah's murderous plot to usurp the throne (2 Chronicles 22). Jehoiada acted as a surrogate father, raised Joash, and mentored him. Under Jehoiada's guidance, Joash ruled righteously. After Jehoiada died, Joash abandoned the right path.
"...but killed his son.": Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, likely rebuked Joash for turning away from God and leading the people into idolatry. The Chronicles account portrays Zechariah as delivering a prophetic warning directly from God. Joash, instead of repenting, had Zechariah stoned to death in the courtyard of the Temple.
"When he died, he said, 'May Yahweh look at it, and repay it.'": As Zechariah was dying, he made a final, prophetic statement. He wasn't simply cursing Joash out of personal anger. He was calling upon God, Yahweh, to witness the injustice and to bring just retribution for the shedding of innocent blood and the betrayal of covenant. The phrase "look at it" implies Zechariah wants God to take note and not ignore the wrong. "Repay it" signifies a request for divine justice – that Joash would be held accountable for his actions.
Meaning and Significance:
Ingratitude and Betrayal: The verse highlights the extreme wickedness of Joash's actions. He not only forgot the kindness of Jehoiada but actively murdered Jehoiada's son, who was acting as God's messenger. This represents a complete rejection of God's law and a descent into moral depravity.
Divine Justice: Zechariah's dying words are a prophetic pronouncement. He is essentially prophesying that God will judge Joash for his sin. This foreshadows the events that follow shortly after in the narrative where Aram's army inflicts defeat on Judah, Joash is seriously wounded, and eventually assassinated by his own officials. The Chronicler presents these events as a direct consequence of Joash's wickedness and Zechariah's prophecy being fulfilled.
Importance of Remembrance and Gratitude: The passage emphasizes the importance of remembering and appreciating those who have shown us kindness. Forgetting and betraying those who have helped us is a serious offense, especially when it leads to violence and injustice.
Moral Consequences of Leadership: The verse demonstrates the far-reaching consequences of a leader's choices. Joash's apostasy not only led to the death of an innocent man but also brought divine judgment upon himself and his kingdom.
In essence, 2 Chronicles 24:22 serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of ingratitude, the importance of heeding prophetic warnings, and the inevitability of divine justice.