2 Chronicles 24:25
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Even in death, King Joash faces a stark, public consequence for his betrayal of God's people, being denied the royal burial reserved for those who honored the covenant. This deliberate exclusion from the kings' tombs underscores the gravity of his sin and serves as a lasting, visible mark of his disfavor in the eyes of the community and, by extension, God.
When they had departed from him, leaving him severely wounded, his servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.
English Standard Version (ESV)
King Joash, once a righteous leader, tragically turned away from God after the death of the faithful priest Jehoiada. He even had Jehoiada's son killed for confronting him about his sin. This act of rebellion and bloodshed led to his own downfall; his own servants turned on him and assassinated him, denying him royal burial.
King Joash had a dramatic fall from grace. He started well, but his later actions brought a terrible end. What does his fate teach us about consequences?
Joash's story is a stark reminder that even a king isn't above divine justice. He began his reign by doing what was right in God's eyes, even restoring the temple. However, he turned away, embracing idolatry and even ordering the death of Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, who rebuked him.
His end wasn't a sudden accident; it was a direct result of his rebellion against God and his shedding of innocent blood. The people he ruled, and even his own servants, turned against him. This wasn't just a political assassination; it was a divinely-ordained consequence for his wickedness.
Joash's reign ended in betrayal and violence. But even in death, his disgrace was sealed. What does his burial site reveal about his legacy?
The final detail about Joash's burial is profound: 'they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.' This wasn't a minor oversight; it was a public declaration of his failure and his rejection by his own people and, by extension, by God.
Normally, kings were laid to rest with their ancestors in royal tombs, a testament to their lineage and their rightful place on the throne. Joash, however, was denied this honor because of his wicked deeds. His legacy was not one of righteous rule, but of betrayal and divine judgment. His burial outside the royal crypt signified that his reign had severed him from the honor and continuity expected of a true king of Israel.
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kohen · Hebrew Noun
A mediator between God and man, responsible for offering sacrifices and representing the people before God in the sanctuary.
This event highlights the brutal consequences of turning away from God and shedding innocent blood, demonstrating that even a king, once protected by the righteous, faces judgment when he abandons God's ways.
c. 835 BC
Joash Anointed King
Joash was hidden as an infant during Athaliah's usurpation and later revealed and anointed king by Jehoiada the priest.
c. 830 BC
Temple Restoration Begins
Under the guidance of Jehoiada, King Joash initiated a significant restoration of the Jerusalem Temple, which had fallen into disrepair.
c. 796 BC
Jehoiada the Priest Dies
Jehoiada, who had served as regent and spiritual mentor, died at a venerable age. His influence had been crucial in guiding Joash and the nation.
c. 796 BC
Joash Turns to Idolatry
After Jehoiada's death, the princes of Judah persuaded King Joash to abandon the worship of the Lord and pursue idolatry and the worship of Asherah poles.
c. 796 BC— this verse
Zechariah's Prophecy and Death
Zechariah, son of Jehoiada, bravely rebuked the king and the people for their apostasy, prophesying judgment. Joash, in a shocking act of ingratitude, ordered him stoned to death in the temple courtyard.
c. 796 BC
Divine Judgment Arrives
Shortly after Zechariah's murder, the armies of Syria invaded Judah, defeating Joash and his forces and severely plundering Jerusalem.
This passage describes the beginning of Joash's reign, setting the stage for the events that would later unfold, including his turning away from God and the tragic end described in 2 Chronicles 24:25.
2 Chronicles 24:15-16These verses highlight the respect and honor given to Jehoiada the priest during his lifetime, contrasting sharply with the dishonorable death and burial his son Zechariah experienced later.
Proverbs 1:30-32This proverb speaks to the consequences of rejecting wise counsel and God's warnings, mirroring the fate of Joash who suffered because he ignored Zechariah's final plea and God's judgment.
Jeremiah 22:18-19The prophecy here foretells a similar fate for King Jehoiakim, who would be mourned like an ox and have no proper burial, reflecting the ignominious end Joash met due to his sins.
Even in death, King Joash faces a stark, public consequence for his betrayal of God's people, being denied the royal burial reserved for those who honored the covenant. This deliberate exclusion from the kings' tombs underscores the gravity of his sin and serves as a lasting, visible mark of his disfavor in the eyes of the community and, by extension, God.
King Joash, once a righteous leader, tragically turned away from God after the death of the faithful priest Jehoiada. He even had Jehoiada's son killed for confronting him about his sin. This act of rebellion and bloodshed led to his own downfall; his own servants turned on him and assassinated him, denying him royal burial.
King Joash, once a righteous leader, tragically turned away from God after the death of the faithful priest Jehoiada. He even had Jehoiada's son killed for confronting him about his sin. This act of rebellion and bloodshed led to his own downfall; his own servants turned on him and assassinated him, denying him royal burial.
"When they had departed from him, leaving him severely wounded, his servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died, and they buried him in the city of David, but…" — Even in death, King Joash faces a stark, public consequence for his betrayal of God's people, being denied the royal burial reserved for those who honored the covenant. This deliberate exclusion from…
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Last reviewed October 2026
