15 Now when Jehoiada reached a ripe e old age he died ; he was one hundred and thirty years old at his death . 16 They buried him in the city of David among the kings , because he had done well in Israel and to God and His house . 17 But after the death of Jehoiada the officials of Judah came and bowed down to the king , and the king listened to them. 18 They abandoned the house of the Lord , the God of their fathers , and served the Asherim and the idols ; so wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their guilt . 19 Yet He sent prophets to them to bring them back to the Lord ; though they testified against them, they would not listen . 20 Then the Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest ; and he stood above e the people and said to them, "Thus God has said , ' Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord and do not prosper ? Because you have forsaken the Lord , He has also forsaken you.' " 21 So they conspired against him and at the command of the king they stoned him to death in the court of the house of the Lord . 22 Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which his father Jehoiada had shown him, but he murdered his son . And as he died he said , "May the Lord see and avenge !" 23 Now it happened at the turn of the year that the army of the Arameans came up against him; and they came to Judah and Jerusalem , destroyed all the officials of the people from among the people , and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus . 24 Indeed the army of the Arameans came with a small number of men ; yet the Lord delivered a very great army into their hands , because they had forsaken the Lord , the God of their fathers . Thus they executed judgment on Joash . 25 When they had departed from him (for they left him very sick ), his own servants conspired against him because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest , and murdered 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 . 26 Now these are those who conspired against him: Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess , and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess . 27 As to his sons and the many oracles against him and the rebuilding of the house of God , behold , they are written in the treatise of the Book of the Kings . Then Amaziah his son became king in his place .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 2 Chronicles 24:15-27
Commentary on 2 Chronicles 24:15-27
(Read 2 Chronicles 24:15-27)
See what a great judgment on any prince or people, the death of godly, zealous, useful men is. See how necessary it is that we act in religion from inward principle. Then the loss of a parent, a minister, or a friend, will not be losing our religion. Often both princes and inferior people have been flattered to their ruin. True grace alone will enable a man to bring forth fruit unto the end. Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, being filled with the Spirit of prophecy, stood up, and told the people of their sin. This is the work of ministers, by the word of God, as a lamp and a light, to discover the sin of men, and expound the providences of God. They stoned Zechariah to death in the court of the house of the Lord. Observe the dying martyr's words: The Lord look upon it, and require it! This came not from a spirit of revenge, but a spirit of prophecy. God smote Joash with great diseases, of body, or mind, or both, before the Syrians departed from him. If vengeance pursue men, the end of one trouble will be but the beginning of another. His own servants slew him. These judgments are called the burdens laid upon him, for the wrath of God is a heavy burden, too heavy for any man to bear. May God help us to take warning, to be upright in heart, and to persevere in his ways to the end.