2 Chronicles 24 2

2 Chronicles 24:2 kjv

And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

2 Chronicles 24:2 nkjv

Joash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

2 Chronicles 24:2 niv

Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the years of Jehoiada the priest.

2 Chronicles 24:2 esv

And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

2 Chronicles 24:2 nlt

Joash did what was pleasing in the LORD's sight throughout the lifetime of Jehoiada the priest.

2 Chronicles 24 verses

2 Chronicles 24 2 Meaning

2 Chronicles 24:2 states that King Joash, during the initial part of his reign, acted righteously in the sight of God. This obedience and alignment with divine will were consistently maintained as long as Jehoiada, the high priest and his protector, was alive and actively guiding him. The verse thus sets a crucial boundary on Joash's spiritual faithfulness, implying a future shift once that influence was removed.

2 Chronicles 24 2 Context

2 Chronicles 24 records the reign of King Joash of Judah. He became king at the tender age of seven, rescued from the massacre orchestrated by his grandmother, Athaliah, by the dedicated efforts of Jehoiada the priest and his wife Jehosheba. This verse serves as the immediate precursor to Joash's notable accomplishments, specifically the repair and restoration of the neglected Temple. It also sets the stage for a dramatic shift in his character and rule following the death of his mentor, Jehoiada, highlighted later in the chapter, demonstrating that Joash's early piety was more influenced than internally rooted. The historical context reflects a critical period for the Davidic line, with Athaliah's apostate rule having threatened its continuity and introduced pagan worship. Jehoiada's re-establishment of the covenant and pure worship under Joash was a vital renewal, yet its dependency on Jehoiada proved to be a tragic flaw.

2 Chronicles 24 2 Word analysis

• Joash (יְהוֹאָשׁ, Yeho’ash): This name means "Yahweh has given" or "Yahweh is strong." He was the youngest king in Judah's history, crowned at age seven (2 Chr 24:1). His very existence and ascent to the throne were a miracle of divine preservation, ensuring the Davidic line continued.
• did (עָשָׂה, `asah): A common Hebrew verb meaning "to do," "make," "perform." Here, it indicates active execution of righteous behavior.
• what was right (הַיָּשָׁר, hayyashar): Lit. "the straight" or "the upright." This phrase is a common biblical idiom (e.g., Deut 12:8, 2 Kgs 10:15) indicating actions conforming to God's will and Torah commandments. It refers to a life lived in accordance with divine standards of justice, morality, and religious practice, particularly avoiding idolatry and maintaining the Temple.
• in the eyes (בְּעֵינֵי, be`einei): Signifies that the assessment is from God's perspective, not merely human opinion. God is the ultimate judge and observer of human actions and motives. This implies divine approval and accountability.
• of the LORD (יְהוָה, YHWH): The covenant name of God, revealing Him as the sovereign, immutable, and personal God of Israel. Actions judged by YHWH carry ultimate spiritual weight and consequence.
• all the days (כָּל־יְמֵי, kol-yemei): A temporal qualifier, indicating the entire duration of a specific period. Crucially, this phrase introduces a distinct period for Joash's righteousness, defined by Jehoiada's life, creating a stark contrast to his later actions. This highlights the conditional nature of his obedience.
• of Jehoiada the priest (יְהוֹיָדָע הַכֹּהֵן, Yehoiada` hakkohen): Jehoiada, whose name means "Yahweh knows," was a highly influential high priest who risked his life to preserve Joash and restore the legitimate Davidic kingship. He was Joash's mentor, spiritual guide, and regent figure. His presence was pivotal to Joash's moral and religious stability. This phrase serves as the pivotal condition, demonstrating Joash's dependence on Jehoiada’s moral compass rather than internal spiritual conviction. His reliance on this human figure points to the tragic limitations of a "borrowed" or externally sustained faith, a subtle polemic against kings whose piety was not genuinely their own. This sets a narrative pattern found elsewhere in Chronicles and Kings, where a king's spiritual standing is influenced by those around them, sometimes positively, but also detrimentally when the influence departs or becomes corrupt.

2 Chronicles 24 2 Bonus section

• The life of Joash underscores the significant role of godly mentorship in guiding an individual, especially in leadership, but also the critical need for personal ownership of faith. While Jehoiada provided excellent guidance and instruction, Joash failed to cultivate a personal relationship with the Lord that could withstand the pressures and influences that emerged after his mentor's death.
• This verse indirectly points to the theological truth that true spiritual obedience must eventually transcend dependence on any human intermediary and become a direct, personal walk with God. While teachers and mentors are valuable (Eph 4:11-12), they cannot substitute for an individual's own accountability and commitment to God.
• The brevity and conditional nature of Joash's righteousness ("all the days of Jehoiada") contrast sharply with descriptions of genuinely devoted kings like David, whose heart was "wholly true to the LORD his God" (1 Kgs 11:4).
• The narrative serves as a warning against outward conformity without inward transformation, emphasizing that divine evaluation (judging "in the eyes of the LORD") penetrates beyond superficial actions to the underlying heart.

2 Chronicles 24 2 Commentary

2 Chronicles 24:2 serves as a pivotal summary and a foreshadowing for the reign of King Joash. It presents his early rule as one marked by fidelity to God's commands, "doing what was right in the eyes of the LORD." This period of obedience was directly and consistently linked to the lifetime and active guidance of Jehoiada the high priest. Jehoiada, having saved Joash and placed him on the throne, remained his spiritual and political mentor. The phrase "all the days of Jehoiada the priest" functions as a critical delimiter, revealing that Joash's righteousness was not intrinsically rooted in a deeply personal and independent walk with God, but rather sustained by external influence and a structured environment. This verse subtly hints at the tragic apostasy that would follow Jehoiada's death (2 Chr 24:17-18), illustrating the vulnerability of faith that lacks deep internal conviction. It highlights that genuine and enduring righteousness stems from a transformed heart, not merely from following external directions or being under good influence. It's a profound cautionary tale about the difference between borrowed piety and truly abiding faith.