2 Chronicles 24:4 kjv
And it came to pass after this, that Joash was minded to repair the house of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 24:4 nkjv
Now it happened after this that Joash set his heart on repairing the house of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 24:4 niv
Some time later Joash decided to restore the temple of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 24:4 esv
After this Joash decided to restore the house of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 24:4 nlt
At one point Joash decided to repair and restore the Temple of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 24 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Chr 23:16 | Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, the king, and all the people, that they would be the Lord’s people. | Jehoiada's covenant setting stage for reform |
| 2 Chr 24:1 | Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem... | Joash's youth and Jehoiada's early influence |
| 2 Chr 24:2 | Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest. | Joash's piety contingent on Jehoiada's guidance |
| 2 Chr 24:5 | He gathered the priests and Levites and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah and gather money from all Israel to repair the house of your God year by year..." | Joash actively pursuing the repair |
| 2 Chr 24:7 | For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house of God; and they had also used all the dedicated things of the house of the Lord for the Baals. | Context of the Temple's ruin and desecration |
| 2 Chr 24:12 | The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of the Lord... | Joint leadership in Temple repair |
| 2 Chr 24:13 | So the workmen labored, and the work of repair went on under their direction and they restored the house of God to its former state and strengthened it. | Success of the repair project |
| 2 Kgs 12:4 | Then Joash said to the priests, “All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the Lord, each man’s census money... | Parallel account of Joash's repair initiative |
| 1 Chr 29:3 | Moreover, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, I have given to the house of my God... | David's heart for building God's house |
| Psa 26:8 | Lord, I love the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells. | Affection for God's dwelling place |
| Psa 84:1-2 | How lovely are Your tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord... | Desire for God's presence in His house |
| Exo 25:8 | And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. | Command to build a sanctuary for God |
| Isa 56:7 | Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer. | God's house as a place of prayer for all |
| Hag 1:4 | “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” | Rebuke for neglecting God's house |
| Neh 2:17 | Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.” | Restoration spirit (Nehemiah's resolve) |
| 2 Chr 29:3 | In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them. | Hezekiah's Temple repair |
| 2 Chr 34:8 | Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the temple, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah... to repair the house of the Lord his God. | Josiah's Temple repair |
| Ezr 6:15 | This temple was completed on the third day of the month of Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. | Temple rebuilding after exile |
| Phil 2:13 | For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. | God instilling good desires (potential source) |
| Prov 16:3 | Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established. | The importance of resolving and acting for God |
| 2 Chr 24:17 | Now after the death of Jehoiada, the leaders of Judah came and bowed down to the king; and the king listened to them. | Joash's later decline after Jehoiada's death |
| Matt 23:38 | See! Your house is left to you desolate. | Warning of the Temple's desolation |
2 Chronicles 24 verses
2 Chronicles 24 4 Meaning
2 Chronicles 24:4 states that King Joash developed a deep intention or resolve to restore and repair the Temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. This verse signifies the young king's initial piety and his desire to address the state of disrepair and neglect into which the sanctuary had fallen, particularly during the preceding idolatrous reign of Athaliah. It highlights a proactive commitment to revive proper worship and honor God's dwelling place.
2 Chronicles 24 4 Context
King Joash began his reign at the tender age of seven, having been saved from Athaliah's purge of the royal seed and secretly raised by Jehoiada the high priest. His accession to the throne, facilitated by Jehoiada, marked the end of Athaliah's six-year tyrannical and idolatrous rule. During Athaliah's reign, the Temple had been not only neglected but actively defiled and plundered by her sons to support Baal worship (2 Chr 24:7). Joash, under the formative and unwavering guidance of Jehoiada, initially showed great faithfulness and righteousness. This verse, 2 Chronicles 24:4, is found early in his reign and indicates that one of his first significant acts of kingship was to commit to reversing the spiritual and physical decay inflicted upon the sacred dwelling of the Lord, laying the groundwork for a period of religious restoration in Judah.
2 Chronicles 24 4 Word analysis
- Now Joash: This refers to the King, also known as Jehoash (e.g., in 2 Kgs). He was the only surviving son of King Ahaziah of Judah and was protected by his aunt Jehoshabeath and Jehoiada. His name, stemming from "YHWH gave," might have implicitly carried a sense of divine favor or restoration.
- had it in mind: The Hebrew phrase is "וַיְהִי עִם־לְבָבוֹ" (wayəhî ʻim-lêvāvô), which literally translates to "and it was with his heart" or "it came into his heart." In biblical thought, the "heart" (לֵבָב - levav) is the center of one's intellect, will, emotions, and moral decisions, encompassing the totality of the inner being. Thus, this is more than a fleeting thought; it signifies a settled determination, a deep purpose, or a strong resolve that originated from within him, likely inspired and nurtured by Jehoiada.
- to restore: The Hebrew verb used is "לְחַזֵּק" (ləḥazzēq), the Hiphil infinitive of the root ḥāzaq. This root means "to be strong, firm, hard." In the Hiphil stem, it takes on a causative sense: "to strengthen, to make strong, to fortify, to repair, to make firm, to uphold." This term suggests that the Temple was not merely damaged, but weakened and dilapidated to the point where it needed a substantial and thorough renovation, a re-establishment of its integrity and strength, rather than just minor repairs.
- the house of the Lord: This unequivocally refers to the Temple in Jerusalem, specifically Solomon's Temple. It was the central sanctuary where the Presence of God was said to dwell, the focal point for Israelite worship, sacrifice, and national identity. Its desecration or decay directly impacted the spiritual health of the nation and represented a dishonor to God Himself.
Words-group analysis:
- "Joash had it in mind to restore": This phrase emphasizes Joash's active agency and intentionality in undertaking this significant project. While heavily influenced by Jehoiada, the narrative presents it as Joash's own resolved purpose. It sets a positive tone for his early reign, presenting him as a king dedicated to God's glory.
- "to restore the house of the Lord": This phrase points to the direct object and spiritual significance of Joash's intention. It's not just a public building but "the house of the Lord," implying a restoration of proper reverence, function, and sanctity. It implies undoing the previous neglect and idolatrous acts, marking a spiritual turning point.
2 Chronicles 24 4 Bonus section
The chronicler often highlights Temple repair efforts by good kings (like Hezekiah and Josiah) as signs of their piety and covenant faithfulness. Joash's effort stands distinct as the first such comprehensive restoration after the initial building by Solomon and subsequent partial renovations. Unlike Hezekiah or Josiah's reforms, Joash's restoration appears to be primarily a physical repair and cleaning project, a "strengthening" of the structure and basic functioning, without explicit mention in this initial stage of widespread spiritual reform or finding the Law, as seen with later kings. This focus reflects Jehoiada's pragmatic leadership in ensuring the immediate viability of God's house for worship. The phrase "had it in mind" contrasts with future actions where Joash, after Jehoiada's death, departed from the Lord, indicating that good intentions and beginnings, even those directed toward God's house, are insufficient without enduring spiritual commitment and righteous guidance.
2 Chronicles 24 4 Commentary
2 Chronicles 24:4 captures the turning point for Joash and the nation of Judah after the devastation of Athaliah's rule. The verse highlights Joash's "mind" or "heart" for God's house, revealing an initial pious resolve that was undoubtedly fostered by the high priest Jehoiada. This intention to "restore" the Temple speaks volumes, not just about physical repairs but about restoring the central place of YHWH worship in the kingdom. The use of "restore" (לְחַזֵּק – to strengthen/fortify) underscores that the Temple was in significant disrepair, beyond cosmetic issues. This early determination demonstrates a commitment to covenant faithfulness and marks Joash as a king who began well, acting rightly in the sight of the Lord. The passage provides hope, showing that even after periods of intense idolatry and chaos, the heart of the king can be turned towards God's glory and His neglected sanctuary. This proactive step sets the stage for a much-needed revival in Judah, demonstrating the importance of intentional action from leadership to facilitate spiritual renewal. This initial spark, however, served as a foundational desire that later needed sustained effort and faithfulness, showing that even righteous intentions must be followed through and continually nurtured.