2-Kings. Chapter 12.

The Second Book of Kings
Chapter Twelve

2-Kings. Chapter 12.
Contents:
King Jehoash and Jehoiada the High Priest.
The High Places - Bamot.
The Full-Time Torah-Warriors of Israel Today.
Are the Haredim (Ultra-Orthodox Jews Distorted?
Criticism of point made in Brit-Am Commentary and Mini-Article followed by Brit-Am Reply to Criticism.
Repairing the Temple.
The Jehoash Inscription.
Death of Jehoash.
The Account in Chronicles:
Idolatry and the death of Zechariah the Priest and Prophet.
The Aram (Syrian) Invasion.
The Assassination of Jehoash by the son of an Amonitess and the son of a Moabitess.
The Kingdom of Israel (in the North) Connection.

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2 Kings 12

King Jehoash and Jehoiada the High Priest.

[2-Kings 12:1] In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba.

Some versions of the Bible (e.g. The present Hebrew Bibles that use an alternate Christian method of chapter and verse) have the above verse as no.2 in the chapter, i.e. 2-Kings 12:1 is 2-Kings 12:2. The last verse of chapter 11 in our English versions becomes the first verse of ch 12.
and this is how it would read:

[2-Kings 11:21 i.e. 2-Kings 12:1 ] Jehoash was seven years old when he became king.

1 [i.e. 2-Kings 12:2 in the alternate version] In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba.

Anyway we are here using the chapter and verse numbers as found in the New KJV and other modern Bibles.

Jehoash (also spelt Joash) became king when he was 7 years old. He began his reign when Jehu king of Israel was in the seventh year of his own reign.
Jehoash reigned 40 years in Jerusalem over Judah.

[2-Kings 12:2] Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him.

Jehoiada (Yeho-yada meaning "God Knew") the High Priest and was married to the aunt (sister of his father) of Jehoash.
He had taken care of Jehash while he was in hiding in the Temple Precints. e continued to serve as teacher and mentor to Jehoash after he became king.
Jehoiada was already an old man and eventually died. After the death of the High Priest, King Joash was to commit idolatry:

2-Chronicles 24:
15 But Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died; he was one hundred and thirty years old when he died. 16 And they buried him in the City of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God and His house.
17 Now after the death of Jehoiada the leaders of Judah came and bowed down to the king. And the king listened to them. 18 Therefore they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass.

The apostasy of King Jehoash (Joash) occurred later. At present our narrative deals with the period prior to his moral fall.

The High Places - Bamot

[2-Kings 12:3] But the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

The high places (in Hebrew "Bamot") were often simply altars to God Almighty. They were however located outside of the Temple in Jerusalem.
Prior to the Building of the Temple the high places there were periods when the "bamot" had been permitted under certain circumstances.
After the Temple was built the bamot were forbidden. At that time however transportation was not easy. The people felt a need for this form of worship
and the authorities evidently did not feel themselves able to enforce the prohibition against it.

The bamot were under the control of local powers. Unsavory practices became associated with them. They were also used for idolatrous purposes or for borderline practices. This became a source of national corruption.

[2-Kings 12:4] And Jehoash said to the priests, 'All the money of the dedicated gifts that are brought into the house of the LORD, each man's census money, each man's assessment money, and all the money that a man purposes in his heart to bring into the house of the LORD,

This was in the 23rd year of the reign of Jehoash, i.e. some time had already passed.
The Israelites were used to pay head taxes and make voluntary contributions to the Temple.

# census money #: Every year each Israelite male over 20 years old had to give half a shekel.
Exodus 30:
11 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying: 12 ?When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number, then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the LORD, when you number them, that there may be no plague among them when you number them. 13 This is what everyone among those who are numbered shall give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel is twenty gerahs). The half-shekel shall be an offering to the LORD. 14 Everyone included among those who are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering to the LORD.

# assessment money #- It was customary when someone was visited with troubles and tribulations etc to vow the monetary value of one's self to the Temple (Leviticus 27:2).

# and all the money that a man purposes in his heart #. In addition to the above Israelites moved with a spirit of gratitude to the Almighty etc often donated to the Temple.
These practices continued throughout Biblical History as lone as there existed a Temple in Jerusalem. It says much for the innate integrity of the Priests (Cohens) and Levites that they were never suspected of misappropriating these funds.

[2-Kings 12:5] let the priests take it themselves, each from his constituency; and let them repair the damages of the temple, wherever any dilapidation is found.

Athaliah the grandmother of Jeohash had killed all the brothers of Jehoash, and seized the Kingdom. Athaliah was killed and Jehoash coronated in her stead as we have seen (2-Kings 11:12).
We are told elsewhere that the sons of Athaliah "had broken into" the Temple:

2-Chronicles 24:7 For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house of God, and had also presented all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD to the Baals.

Commentators (Daat Mikra) suggest that the Levites had resisted this incursion and the Temple walls and buildings been damaged.
Josephus says that both King Joram and the sons of Athaliah had caused physical damage to the Temple complex.
King Jehoash was now about to repair the damage.

The Full-Time Torah-Warriors of Israel Today.
The Priests (Cohens) were part of the Tribe of Levi. All Israelites were obligated to give gifts to them and to support them through offerings and the First Tithe. In return the Israelites received Religious Ministry and Instruction.
In addition through the Second Tithe not only Levites but other Israelites were enabled to learn Torah full-time in Jerusalem.

In the State of Israel today tens of thousands of married men learn Torah full-time in special institutions. They are supported through Government allocations and private funding. In some cases their wives work or they have part time sources of income. Much criticism from the secular Israeli public and the left-wing secularist-dominated media has been directed against this practice. In effect however it may be shown how the Israelite economy and society in general has actually been blessed because of it.
In addition the State of Israel exists through miracles. Every day miracles happen. Like ravening wolves all the pagan nations of the world are ready to attack Israel. Even Israelite Nations (such as Finland, Sweden, Norway, etc) give enormous sums of money to the enemies of Israel and to fifth-column elements within Israel. Terrorist attacks of potential great harm are planned and attempted all the time. Missiles are fired at us by our neighbors yet the world frowns on any reaction we might make. Despite all this relatively little damage occurs in most cases. [Though it could do so any and each time, God forbid!].

The Almighty is watching over us all the time.
The Torah learning of the full-time scholars is almost certainly one of the factors protecting us.
And they do learn!
There are always exceptions as is to be expected in any human framework.
On the whole however they learn full-time, often day and night, while living in relatively very modest circumstances.
They are conscious that their learning is not only for themselves but for the whole of Israel.
They too, are Warriors of the Almighty, Heroes of Israel!

1. Are the Haredim (Ultra-Orthodox Jews Distorted?
Criticism of point made in above Commentary and Mini-Article:
The Full-Time Torah-Warriors of Israel Today.
followed by Brit-Am Reply to Criticism.

Dr. Elior wrote:

Yair Shalom,

As an Israeli-American scholar for years I have read what you write and I agreed with you, until today.

"And they shall go in my judgements and keep my laws] Ezekiel" 36, and in many many other places it is A FACT that God punishes his children when they disobey Him. Ezekiel says that under no circumstances God will being the Israelites back to Zion to split Zion again into 2 kingdoms like they did after Solomon. The huge chasm between the Haredim [Ultra-Orthodox] and the seculars today (and the other chasms in Israeli society and the crime, etc.) is the REASON Israel today is in the same trouble with Elohim as Israel was yesterday! THE HAREDIM TODAY ARE LEARNING TORAH THE SAME DISTORTED WAY THAT THE LEVITES AND THE COHANIM DID IN ANCIENT TIMES, TRYING TO FOOL GOD AND LEADING TO THE DESTRUCTION OF OUR TEMPLE TWICE!!!. WHAT YOU CALL "THE FULL TIME TORAH WORRIERS" TODAY ARE AS CORRUPTED AS THOSE YESTERDAY. I AM TELLING YOU, YAIR, OPEN YOUR EYES, YOU ARE A DEDICATED MAN, IF WE DON'T STOP THE CHARADE ELOHIM WILL REPLACE ORTHODOX JUDAISM WITH MESSIANIC JUDAISM AND BRING IN CHRISTIAN ZIONISM TO SAVE US FROM OURSELVES!!!!! IF YOU CAN'T SEE THAT IT IS ALREADY HAPPENING, WE LOST AN OTHERWISE INSIGHTFUL BIBLICAL SCHOLAR.
TORAH LEADERS IN THE PAST HAVE LED THE JEWS ASTRAY. I PRAY FOR ISRAEL.

Let me give you a perfect example of my point that we sin and need to recognize it before it is too late (again): When Barak met Arafat and Clinton at Camp David, Ehud offered Yasser half of Jerusalem in exchange for peace. I surveyed Canadian rabbis on the apparent meaninglessness of "If I forget Jerusalem may my right hand forget its cunning Psalm 135:5" to the Jews, and the rabbis view was as followed: "The Talmud says that peace is more important than Jerusalem." I said, "Yerushalaim is Zion. You can't give away what [the Almighty] gives you in perpetuity. The Torah is above the Talmud. The rabbis consensus was that the Talmud supersedes the Torah. I am afraid that the full time Torah worriers of Israel today are really Talmud Worriers and not Torah Worriers as you believe. God is as angry at them as He is angry at the anti-Zionist seculars. Israel in in the same danger she has been before in history!

Yair, your work is a Mitzva.
Please forgive me if I have offended you.

Dr. Elior K.

Brit-Am Reply:
I did not really fully understand your displeasure with the Haredim.
You seem to be focusing on two points:
a. Anti-Zionism and Pro-Peace positions especially those of Canadian Rabbis with whom you were in contact.
b. Placing the Talmud before the Torah.

Concerning point (a):
The point we wished to make in our entry (attached to 2-Kings 12:5)
The Full-Time Torah-Warriors of Israel Today.
http://www.britam.org/Kings/2Kings12.html
was the value of full-time Torah Learning in Israel today in its own right.

This is separate from politics.
Rabbinical students learning Torah full time include both National-Religious and Ultra-Orthodox.
Most of those who learn are rather oblivious to other considerations.
The Torah learning has value in its own right.
Jews who learn Torah full time contribute to the whole of Judah and Israel regardless of their ideological and/or political outlook.
In the same way as a soldier gives of himself no matter what his world outlook may be so too do the full time learners of Torah.

In Hebrew the word for a full-time Torah student is "Avreich", in plural "Avrachim".
The word "Avriech" derives from the Title given to Joseph by Pharoah:

Genesis 41:
42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph's hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, 'Bow the knee!' [Hebrew: Avreich!] So he set him over all the land of Egypt.
The expression "BOW THE KNEE" translated from the Hebrew "Avreich" which could be derived from a word-root meaning "bow the knee" BUT it may also be a title and so the word is explained. Rabbinical Commentators took the term as a title connoting an "Av-rach" (father-ruler) and related to the Aramaic "rica" meaning ruler connected to the Germanic "reich" or rulership.

This could mean "Father" (i.e. counsellor) to the Ruler".
Alternately it means "Son of the Ruler" i.e. Deputy Ruler.

In Hebrew the letter "beit" is pronounced as either "b" or "v" depending on the sentence structure, i.e. the sounds are interchangeable.
"Ab" or "Av" means "father".
In the Egyptian expression "avrach" however the "av" (ab) prefix means "his father being" i.e. "his father being the ruler".
The title "Avrach therefore means "Son of the King". Joseph had become the deputy monarch or viceroy of the Kingdom.
In Semitic dialects the "b" sound may be replaced by "p" and vice-versa e.g. in Arabic "Shakespeare" is pronounced as "Shakesbeare". We thus have the Hebrew "Av" becoming "Ap" in Welsh.
Similarly in Welsh we find the expression "ap" also being pronounced as "ab". "Ap" actually means "father" but in names it is used in the sense of "have as father" i.e. "son of".

Welsh surnames
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welsh_surnames
# Evan son of Thomas would be known as Evan (ap) Thomas; Evan's son, John would be John (ap) Evan; #

This was also rendered as "map" corresponding to the Hebrew "Me [from]-Ab [father]" i.e. "father".
In Linguistics Welsh is known as "P-Celtic" whereas Gaelic (of scotland and Ireland) is "C-Celtic". This is because for some reason
amongst the C-Celts words once pronounced as "p" became "c".
This "Map" meaning "son of" is rendered as "Mac".
This gives us the prefixes "Mac-" and "Mc-" frequently found in Scottish and Irish surnames.

Your complaint seemed to concentrate on the Ultra-Orthodox.
Many misconceptions exist.
In Israel, studies show that the Ultra-Orthodox rank and file are much more nationalistic than most of the Israeli population.
Statistically (through their cities such as Beitar Ilit, Kiryat Sefer, Emanuel) they comprise the numerical MAJORITY (sic) of settlers in Judah and Samaria!!!

Amongst the leadership one finds elements who may be in favor of the Peace Process.
These however are in the minority of the leadership itself and certainly do not reflect the majority of those they represent.
Also on the fringes exist small groups who are fanatically anti-Zionist such as Naturei Karta etc.
These people sometimes make a lot of noise and receive much publicity from the secular media.
Most of the Haredim however dissociate themselves quite strongly from such groups.
Nevertheless, there does exist a strong resentment and ongoing criticism of Zionism in its secular form.
This anti-Zionism-as-a-secular movement permeates all aspects of Ultra-Orthodox society.
They also do not serve in the Army on the whole.
[The National-Religious on the other hand contribute more than one-third of all front-line soldiers and a similar proportion of offciers.
This is far in excess of their relative proportion in the general population!]
The rationale given by the Ultra-Orthodox for not serving in the Army is that they learn Torah and therefore should be exempt from army service. [Other reasons also exist.]
This in principle is fair enough.
The Tribe of Levi occupied a similar position to the Ultra-Orthodox who Learn Torah.
The Tribe of Levi in Biblical Times also did not actively participate in most of the Israelite Wars.
This however is another matter.
The secularists also admit they do not want the Ultra-Orthodox in the army.
They would not know what to do with them and as it is they have more manpower than they think they need.
One of the many other reasons as to why much of the Ultra-Orthodox are wary of army service is the enforced proximity of female soldiers.
If the secularists were really serious they would stop conscripting women.
Female soldiers are not cost effective, lower the fighting ability of the Army, and are enlisted on ideological grounds rather than practical ones.
If they stopped conscripting females more funds would be available to enlist full-time professionals which is what are most in need of at present.

Professional Ideology Bias
We also need to take into account Professional Ideology Bias.
There is a sociological-historical phenomenon that ideology is influenced by external stimuli.

For example,
In Israel it has been claimed that most social workers are strongly in favor of abortions. This may be partly explained by social workers coming in contact with exceptional social cases such as victims of rape, incest, and the physically impaired, etc. Whether or not such cases justify abortions is one matter. This may be debated separately from the majority of cases. The fact is that such circumstances are exceptional. Most abortions are committed by those who otherwise are socially normative.

Other examples exist.
Businessmen had different outlooks from professional people and they from day laborers struggling to make ends meet.

I do not know who you spoke with.
Community Rabbis overseas (e.g. as in Canada) are probably mostly proficient and functional but not necessary great scholars.
They do what they have to do and we assume do it well.
They would tend however to reflect the opinions of their congregations.
These in turn are influenced by their professional colleagues, communities, Gentile neighbors, and the peculiar outlook of the socio-economic group they are located amongst.
Many of these are most likely or critical of Israel or at the least against militarism and in favor of moderation especially when it concerns matters they know little about in far-away places.

You mentioned the danger of Jews being lost to Judaism due to the bad example of Haredim. In Israel the religious elements are growing due to demographic strength and more and more secularists coming to see the light.
In the past, the Haredim were persecuted to some degree and still are discriminated against in many areas but they held out.
We assume they will continue to do so.
The first Zionists were Orthodox Jews. Later secular forces took control of the movement and of the Jewish Establishment in the Land of Israel. Misguided attempts were made to make the Jews more secular and less religious. This has left a bad taste in the mouths of many.
Nowadays one may say that most Ultra-Orthodox support Zionist Principles (since these are those of the Torah) while preferring not to be considered Zionists themselves.

You mentioned (b) Talmud in place of the Torah?
We do not know with whom you spoke or how you phrased your question.
The Talmud explains the Torah and does not replace it.
Without the Torah the Talmud is irrelevant.
No responsible Rabbi would claim that the Talmud precedes the Torah since it does not and does not claim to do so.

It does not say anywhere that Peace is more important than Jerusalem.

Anyway all these matters are not really the concern of Brit-Am per se.
HaShem be with you
Yair

2. Commentary to 2-Kings 12:6-16

Repairing the Temple

[2 Kings 12:6] Now it was so, by the twenty-third year of King Jehoash, that the priests had not repaired the damages of the temple.

[2 Kings 12:7] So King Jehoash called Jehoiada the priest and the other priests, and said to them, Why have you not repaired the damages of the temple? Now therefore, do not take more money from your constituency, but deliver it for repairing the damages of the temple.

[2 Kings 12:8] And the priests agreed that they would neither receive more money from the people, nor repair the damages of the temple.

These verses are unclear to us.
The Malbim and others suggest there were two funds, one was for the Priests and Levites and the other for Temple Repairs.
If money for Temple Repairs was insufficient then the difference was taken from the Levitical Funds. Later the Priests and Levites would take their money back from offerings made for Temple Repair offerings. This caused confusion and inefficiency and the people was loath to keep giving. Jehoash decreed that the two funds should be separated. Compare this explanation with the parallel passage in the Book of Chronicles:

2 Chronicles 24
1 Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother?s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 Joash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.
3 And Jehoiada took two wives for him, and he had sons and daughters.
4 Now it happened after this that Joash set his heart on repairing the house of the LORD.
5 Then he gathered the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather from all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that you do it quickly.
However the Levites did not do it quickly.
6 So the king called Jehoiada the chief priest, and said to him, Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and from Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the servant of the LORD and of the assembly of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?
7 For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house of God, and had also presented all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD to the Baals.
8 Then at the king's command they made a chest, and set it outside at the gate of the house of the LORD.
9 And they made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to bring to the LORD the collection that Moses the servant of God had imposed on Israel in the wilderness.
10 Then all the leaders and all the people rejoiced, brought their contributions, and put them into the chest until all had given.
11 So it was, at that time, when the chest was brought to the king's official by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, that the king's scribe and the high priest's officer came and emptied the chest, and took it and returned it to its place. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.
12 The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of the LORD; and they hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the LORD, and also those who worked in iron and bronze to restore the house of the LORD.
13 So the workmen labored, and the work was completed by them; they restored the house of God to its original condition and reinforced it. 14 When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada; they made from it articles for the house of the LORD, articles for serving and offering, spoons and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.

Let us continue with our study of 2-Kings 12:
[2 Kings 12:9] Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest, bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into the house of the LORD; and the priests who kept the door put there all the money brought into the house of the LORD.

[2 Kings 12:10] So it was, whenever they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king?s scribe and the high priest came up and put it in bags, and counted the money that was found in the house of the LORD.

[2 Kings 12:11] Then they gave the money, which had been apportioned, into the hands of those who did the work, who had the oversight of the house of the LORD; and they paid it out to the carpenters and builders who worked on the house of the LORD,

[2 Kings 12:12] and to masons and stonecutters, and for buying timber and hewn stone, to repair the damage of the house of the LORD, and for all that was paid out to repair the temple.

[2 Kings 12:13] However there were not made for the house of the LORD basins of silver, trimmers, sprinkling-bowls, trumpets, any articles of gold or articles of silver, from the money brought into the house of the LORD.

Me'am Loaz explains that the money was given to the workmen to complete their tasks. Only the surplus funds were then used for utensils and instruments.
I once heard a comment that raising money to build a Synagogue is one thing. Raising more money to keep the Synagogue going and pay for the electricity etc is much harder.

[2 Kings 12:14] But they gave that to the workmen, and they repaired the house of the LORD with it.

[2 Kings 12:15] Moreover they did not require an account from the men into whose hand they delivered the money to be paid to workmen, for they dealt faithfully.

Everything was done honesty, so suspicions were raised, and no accounts required. Even so, the Sages said public officials should conduct themselves with maximum transparency and give accounts. It is not enough, they said, to be honey but honesty must be seen and community officiates go to the trouble of keeping themselves above suspicion.

[2 Kings 12:16] The money from the trespass offerings and the money from the sin offerings was not brought into the house of the LORD. It belonged to the priests.

3. The Jehoash Inscription.
A stone tablet known as the "Jehoash Inscription" has been found. There is a controversy as to whether or not it is a forgery.
Reading the different opinions the impression is that claims as to whether the inscription is a forgery depend on two main points:
a. The script is not the same as the experts would expect from that period.
b. The inscription was handled by Oden Golan who still claims it is genuine but has been shown to be involved in other forgery cases.

Otherwise all other objections seem answerable and the inscription passes examination and laboratory tests.

Rabbi Yaacov Meidan (a modern National-Religious Bible Commentator) implies that the "experts" may have ulterior motives and actually want the find to have been forged!

http://www.religioustolerance.org/chr_joash.htm
Rabbi Yaakov Meidan, a Bible lecturer from Alon Shvut in Gush Etzion, said that he has "hope in my heart that it's authentic, partly based on the tests that were done, and partly based on my knowledge of those who are denying its authenticity... It could be that they're right, but many times they simply don't allow the facts to confuse their theories. In general, there are important streams among the archaeologists who are trying to deny the Bible... while people like me, who are always striving for a 'meeting' with reality - in this case, between the scientific reality and the Biblical verses - certainly see this as a very welcome discovery."

Death of Jehoash.

[2-Kings 12:17] Hazael king of Syria went up and fought against Gath, and took it; then Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.

[2-Kings 12:18] And Jehoash king of Judah took all the sacred things that his fathers, Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own sacred things, and all the gold found in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and in the king's house, and sent them to Hazael king of Syria. Then he went away from Jerusalem.

[2-Kings 12:19] Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

[2-Kings 12:20] And his servants arose and formed a conspiracy, and killed Joash in the house of the Millo, which goes down to Silla.

[2-Kings 12:21] For Jozacha the son of Shimeath and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, struck him. So he died, and they buried him with his fathers in the City of David. Then Amaziah his son reigned in his place.

The Account in Chronicles:

Compare the above verses to the parallel passage in the Book of Chronicles:

Idolatry and the death of Zechariah the Priest and Prophet.
2-Chronicles 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.
18 Therefore they left the house of the LORD God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass.
19 Yet He sent prophets to them, to bring them back to the LORD; and they testified against them, but they would not listen.
20 Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, "Thus says God: 'Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He also has forsaken you.'" 21 So they conspired against him, and at the command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the LORD.
22 Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son; and as he died, he said, "The LORD look on it, and repay!"

Here we see that Zechariah son of Jehoiada the Priest (Cohen) was killed by Jehoash.
This is not the same Prophet who wrote the Book of Zechariah some time later though he too was of Priestly lineage.

The Aram (Syrian) Invasion.
2-Chronicles 24:
23 So it happened in the spring of the year that the army of Syria [Aram] came up against him; and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the leaders of the people from among the people, and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. 24 For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men; but the LORD delivered a very great army into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash.

The Aramaians came from Aram which was mainly to the north and east of present-day Syria though Syria was also later ruled over by them and the term "Aram" is translated as "Syria".
They were defeated by a relatively small number of the enemy whom they numerically outnumbered.
They left God so the Almighty left them.
# "Because you have forsaken the LORD, He also has forsaken you." [2-Chronicles 24:20].
Compare:
[Deuteronomy 32:30] HOW SHOULD ONE CHASE A THOUSAND, AND TWO PUT TEN THOUSAND TO FLIGHT, EXCEPT THEIR ROCK HAD SOLD THEM, AND THE LORD HAD SHUT THEM UP?

The Assassination of Jehoash by the son of an Amonitess and the son of a Moabitess.
2-Chronicles 24:
25 And when they had withdrawn from him (for they left him severely wounded), his own servants conspired against him because of the blood of the sons 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.
26 These are the ones who conspired against him: Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess. 27 Now concerning his sons, and the many oracles about him, and the repairing of the house of God, indeed they are written in the annals of the book of the kings. Then Amaziah his son reigned in his place.

The Aramaians before leaving had badly wounded King Jehoash. His life was then terminated by two of his servants.
These were "Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess".
These were evidently converts or the sons of women who had converted.
Josephus (Antiguities 8:4) says they had been friends of Zechariah and set upon Jehoash in revenge for murder of the prophet.
It was forbidden to accept male converts from Moab or Ammon but female converts were to be received.
That is how Ruth the Moabitess and ancestress of King David was accepted in to Israel.
See:
King David and the Oral Law
Loyalty to David is Required: Ruth and the Oral Tradition
http://www.britam.org/DavidandOralLaw.html

The presence of "Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess" amongst the Judaeans, holding official posts in the Royal Service, may be considered additional evidence (as if it was needed) that females from these Ammon and Moab were to be accepted into Israel even though males were not.

Jehoash was succeeded by Amaziah.

The Kingdom of Israel (in the North) Connection.
The reign of King Jehoash of Judah overlapped in the north the monarchs of the Kingdom of Israel:
Jehu, Jehoahaz, and Joash.

The name Jehoash is also rendered as Joash. This is the same name of the King of Israel who began his reign towards the end of that of Jehoash (Joash) in Judah. We have remarked on the use of the same or similar names by the monarchs of Judah and Israel before.

To get to Judah the King of Amaziah had had to traverse the northern Kingdom of Israel. he had in fact ravaged northern Israel and taken over the eastern regions of half-Manasseh, Reuben, and Gad. This may have resulted in a partial dispersal of part of Israel even before the later Assyrian Conquest.

Josephus (Antiquities 8:1) records:
# NOW Hazael, king of Syria, fought against the Israelites and their king Jehu, and spoiled the eastern parts of the country beyond Jordan, which belonged to the Reubenites and Gadites, and to [the half tribe of] Manassites; as also Gilead and Bashan, burning, and spoiling, and offering violence to all that he laid his hands on, and this without impeachment from Jehu, who made no haste to defend the country when it was under this distress; nay, he was become a contemner of religion, and a despiser of holiness, and of the laws, and died when he had reigned over the Israelites twenty-seven years. He was buried in Samaria, and left Jehoahaz his son his successor in the government.

To be Continued!

After the Death of Solomon:
The Divided Kingdom

Source of Map:
www.ebibleteacher.com/imagehtml/otmaps.html

2-Kings ch.11 2-Kings Contents
2-Kings ch.13