All that is recorded of the forty years’ reign of Joash, in addition to the general characteristics of the reign (2Ki 12:1-4), is the repairing of the temple which was effected by him (2Ki 12:5-17), and the purchased retreat of the Syrians from their invasion of Judah (2Ki 12:18 and 2Ki 12:19), and finally his violent death in consequence of a conspiracy formed against him, of which we have only a brief notice in 2Ki 12:20-21. The parallel account in 2 Chron 24 supplies several additions to this: viz., concerning the wives of Joash, the distribution of the Levites at the repairing of the temple, the death of Jehoiada, and the seduction of Joash to idolatry by the chief men of Judah, and the stoning of the prophet Zechariah, who condemned this rebellion - all of which can easily be fitted into our account.
Reign of Joash. - 2Ki 12:1 (1, 2). His age on ascending the throne, viz., seven years (cf. 2Ki 11:4). - Commencement and length of his reign. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba.