2 Chronicles 21 – 24
Verse 21:6 says it all:
And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD.
Jehoram is not following what his father Jehoshaphat did;instead he killed the rest of the family to ensure there was no rival for the throne. That’s just messed up!! You notice this is a common thread among the kings of Israel and Judah, they either walk the way of God or they stray wildly. Interestingly as you read on God does not destroy the house, since He made a promise to God. Glad God honors His vow’s or the line of Jesus would have been destroyed because of one fool.
Verse 22:10 has Jehoram’s son Ahaziah dies and has his mother ruling:
Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family of the house of Judah.
No one seems to point out that lack of sexism here with a woman ruler. The Bible is said to be a “sexist” documents putting women down, but here one obtains the highest position in Judah. Her power grab was by killing all the heirs and claiming the throne! She missed Joash who was snuck away and hidden from her by Jehoshabeath, Jehoram’s daughter.
Seven years later, Joash is presented before the people and made king. Athaliah freaked out and was quickly put to death. Joash ruled for 40 years and followed the lead of the priest Jehoiada and cleaned up the land.
Verse 24:28 happens when the people start to drift from the Lord:
Then the Spirit of God clothed Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God, ‘Why do you break the commandments of the LORD, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has forsaken you.’”
This unfortunately is the end to Joash since he has Jehoiada’s son, Zechariah killed. Jehoiada prays for the Lord to “avenge” his son’s death, which he does. It’s amazing how quickly we hear something that we don’t like and instead of listening and changing our ways. I think some of the keys you need to get from these writings is don’t drift from God!!