1. In the seventh year of the reign of King Jehu of Israel, Joash became king of Judah, and he ruled in Jerusalem for forty years. His mother was Zibiah from the city of Beersheba.
2. Throughout his life he did what pleased the Lord, because Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
3. However, the pagan places of worship were not destroyed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.
4. Joash called the priests and ordered them to save up the money paid in connection with the sacrifices in the Temple, both the dues paid for the regular sacrifices and the money given as freewill gifts.
5. Each priest was to be responsible for the money brought by those he served, and the money was to be used to repair the Temple, as needed.
6. But by the 23rd year of Joash's reign the priests still had not made any repairs to the Temple.
20-21. King Joash's officials plotted against him, and two of them, Jozacar son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer, killed him at the house built on the land that was filled in on the east side of Jerusalem, on the road that goes down to Silla. Joash was buried in the royal tombs in David's City, and his son Amaziah succeeded him as king.