5
He gathered the priests and Levites and said to them, "Go out to the cities of Judah and collectmoney from allIsrael to repair the house of your Godannually*, and you shall do the matterquickly." But the Levites did not actquickly.
6
So the kingsummonedJehoiada the chief priest and said to him, "Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and from Jerusalem the levy fixed by Moses the servant of the LORD on the congregation of Israel for the tent of the testimony?"
11
It came about whenever the chest was brought in to the king'sofficer by the Levites, and when they saw that there was muchmoney, then the king'sscribe and the chiefpriest'sofficer would come, empty the chest, take it, and return it to its place. Thus they diddaily and collectedmuchmoney.
12
The king and Jehoiadagave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of the LORD; and they hiredmasons and carpenters to restore the house of the LORD, and alsoworkers in iron and bronze to repair the house of the LORD.
13
So the workmenlabored, and the repairworkprogressed in their hands, and they restored the house of Godaccording to its specifications and strengthened it.
14
When they had finished, they brought the rest of the moneybefore the king and Jehoiada; and it was made into utensils for the house of the LORD, utensils for the service and the burntoffering, and pans and utensils of gold and silver. And they offeredburntofferings in the house of the LORDcontinuallyall the days of Jehoiada.
18
They abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherim and the idols; so wrathcame upon Judah and Jerusalem for this their guilt.
20
Then the Spirit of Godcame on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stoodabove* the people and said to them, "ThusGod has said, 'Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD and do not prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He has also forsaken you.' "
22
Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindnesswhich his fatherJehoiada had shown him, but he murdered his son. And as he died he said, "May the LORDsee and avenge!"
23
Now it happened at the turn of the year that the army of the Arameanscame up against him; and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, destroyedall the officials of the people from among the people, and sentall their spoil to the king of Damascus.
24
Indeed the army of the Arameanscame with a small number of men; yet the LORDdelivered a verygreatarmy into their hands, because they had forsaken the LORD, the God of their fathers. Thus they executedjudgment on Joash.
25
When they had departed from him (for they left him verysick ), his own servantsconspiredagainst him because of the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and murdered 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.
27
As to his sons and the manyoraclesagainst him and the rebuilding of the house of God, behold, they are written in the treatise of the Book of the Kings. Then Amaziah his sonbecameking in his place.