Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require it.
2 CHRONICLES 24:22KJVWhat does 2 Chronicles 24:22 mean?
2 Chronicles 24:22 says that King Joash did not remember the kindness Jehoiada had shown him, but instead killed Jehoiada’s son. As Jehoiada’s son was dying, he called on the LORD to see what happened and hold Joash accountable.
This verse describes a moment of betrayal: Joash, who owed his life and throne to Jehoiada, turned against Jehoiada’s family. The dying words of Jehoiada’s son are a plea for God’s justice, highlighting how serious and personal this act of violence was in the story.
The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 24:22
- "Remembered" (זָכַר, zakar): This word means more than just recalling facts; it often carries the sense of acting in response to what one remembers. Joash’s failure to "remember" Jehoiada’s kindness means he ignored his duty to repay good with good.
- "Kindness" (חֶסֶד, chesed): This word means loyal love, faithfulness, or mercy. Jehoiada had shown deep, covenant-like loyalty to Joash, which makes Joash’s betrayal even more striking.
- "Require" (דָּרַשׁ, darash): This word means to seek, inquire, or demand. When Jehoiada’s son says, “The LORD look upon it, and require it,” he is asking God to pay attention and demand justice for this wrong.
Why 2 Chronicles 24:22 matters
- This verse highlights the seriousness of ingratitude and betrayal, especially when someone turns against a person who has shown them great kindness.
- The use of "chesed" (loyal love) and the plea for God to "require" justice connects this personal story to bigger themes in the Bible about faithfulness and divine justice.
- The verse sets up the consequences that follow for Joash, showing that actions against God’s faithful people do not go unnoticed.