Lives of Scripture

Jehozabad was one of King Joash of Judah's own servants. Joash had been rescued as an infant and crowned king by the priest Jehoiada, and under Jehoiada's guidance had led a genuine reform, repairing the temple of the LORD (2 Kings 12:1-16). But after Jehoiada died, Joash abandoned the LORD for idols, and when Jehoiada's son Zechariah the priest confronted him for it, Joash had Zechariah stoned to death in the temple courtyard -- Zechariah's dying words were "May the LORD see and avenge!" (2 Chronicles 24:17-22). Not long afterward, after Judah's army had been devastated by a much smaller Aramean force and Joash left severely wounded, Jehozabad, son of Shomer, and a fellow servant conspired against the king (2 Kings 12:20-21; 2 Chronicles 24:23-25). They struck him down on his own bed at the house of Millo, and Chronicles states plainly that they did it "because of the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest" (24:25). Joash was buried in the city of David, though Chronicles notes he was not buried among the tombs of the kings, and his son Amaziah succeeded him (2 Kings 12:21; 2 Chronicles 24:25). Kings and Chronicles differ slightly on the names and mothers of the two conspirators, a minor textual variation between the two accounts.