When a Priest Trumps a King

Sam Hamstra | Jul 29, 2010

One of the benefits of a One Year Bible is that it leads me to very interesting stories in Scripture that I might otherwise overlook. Today I experienced that benefit in the story of Joash the king and Jehoida the priest (II Chronicles 24-25). Here are a few excerpts:

"Joash was seven years old when he become king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years... He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years of Jehoida the priest."

"When Jehoida was old and full of years, and he died at the age of 130. He was buried with the kings in the city of David, because of the good he had done in Israel for God and his temple."

After Jehoida's death, the people "abandoned the temple of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and worshiped Asherah poles and idols."

"Joash died and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings." 

So, Jehoida the priest, who greatly influenced the kingdom through his relationship with Joash, was buried as a king.  But Joash, the king, was not buried with the kings. 

In between the first and last excerpt there is a nice story illustrating the value of voluntary offerings of financial gifts versus compulsory. Check it out.

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