2 Chronicles 24:1
Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Zibiah of Beer-sheba. Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name also was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.
Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem, and his mother was Zibiah of Beer-sheba. In the succession of the kings of Judah he followed Athaliah's wicked seven-year reign, as part of the continuous record of Judah beginning with Rehoboam succeeding Solomon. His reign opens the closing portion of Second Chronicles dealing wholly with Judah, covering Joash, Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah through the destruction of Jerusalem and the full captivity to Babylon. That portion belongs with readings covering Chronicles and Psalms, and it teaches the awfulness of sin, the certainty of judgment sooner or later, and God's wonderful mercy in pardoning His people when they return to Him, with Manasseh as a striking example of wickedness and a marvelous manifestation of mercy in the pardon of the repentant king.
Joash was the infant son of Ahaziah who was saved when Athaliah seized the throne and put the heirs to death after Ahaziah's death. He was hidden in the temple for six years by his aunt, the wife of Jehoiada the high priest, and was cared for by Jehoiada and his wife until the people revolted against Athaliah's corruption and put her to death. Then the seven-year-old boy was placed on the throne and taught the way of the Lord. He did right and was good and faithful all the days that Jehoiada the priest lived, because Jehoiada was his counselor and instructor.
As soon as the strong hand of his instructor was removed by Jehoiada's death, Joash went into wickedness. He thereby showed himself a weak and dependent ruler. Unlike him, Josiah also began his reign when young but developed strength of character to stand for God alone and put forth every effort to reform the people by himself.