2 Chronicles 24:17, commentary and pictures

This verse belongs to the record of the kings in Judah, in the account of the forty-year reign of Joash.
Joash was good and strong to do right only as long as Jehoiada the priest lived and guided him, by the strong, good man.
After the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and the king hearkened unto them.

In listening to the princes Joash turned from his good course and his own heart yielded to evil.
He was a weak ruler.
All the human credit for the good done during his reign belongs not to Joash but to the faithful priest Jehoiada.

Teachings from the ancestors of Joash had taken root in his own heart, so that when the restraining guidance and strong hand of Jehoiada was removed Joash went into the way of the house of Ahab.
He began his reign when young and went into wickedness as soon as the guiding influence and strong hand of his instructor was removed, unlike Josiah, who also began his reign when young but developed strength of character to stand for God and to work alone, putting forth every effort to reform the people by himself alone.
The surrounding record teaches that departure from God brings strife, captivity, and great loss, while seeking Him wholeheartedly brings His help and blessing.