Why did Jehoiada choose two wives for Joash? (2 Chronicles 24:3)
24 Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba. 2 Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years of Jehoiada the priest. 3 Jehoiada chose two wives for him, and he had sons and daughters.
2 Chronicles 24:1 - 3
NKJV - 1 Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 Joash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.
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Asked July 21 2019
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Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
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Tim Maas
Supporter
I would say that Jehoiada the priest took such a role with Joash, first, because of Joash's young age (seven) upon succeeding to the throne, and, second (with regard to choosing two wives for him), because of the importance of restoring the royal household after the idolatrous reign of the evil queen Athaliah (Joash's grandmother, and the mother of Joash's father (King Ahaziah)). As noted in 2 Chronicles 21:4, Ahaziah had slain all his brothers upon taking the throne, but reigned only eight years and died without leaving a male heir who was of sufficient age to immediately assume the throne, whereupon Athaliah took the throne as queen and destroyed all the rest of the royal family, except for Ahaziah's son Joash, who had been hidden away by his aunt (Jehoshabe-ath). When Joash finally assumed the throne after the murder of Athaliah, the royal house of Judah needed to once again be built up. Jehoiada therefore found two wives for Joash who could bear sons and daughters for him. Jehoiada also influenced the king (as noted in the passage cited in the question) to obey God during his reign. However, after Jehoiada's death, Joash resorted to idol worship and even ordered the death of Jehoiada's son Zechariah. Syria subsequently invaded Judah and wounded Joash, after which Joash was killed on his sickbed by his own servants.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Athaliah had killed off the royal family, almost extinguishing the dynasty. Jehoiada chose 2 wives to ensure progeny and to rebuild the royal family. ("Progeny" according to the Oxford Dictionary means "descendant" or "descendants.") QSB
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