JOASH (Wash), (Heb. given by Jehovah), a contraction of JEHOASH.
/. Son of Ahaziah and eighth king of Judah, who began to reign in B. C. 878, at the age of seven, and reigned forty-one years.
(1) Saved as an Infant. Joash, when an in fant, was secretly saved by his aunt Jehosheba, who was married to the high-priest Jehoiada, from the general massacre of the family by Athaliah, who had usurped the throne (see ATHALIAH ; JEHOIADA). By the high-priest and his wife the child was privily brought up in the chambers con nected with the temple till he had attained his eighth year, when Jehoiada deemed that the state of affairs required him to produce the youthful heir of the throne to the people, and claim for him the crown which his uandmother had so unright eously usurped.
(2) Proclaimed King. Finding the influential persons whom he consulted favorable to the de sign, everything was secretly, but admirably, ar ranged for producing Joash, and investing him with the regalia, in such a manner that Athaliah could have no suspicion of the event till it actually occurred. On the day appointed, the sole surviv ing scion of David's iltustrious house appeared in the place of the kings, by a particular pillar in the temple-court, and was crowned and anointed with the usual ceremonies. The high-wrought enthu siasm of the spectators then found vent in clapping of hands and exulting shouts of 'Long live the king!' The joyful uproar was heard even in the palace, and brought Athaliah to the temple, from which, at a word from Jehoiada, she was led to her death.
(3) Behavior. Joash behaved well during his youth, and so long after as he remained under the influence of the high-priest. But when he died the king seems to have felt himself relieved from a yoke; and to manifest his freedom, began to take the contrary course to that which he had followed while under pupilage. Gradually the persons who had possessed influence formerly, when the house of David was contaminated by its alliance with the Nouse. of Ahab. insinuated themselves into his councils, and ere long the worship of Jehovah and the observances of the law were neglected, and the land was defiled with idolatries and idolatrous usages.
(4) Slays Zechariah. The prophets then ut tered their warnings, but were not heard; and the infatuated king had the atrocious ingratitude to put to death Zechariah. the son and successor of his benefactor Jehoiada (5) Divine judgments and Death. For these deeds Joash was made an example of the Divine judgments. He saw his realm devastated by the Syrians under Hazael ; his armies were cut in pieces by an enemy of inferior numbers; and he was even besieged in Jerusalem, and only pre served his capital and his crown by giving up the treasures of the temple. Joash was buried in the city of David; but a place in the sepulcher of the kings was denied to his remains (2 Kings xi; xii; 2 Citron. xxiv.) 2. Son and successor of Jehoahaz on the throne of Israel, of which he was the twelfth king.
(1) Reign. He began to reign (B. C. 799), and reigned sixteen incomplete years. He fol
lowed the example of his predecessors in the policy of keeping up the worship of the golden calves; but, apart from this, he bears a fair char acter, and had intervals, at least, of sincere piety and true devotion to the God of his fathers. In deed, custom and long habit had so established the views of political expediency on which the schis matical establishments at Dan and Bethel were founded, that at length the reprehension which regularly recurs in the record of each king's rcign, seems rather to apply to it as a mark of the con tinuance of a public crime, than as indicative of the character or disposition of the reigning prince, which is to be sought in the more detailed ac counts of his own conduct. These accounts are favorable with respect to Joash.
(2) Relations to Elisha. He held the prophet Elisha in high honor, looking up to him as a father. When he heard of his last illness he re paired to the bedside of the dying prophet, and was favored with promises of victories over the Syrians, by whom his dominions were then har assed. _ These promises were accomplished after the prophet's death. In three signal and succes sive victories Joash overcame the Syrians, and re took from them the towns which Hazael had rent from Israel.
(3) War and Death. These advantages ren dered the kingdom of Israel more potent than that of Judah. He, however, sought no quarrel with that kingdom; but when he received a defiance from Amaziah, king of Judah, he answered with becoming spirit in a parable, which by its images calls to mind that of Jotham (see PARABLE); the cool disdain of the answer must have been, and in fact was, exceedingly galling to Amaziah. In the war, or rather action, which followed, Joash was victorious. Having defeated Amaziah at Beth-shemesh, in Judah, he advanced to Jeru salem, broke down the wall to the extent of goo cubits, and carried away the treasures both of the temple and the palace, together with hostages for the future good behavior of the crestfallen Ama ziah. Joash himself did not long survive this vic tory ; he died in peace, and was buried in Samaria (2 Kings :9-25 ; xiv :1-17).
3. Father of Gideon, and a man of influence among the Abi-ezrites. During the Midianitish occupation Ile seems to have yielded to popular opinion, and the exigencies of the time, so far as to have an altar dedicated to Baal (Judg. vi:it, 29, 3o, 31; viii :13, 2g, 32).
4. A younger son of Ahab, who either held a subordinate jurisdiction or was appointed gov ernor while his father was making an attack on Ramoth-Gilead (I Kings xxii:26; 2 Chron. xviii: 25).
5. A descendant of Shelah, son of Judah (t Chron. iv :22).
6. Son of Shemaah of Gibeah. He was a Benjamite and one of the "helpers" who came to David at Ziklag (i Chron. xii :3), and with him probably pursued the Amalekites.
7. An officer of David, who had charge of the storehouses of oil and the products of David's possessions in the lowlands (1 Chron. xxvii :28).
8. One of the sons of Becher, and head of a Benjamitc house in the time of David (1 Chron.
vii :8).