Joash

2 Chronicles 23-24

            The story of Joash is very similar to its telling in 2 Kings. One notable difference is the Chronicler blames Joash’s later idolatry on the people. In Kings, it is the kings who set the right (or wrong) example and bear responsibility for the spiritual well-being of the people. In Chronicles, we see the Davidic kings being led astray: Jehoram by his dalliance with Ahab, Joash by the influence of the people.

            The responsibility of those in leadership is a common theme in the Bible. For example, James lays down this warning, “Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly” (James 3:1). But reality is multi-layered, and the Chronicler sees that. The people also have agency, and they often choose to go their own way. Ezekiel puts it this way, “When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself” (Ezekiel 3:18-19). Leaders may have more responsibility than others, but everyone has responsibility.