Jehoiada, High Priest of the Divided Monarchy
Who was Jehoiada in the Bible?
A pivotal High Priest who orchestrated the restoration of the Davidic line by crowning King Joash and overthrowing the usurper Queen Athaliah.
This is one of 4 people named Jehoiada in the Bible. See all 4 →
Jehoiada was a high-ranking priest of the tribe of Levi who served during one of the most tumultuous periods of the Kingdom of Judah. He is primarily known for his courageous role in preserving the Messianic line of David during a time of total political and religious crisis. While the usurper Queen Athaliah attempted to destroy all royal heirs to secure her own power, Jehoiada and his wife, Jehosheba, acted in secret to protect the infant Joash, the last surviving son of King Ahaziah.
His influence extended far beyond the religious sphere, as he functioned as a de facto regent and kingmaker. Jehoiada's long life—spanning 130 years—served as a stabilizing force for Judah, during which he spearheaded major reforms, including the renovation of the Solomonic Temple and the formal renewal of the covenant between God and the nation. His legacy was so profound that he was granted the singular honor of being buried among the kings in the City of David.
Background and Family
Jehoiada was a member of the tribe of Levi, serving in the Jerusalem Temple during the 9th century BC. He was married to Princess Jehosheba (also called Jehoshabeath), who was the daughter of King Jehoram and the sister of King Ahaziah. This marriage created a rare and powerful alliance between the high priesthood and the royal house of David.
During the bloody purge initiated by the Queen Mother Athaliah following the death of Ahaziah, Jehoiada’s family became the protectors of the Davidic dynasty. Together with his wife, Jehoiada hid the infant Joash in the Temple for six years, shielding him from the state-sponsored executioners. Jehoiada was also the father of Zechariah, who would later follow in his father’s footsteps as a priest and prophet, though with a tragic end.
The Restoration of the Davidic Line
In the seventh year of Athaliah’s reign, Jehoiada determined it was time to reveal the true king. He demonstrated significant political and military acumen by gathering the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the temple guards. He brought them into the house of the LORD and made a formal covenant with them, swearing them to secrecy before showing them the young Prince Joash.
Jehoiada’s plan was meticulously organized. He divided the guards into groups to ensure the Temple was protected while the coronation took place. He armed the commanders with the spears and shields that had belonged to King David, symbolically linking the new king to his ancestor’s legacy. When the moment arrived, Jehoiada and his sons brought Joash out, placed the crown on him, and presented him with the "Testimony" (the Law). As the people shouted "Long live the king!", Athaliah heard the noise and rushed to the Temple, only to be seized and executed outside the sacred precincts on Jehoiada’s orders.
Religious Reforms and Temple Restoration
Following the coup, Jehoiada initiated a spiritual renewal. He facilitated a three-way covenant between the LORD, the king, and the people, re-establishing Judah as a nation under God. He oversaw the destruction of the house of Baal and the execution of Mattan, the priest of Baal.
Under his guidance, the daily burnt offerings were restored according to the Law of Moses. Perhaps his most enduring physical legacy was the repair of the Temple, which had fallen into disrepair under the previous idolatrous regimes. When the initial attempts to collect funds through the Levites stalled, Jehoiada devised a new system: he took a chest, bored a hole in the lid, and placed it by the altar to collect the contributions of the people. This transparent method of fundraising allowed the work to proceed efficiently, ensuring that stonecutters, carpenters, and metalworkers could restore the house of God to its former glory.
Relationship to Joash and Later Life
For as long as Jehoiada lived, King Joash remained faithful to the LORD. Jehoiada served as the king’s primary mentor and instructor. The biblical record notes that Joash "did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days he was instructed by Jehoiada the priest" (2 Kings 12:2). Jehoiada even took two wives for the king to ensure the continuation of the royal line.
Jehoiada lived to the age of 130, a lifespan reminiscent of the patriarchs. Upon his death, he was buried in the City of David among the kings, a distinction given because "he had done well in Israel, both toward God and His house" (2 Chronicles 24:16).
Spiritual Significance
The life of Jehoiada illustrates the vital role of the priesthood in maintaining the moral and political integrity of the nation. In the absence of a righteous king, the High Priest became the guardian of the throne. His actions prevented the total extinction of the Davidic line, an event that would have had profound implications for the promised Messiah.
However, Jehoiada’s story also carries a somber postscript. After his death, the officials of Judah led King Joash astray into idolatry. When Jehoiada’s son, Zechariah, stood up to rebuke the people for their apostasy, Joash forgot the kindness of Jehoiada and ordered Zechariah to be stoned to death. This act of betrayal was so significant that Jesus Christ referenced the murder of Zechariah, son of Jehoiada (referred to as Berechiah in Matthew 23:35), as the culmination of righteous blood shed by the establishment.
Jehoiada represents the ideal of the 'priest-statesman' whose primary allegiance is to the Word of God and the preservation of the Davidic covenant. His life demonstrates that the health of the monarchy was inextricably linked to the spiritual guidance of the priesthood. Without his intervention, the line of David—and by extension the lineage of Jesus Christ—would have been severed by the house of Ahab through Athaliah.
Furthermore, Jehoiada is one of the few figures in the Hebrew Bible whose righteousness is validated not just by his actions during his life, but by the extraordinary honor of his burial and the posthumous mention of his son's martyrdom by Jesus in the New Testament. He stands as a foil to the weak and wicked leaders of the Divided Monarchy, proving that one individual’s faithfulness can preserve an entire nation's heritage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Jehoiada buried among the kings?
He was buried in the City of David with the kings because of the immense good he had done for Israel, for God, and for the Temple. It was a unique honor for a non-royal, recognizing his role as the savior of the Davidic dynasty.
How long did Jehoiada live?
According to 2 Chronicles 24:15, Jehoiada lived to be 130 years old, which was exceptionally long for his era.
What happened to the kingdom after Jehoiada died?
Immediately after his death, the leaders of Judah turned away from God and influenced King Joash to worship idols, leading to the eventual judgment of the nation and the murder of Jehoiada's son.
Who was Jehoiada's wife?
His wife was Jehosheba (or Jehoshabeath), the daughter of King Jehoram and sister to King Ahaziah. She was instrumental in saving the infant Joash.
Did Jehoiada have children?
Yes, the Bible mentions he had sons, the most prominent being Zechariah, who was a prophet martyred by King Joash.
Family & Relationships
Jehoiada, High Priest of the Divided MonarchyThis pageChildren
Zechariah, Son of JehoiadaSon2 Chronicles 24:20Stated
Connected Figures
Family
Son · 2 Chronicles 24:20
A righteous priest and martyr during the Divided Monarchy who was executed by King Joash for rebuking the idolatry of Judah.
Divided MonarchyFirst: 2 Chronicles 24:203 versesPriest and ProphetLevi
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Mentions by Book
- 2 Kings7
- 2 Chronicles18
Scripture References
All 25 indexed verses, in canonical order, from the Berean Standard Bible.
- 2 Kings 11:4
Then in the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards, and had them brought into the house of the LORD. There he made a covenant with them and put them under oath. He showed them the king’s son
- 2 Kings 11:9Partial
So the commanders of hundreds did everything that Jehoiada the priest had ordered. Each of them took his men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—and came to Jehoiada the priest.
- 2 Kings 11:15
And Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the house of the LORD.”
- 2 Kings 11:17
Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people that they would be the LORD’s people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people.
- 2 Kings 12:2
And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days he was instructed by Jehoiada the priest.
- 2 Kings 12:7
So King Joash called Jehoiada and the other priests and said, “Why have you not repaired the damage to the temple? Now, therefore, take no more money from your constituency, but hand it over for the repair of the temple.”
- 2 Kings 12:9
Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest, bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar on the right side as one enters the house of the LORD. There the priests who guarded the threshold put all the money brought into the house of the LORD.
- 2 Chronicles 22:11
But Jehoshabeath daughter of King Jehoram took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the sons of the king who were being murdered, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Because Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram and the wife of Jehoiada the priest, was Ahaziah’s sister, she hid Joash from Athaliah so that she could not kill him.
- 2 Chronicles 23:1
Then in the seventh year, Jehoiada strengthened himself and made a covenant with the commanders of hundreds—with Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zichri.
- 2 Chronicles 23:8Partial
So the Levites and all Judah did everything that Jehoiada the priest had ordered. Each of them took his men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—for Jehoiada the priest had not released any of the divisions.
- 2 Chronicles 23:9
Then Jehoiada the priest gave to the commanders of hundreds the spears and the large and small shields of King David that were in the house of God.
- 2 Chronicles 23:11
Then Jehoiada and his sons brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, presented him with the Testimony, and proclaimed him king. They anointed him and shouted, “Long live the king!”
- 2 Chronicles 23:14
And Jehoiada the priest sent out the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, saying, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the house of the LORD.”
- 2 Chronicles 23:16
Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and the king and the people that they would be the LORD’s people.
- 2 Chronicles 23:18
Moreover, Jehoiada put the oversight of the house of the LORD into the hands of the Levitical priests, whom David had appointed over the house of the LORD, to offer burnt offerings to the LORD as is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and song, as ordained by David.
- 2 Chronicles 24:2
And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.
- 2 Chronicles 24:3
Jehoiada took for himself two wives, and he had sons and daughters.
- 2 Chronicles 24:6
So the king called Jehoiada the high priest and said, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring from Judah and Jerusalem the tax imposed by Moses the servant of the LORD and by the assembly of Israel for the Tent of the Testimony?”
- 2 Chronicles 24:12
Then the king and Jehoiada would give the money to those who supervised the labor on the house of the LORD to hire stonecutters and carpenters to restore the house of the LORD, as well as workers in iron and bronze to repair the house of the LORD.
- 2 Chronicles 24:14Partial
When they were finished, they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada to make with it the articles for the house of the LORD—utensils for the service and for the burnt offerings, dishes, and other objects of gold and silver. Throughout the days of Jehoiada, burnt offerings were presented regularly in the house of the LORD.
- 2 Chronicles 24:15
When Jehoiada was old and full of years, he died at the age of 130.
- 2 Chronicles 24:17
After the death of Jehoiada, however, the officials of Judah came and paid homage to the king, and he listened to them.
- 2 Chronicles 24:20
Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood up before the people and said to them, “This is what God says: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the LORD, He has forsaken you.’”
- 2 Chronicles 24:22
Thus King Joash failed to remember the kindness that Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had extended to him. Instead, Joash killed Jehoiada’s son. As he lay dying, Zechariah said, “May the LORD see this and call you to account.”
- 2 Chronicles 24:25
And when the Arameans had withdrawn, they left Joash severely wounded. His own servants conspired against him for shedding the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and they killed him on his bed. So he died and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.
Others Named Jehoiada
Compare all 4 bearers →Jehoiada, Father of Benaiah2 Samuel 8:18
A prominent Aaronic priest and military leader during the United Monarchy whose son Benaiah became the commander of Solomon’s army.
Jehoiada, Priest Succeeded by ZephaniahJeremiah 29:26
A former high-ranking priest and chief officer in the Jerusalem temple during the Divided Monarchy whose administrative role was later filled by Zephaniah son of Maaseiah.
Jehoiada, son of Benaiah1 Chronicles 27:34
A high-ranking counselor in King David’s administration who succeeded Ahithophel as a royal advisor during the Divided Monarchy period.