Jehoiada, High Priest of the Divided Monarchy

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.