Jozabad, Son of Shimeath

Background and Family

Jozacar (Hebrew: Yozakar, meaning "the LORD has remembered") appears in the biblical record as a court official or servant of King Joash of Judah. The genealogical data provided in 2 Chronicles 24:26 specifies that his mother was Shimeath, a woman of Ammonite descent. This detail is significant, as it highlights the presence of foreign women within the Judean administrative or domestic circles during the Divided Monarchy, despite legal prohibitions against intermingling with Ammonites.

In the parallel account found in 2 Kings 12:21, he is referred to as "Jozacar son of Shimeath," while 2 Chronicles 24:26 uses the name "Zabad." Biblical scholars generally agree that these are the same individual, with the difference likely arising from a scribal variation or the use of a shortened hypocoristic name. His heritage as the son of an Ammonitess may suggest a lack of deep-rooted loyalty to the Davidic line, or it may simply serve as a literary note by the Chronicler to explain the moral and political failure that led to the king's death.

Major Life Events

The defining event of Jozacar’s life was the conspiracy against King Joash. Joash had ruled for forty years, but his later years were characterized by apostasy and the execution of the prophet Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the priest. Following a disastrous military defeat at the hands of the Arameans, Joash was left severely wounded and bedridden at Beth-millo.

Taking advantage of the king's vulnerability and perhaps motivated by the widespread resentment over the murder of Zechariah, Jozacar and his fellow conspirator, Jehozabad son of Shomer (or Shimrith), struck the king down in his bed. 2 Kings 12:21 records that "his servants Jozacar son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer struck him down, and he died." This act of regicide effectively ended the reign of Joash and paved the way for his son, Amaziah, to take the throne.

Relationship to Other Biblical Figures

Jozacar’s primary relationship was with his co-conspirator, Jehozabad. The biblical text often pairs them together, emphasizing their shared role in the king's downfall. While Jehozabad is linked to a Moabitess mother (Shimrith), Jozacar is linked to an Ammonitess (Shimeath). Their partnership represents a rare moment where internal court servants—specifically those of foreign maternal extraction—successfully orchestrated the death of a sitting Davidic monarch.

His relationship with King Joash was that of a servant turned executioner. Following the assassination, Jozacar’s fate is not explicitly detailed in the verses mentioning him; however, the subsequent narrative in 2 Kings 14:5 notes that once Amaziah’s kingdom was established, he executed the officials who had murdered his father, which presumably included Jozacar.

Spiritual Significance

In the context of the Deuteronomistic history, Jozacar serves as an instrument of judgment. The Chronicler explicitly links the conspiracy to the "blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest" (2 Chronicles 24:25). Thus, while Jozacar’s motives may have been political or personal, the biblical narrative frames his actions as a divine consequence for Joash’s betrayal of the priestly family that had saved his life and secured his crown.

The mention of his Ammonite heritage also serves a polemical purpose in the Post-Exilic context of the Book of Chronicles, warning against the influence and dangers posed by foreign elements within the covenant community of Israel.