Joash

Joash (also Jehoash) was the eighth king of Judah, the sole survivor of Athaliah's massacre of the royal seed, hidden in the temple as an infant by the priest Jehoiada (2 Kings 11). Crowned at age seven in a coup that overthrew the usurper Athaliah, Joash reigned around 835–796 BC. Under Jehoiada's influence he undertook major repairs to the Jerusalem temple, instituting a collection system to fund the restoration work (2 Kings 12:4–16; 2 Chronicles 24:4–14). After Jehoiada's death, however, Joash reverted to idolatry; he even ordered the stoning of Jehoiada's son Zechariah for prophesying against him (2 Chronicles 24:20–22). He was later assassinated by his own servants (2 Kings 12:20–21).