Joash: Joash sits on his throne, but until now the main actor in his story has been the priest Jehoiada. Now we begin to hear of his own activities, as the “highlights” of his forty-year long reign over Judah are described to us. They do not make particularly inspiring reading.

12:1–3 The introductory regnal formulas for Joash correspond to those found elsewhere for Judean kings who have eschewed idolatry (cf. Asa in 1 Kgs. 15:9ff.; Jehoshaphat in 1 Kgs. 22:41ff.; also the early Solomon, 1 Kgs. 3:3). There is the usual commendation (he did what was right; contrast the verdict on Jehoram and Ahaziah, 2 Kgs. 8:18, 27), accompanied by the usual qualification (the high places were not removed, cf. 1 Kgs. 15:14; 22:43).

12:4–16 The temple of the LORD, we assume, had suffered from some neglect (th…