Jehoiada
maleDivided MonarchyMeaning: “The LORD knows”
The high priest who hid the infant prince Joash for six years, overthrew the usurper Athaliah, and guided the young king back to the worship of the LORD.
Biography
Jehoiada was the high priest of Judah whose courage preserved the royal line of David at its most endangered moment. When the wicked queen Athaliah seized the throne and tried to destroy all the royal heirs, Jehoiada and his wife Jehosheba hid the infant prince Joash in the temple for six years (2 Kings 11:2–3).
Overthrowing Athaliah
In the seventh year Jehoiada acted: he armed the temple guards, brought out the seven-year-old Joash, crowned and anointed him king before the people, and had the usurping Athaliah put to death. Then he made a covenant "that they should be the LORD's people," and the people tore down the temple of Baal (2 Kings 11:4–18).
A long, godly influence
Jehoiada guided the young king and led the repair of the temple (2 Kings 12). He lived to 130, and was so honored that he was buried among the kings, "because he had done good in Israel" (2 Chronicles 24:15–16). Sadly, after Jehoiada's death, Joash turned away.
Life Timeline
Hides the infant prince Joash from Athaliah
Crowns Joash and overthrows Athaliah
On the Bible timeline
Jehoiada belongs to the The Divided Monarchy era (c. 930 – 586 BC).
- c. 930 BCThe Kingdom Divides
- 722 BCThe Fall of Samaria
- 586 BCThe Fall of Jerusalem
Themes & lessons from Jehoiada
Biblical themes that run through the passages where Jehoiada appears.
People they appear with
Scripture Appearances
25 verses in 2 books2 Kings7 verses
2 Kings 11:4
And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and shewed them the king's son.
2 Kings 11:9
And the captains over the hundreds did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest commanded: and they took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that should go out on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.
2 Kings 11:15
But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD.
2 Kings 11:17
And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD'S people; between the king also and the people.
2 Kings 12:2
And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
2 Kings 12:7
Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the other priests, and said unto them, Why repair ye not the breaches of the house? now therefore receive no more money of your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house.
2 Kings 12:9
But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one cometh into the house of the LORD: and the priests that kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD. door: Heb. threshold
2 Chronicles18 verses
2 Chronicles 22:11
But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.
2 Chronicles 23:1
And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him.
2 Chronicles 23:8
So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.
2 Chronicles 23:9
Moreover Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David's, which were in the house of God.
2 Chronicles 23:11
Then they brought out the king's son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save the king. God: Heb. Let the king live
2 Chronicles 23:14
Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth of the ranges: and whoso followeth her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said, Slay her not in the house of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 23:16
And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD'S people.
2 Chronicles 23:18
Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the LORD by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David. as it was: Heb. by the hands of David
2 Chronicles 24:2
And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.
2 Chronicles 24:3
And Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he begat sons and daughters.
2 Chronicles 24:6
And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the servant of the LORD, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?
2 Chronicles 24:12
And the king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the LORD, and also such as wrought iron and brass to mend the house of the LORD.
2 Chronicles 24:14
And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the house of the LORD, even vessels to minister, and to offer withal, and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada. to offer: or, pestils
2 Chronicles 24:15
But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old was he when he died.
2 Chronicles 24:17
Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them.
2 Chronicles 24:20
And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, which stood above the people, and said unto them, Thus saith God, Why transgress ye the commandments of the LORD, that ye cannot prosper? because ye have forsaken the LORD, he hath also forsaken you. came: Heb. clothed
2 Chronicles 24:22
Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon it, and require it.
2 Chronicles 24:25
And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases,) his own servants conspired against him for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and slew him on his bed, and he died: and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings.
Frequently asked about Jehoiada
Who was Jehoiada in the Bible?
The high priest who hid the infant prince Joash for six years, overthrew the usurper Athaliah, and guided the young king back to the worship of the LORD.
What does the name Jehoiada mean?
The name Jehoiada means “The LORD knows”.
What did Jehoiada do in the Bible?
Jehoiada served as high priest, of the tribe of Levi.
Where does Jehoiada appear in the Bible?
Jehoiada is mentioned 25 times across 2 books: 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles.
What can we learn from Jehoiada?
The story of Jehoiada touches on themes of temple, the first, athaliah, money, zechariah — explore each to study the lessons drawn from Jehoiada's life.
Sermon Mate
Teaching on Jehoiada?
Organize your sermon notes, link Scripture passages, and build your outline in Sermon Mate — the workspace for ministry leaders.
Open Sermon Mate →