Bible Strands
2 Kings 12:1
In the seventh year of Jehu, Joash became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records the accession of Joash to the throne of Jerusalem, dating his reign to the seventh year of Jehu and noting his mother’s origin in Beersheba. This follows the dynastic collapse described in 2 Kings 11:1 and the political upheaval of 2 Kings 9:27.
The words — מָלַךְ (ma.Lakh) appears twice, literally “he became king” and “he reigned,” anchoring the verse’s focus on the initiation and duration of Joash’s rule.
The thread — The verse links to 2 Kings 11:21, which records Joash’s age at coronation, and to 2 Kings 11:1 and 2 Kings 9:27, which document the violent transitions surrounding his family’s survival.
Why it lands — The text states a chronological marker and royal lineage before any religious evaluation, requiring the reader to track how political succession establishes the baseline for the reforms detailed in 2 Kings 12:2.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Zibiah of Beer–sheba.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 9:27 When King Ahaziah of Judah saw this, he fled up the road toward Beth-haggan. And Jehu pursued him, shouting, “Shoot him too!” So they shot Ahaziah in his chariot on the Ascent of Gur, near Ibleam, and he fled to Megiddo and died there.
- 2 Kings 11:1 When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs.
- 2 Kings 11:21 Joash was seven years old when he became king.
- 1 Chronicles 3:11 Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son,
- 2 Chronicles 24:1 Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba.