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A Complex Capital Campaign
(א) בֶּן־שֶׁ֥בַע שָׁנִ֖ים יְהוֹאָ֥שׁ בְּמׇלְכֽוֹ׃ {פ}
(ב) בִּשְׁנַת־שֶׁ֤בַע לְיֵהוּא֙ מָלַ֣ךְ יְהוֹאָ֔שׁ וְאַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה מָלַ֖ךְ בִּירוּשָׁלָ֑͏ִם וְשֵׁ֣ם אִמּ֔וֹ צִבְיָ֖ה מִבְּאֵ֥ר שָֽׁבַע׃ (ג) וַיַּ֨עַשׂ יְהוֹאָ֧שׁ הַיָּשָׁ֛ר בְּעֵינֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה כׇּל־יָמָ֑יו אֲשֶׁ֣ר הוֹרָ֔הוּ יְהוֹיָדָ֖ע הַכֹּהֵֽן׃
(1) Jehoash was seven years old when he became king. (2) Jehoash began his reign in the seventh year of Jehu, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba. (3) All his days Jehoash did what was pleasing to the LORD, as the priest Jehoiada instructed him.
(ד) רַ֥ק הַבָּמ֖וֹת לֹא־סָ֑רוּ ע֥וֹד הָעָ֛ם מְזַבְּחִ֥ים וּֽמְקַטְּרִ֖ים בַּבָּמֽוֹת׃
(4) The shrines, however, were not removed; the people continued to sacrifice and offer at the shrines.
(ה) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוֹאָ֜שׁ אֶל־הַכֹּהֲנִ֗ים כֹּל֩ כֶּ֨סֶף הַקֳּדָשִׁ֜ים אֲשֶׁר־יוּבָ֤א בֵית־יְהֹוָה֙ כֶּ֣סֶף עוֹבֵ֔ר אִ֕ישׁ כֶּ֥סֶף נַפְשׁ֖וֹת עֶרְכּ֑וֹ כׇּל־כֶּ֗סֶף אֲשֶׁ֤ר יַֽעֲלֶה֙ עַ֣ל לֶב־אִ֔ישׁ לְהָבִ֖יא בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃ (ו) יִקְח֤וּ לָהֶם֙ הַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים אִ֖ישׁ מֵאֵ֣ת מַכָּר֑וֹ וְהֵ֗ם יְחַזְּקוּ֙ אֶת־בֶּ֣דֶק הַבַּ֔יִת לְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־יִמָּצֵ֥א שָׁ֖ם בָּֽדֶק׃ {פ}
(5) Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money, current money, brought into the House of the LORD as sacred donations—any money a man may pay as the money equivalent of persons, or any other money that a man may be minded to bring to the House of the LORD— (6) let the priests receive it, each from his benefactor; they, in turn, shall make repairs on the House, wherever damage may be found.”
(ה) וַיִּקְבֹּץ֮ אֶת־הַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים וְהַלְוִיִּם֒ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֡ם צְא֣וּ לְעָרֵ֪י יְהוּדָ֟ה וְקִבְצוּ֩ מִכׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל כֶּ֜סֶף לְחַזֵּ֣ק ׀ אֶת־בֵּ֣ית אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֗ם מִדֵּ֤י שָׁנָה֙ בְּשָׁנָ֔ה וְאַתֶּ֖ם תְּמַהֲר֣וּ לַדָּבָ֑ר וְלֹ֥א מִהֲר֖וּ הַלְוִיִּֽם׃
(5) He assembled the priests and the Levites and charged them as follows: “Go out to the towns of Judah and collect money from all Israel for the annual repair of the House of your God. Do it quickly.” But the Levites did not act quickly.
(ז) כִּ֤י עֲתַלְיָ֙הוּ֙ הַמִּרְשַׁ֔עַת בָּנֶ֥יהָ פָרְצ֖וּ אֶת־בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֑ים וְגַם֙ כׇּל־קׇדְשֵׁ֣י בֵית־יְהֹוָ֔ה עָשׂ֖וּ לַבְּעָלִֽים׃
(7) For the children of the wicked Athaliah had violated the House of God and had even used the sacred things of the House of the LORD for the Baals.

(ה)... וְלֹ֥א מִהֲר֖וּ הַלְוִיִּֽם׃ (ו) וַיִּקְרָ֣א הַמֶּ֘לֶךְ֮ לִיהוֹיָדָ֣ע הָרֹאשׁ֒ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ מַדּ֙וּעַ֙ לֹא־דָרַ֣שְׁתָּ עַל־הַלְוִיִּ֔ם לְהָבִ֞יא מִיהוּדָ֣ה וּמִירוּשָׁלַ֗͏ִם אֶת־מַשְׂאַת֙ מֹשֶׁ֣ה עֶבֶד־יְהֹוָ֔ה וְהַקָּהָ֖ל לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לְאֹ֖הֶל הָעֵדֽוּת׃

(5) ...But the Levites did not act quickly. (6) The king summoned Jehoiada the chief and said to him, “Why have you not seen to it that the Levites brought the tax imposed by Moses, the servant of the LORD, and the congregation of Israel from Judah and Jerusalem to the Tent of the Pact?”

(ז) וַיְהִ֗י בִּשְׁנַ֨ת עֶשְׂרִ֧ים וְשָׁלֹ֛שׁ שָׁנָ֖ה לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ יְהוֹאָ֑שׁ לֹא־חִזְּק֥וּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים אֶת־בֶּ֥דֶק הַבָּֽיִת׃ (ח) וַיִּקְרָא֩ הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ יְהוֹאָ֜שׁ לִיהוֹיָדָ֤ע הַכֹּהֵן֙ וְלַכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם מַדּ֛וּעַ אֵינְכֶ֥ם מְחַזְּקִ֖ים אֶת־בֶּ֣דֶק הַבָּ֑יִת וְעַתָּ֗ה אַל־תִּקְחֽוּ־כֶ֙סֶף֙ מֵאֵ֣ת מַכָּרֵיכֶ֔ם כִּֽי־לְבֶ֥דֶק הַבַּ֖יִת תִּתְּנֻֽהוּ׃ (ט) וַיֵּאֹ֖תוּ הַכֹּהֲנִ֑ים לְבִלְתִּ֤י קְחַת־כֶּ֙סֶף֙ מֵאֵ֣ת הָעָ֔ם וּלְבִלְתִּ֥י חַזֵּ֖ק אֶת־בֶּ֥דֶק הַבָּֽיִת׃
(7) But in the twenty-third year of King Jehoash, [it was found that] the priests had not made the repairs on the House. (8) So King Jehoash summoned the priest Jehoiada and the other priests and said to them, “Why have you not kept the House in repair? Now do not accept money from your benefactors any more, but have it donated for the repair of the House.” (9) The priests agreed that they would neither accept money from the people nor make repairs on the House.
מדוע אינכם מחזקים. נראה שיהיו הכהנים שומרים עד שיהיה הכסף רב בידם ואחר יחזקו את בדק הבית והמלך חשד אותם שהיו לוקחים הכסף לעצמם לפיכך אמר להם שלא יקחו הכסף לעצמם אלא מיד שיבא לידם יתנוהו לבדק הבית:
יִקְחוּ לָהֶם הַכֹּהֲנִים. יִהְיֶה שֶׁלָּהֶם, וְהֵם יְקַבְּלוּ עֲלֵיהֶם לְחַזֵּק אֶת בֶּדֶק הַבַּיִת מִשֶּׁלָּהֶם.
Let take [the money] for themselves—the kohanim. [I.e.,] it will be theirs, and [in return] they will obligate themselves to make the [necessary] repairs to the Beis [Hamikdosh] from their own [funds] .
ויאתו הכהנים. בזה וישר בעיניהם שלא יקחוהו כלל כדי שלא יהיו נחשדים בזה הדבר וכיון שלא יקחו הם לא יהיה מוטל עליהם לחזק את הבית וזהו שאמר לבלתי חזק את בדק הבית לפיכך לקח יהוידע הארון ונתנו במבוא הבית שישימו אותו הכהנים שם תכף שיבא לידם:

The Priests agreed: About this, and it was correct in their eyes that they shouldn't be responsible

(י) וַיִּקַּ֞ח יְהוֹיָדָ֤ע הַכֹּהֵן֙ אֲר֣וֹן אֶחָ֔ד וַיִּקֹּ֥ב חֹ֖ר בְּדַלְתּ֑וֹ וַיִּתֵּ֣ן אֹתוֹ֩ אֵ֨צֶל הַמִּזְבֵּ֜חַ (בימין) [מִיָּמִ֗ין] בְּבוֹא־אִישׁ֙ בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֔ה וְנָֽתְנוּ־שָׁ֤מָּה הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ שֹׁמְרֵ֣י הַסַּ֔ף אֶת־כׇּל־הַכֶּ֖סֶף הַמּוּבָ֥א בֵית־יְהֹוָֽה׃ (יא) וַֽיְהִי֙ כִּרְאוֹתָ֔ם כִּי־רַ֥ב הַכֶּ֖סֶף בָּאָר֑וֹן וַיַּ֨עַל סֹפֵ֤ר הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְהַכֹּהֵ֣ן הַגָּד֔וֹל וַיָּצֻ֙רוּ֙ וַיִּמְנ֔וּ אֶת־הַכֶּ֖סֶף הַנִּמְצָ֥א בֵית־יְהֹוָֽה׃ (יב) וְנָֽתְנוּ֙ אֶת־הַכֶּ֣סֶף הַֽמְתֻכָּ֔ן עַל־[יְדֵי֙] (יד) עֹשֵׂ֣י הַמְּלָאכָ֔ה (הפקדים) [הַמֻּפְקָדִ֖ים] בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיּוֹצִיאֻ֜הוּ לְחׇרָשֵׁ֤י הָעֵץ֙ וְלַבֹּנִ֔ים הָעֹשִׂ֖ים בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃ (יג) וְלַגֹּֽדְרִים֙ וּלְחֹצְבֵ֣י הָאֶ֔בֶן וְלִקְנ֤וֹת עֵצִים֙ וְאַבְנֵ֣י מַחְצֵ֔ב לְחַזֵּ֖ק אֶת־בֶּ֣דֶק בֵּית־יְהֹוָ֑ה וּלְכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־יֵצֵ֥א עַל־הַבַּ֖יִת לְחׇזְקָֽה׃
(10) And the priest Jehoiada took a chest and bored a hole in its lid. He placed it at the right side of the altar as one entered the House of the LORD, and the priestly guards of the threshold deposited there all the money that was brought into the House of the LORD. (11) Whenever they saw that there was much money in the chest, the royal scribe and the high priest would come up and put the money accumulated in the House of the LORD into bags, and they would count it. (12) Then they would deliver the money that was weighed out to the overseers of the work, who were in charge of the House of the LORD. These, in turn, used to pay the carpenters and the laborers who worked on the House of the LORD, (13) and the masons and the stonecutters. They also paid for wood and for quarried stone with which to make the repairs on the House of the LORD, and for every other expenditure that had to be made in repairing the House.
(י) וַיִּשְׂמְח֥וּ כׇל־הַשָּׂרִ֖ים וְכׇל־הָעָ֑ם וַיָּבִ֛יאוּ וַיַּשְׁלִ֥יכוּ לָאָר֖וֹן עַד־לְכַלֵּֽה׃
(10) All the officers and all the people gladly brought it and threw it into the chest till it was full.
(יד) אַךְ֩ לֹ֨א יֵעָשֶׂ֜ה בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֗ה סִפּ֥וֹת כֶּ֙סֶף֙ מְזַמְּר֤וֹת מִזְרָקוֹת֙ חֲצֹ֣צְר֔וֹת כׇּל־כְּלִ֥י זָהָ֖ב וּכְלִי־כָ֑סֶף מִן־הַכֶּ֖סֶף הַמּוּבָ֥א בֵית־יְהֹוָֽה׃ (טו) כִּֽי־לְעֹשֵׂ֥י הַמְּלָאכָ֖ה יִתְּנֻ֑הוּ וְחִזְּקוּ־ב֖וֹ אֶת־בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃ (טז) וְלֹ֧א יְחַשְּׁב֣וּ אֶת־הָאֲנָשִׁ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר יִתְּנ֤וּ אֶת־הַכֶּ֙סֶף֙ עַל־יָדָ֔ם לָתֵ֖ת לְעֹשֵׂ֣י הַמְּלָאכָ֑ה כִּ֥י בֶאֱמֻנָ֖ה הֵ֥ם עֹשִֽׂים׃ (יז) כֶּ֤סֶף אָשָׁם֙ וְכֶ֣סֶף חַטָּא֔וֹת לֹ֥א יוּבָ֖א בֵּ֣ית יְהֹוָ֑ה לַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים יִֽהְיֽוּ׃ {פ}
(14) However, no silver bowls and no snuffers, basins, or trumpets—no vessels of gold or silver—were made at the House of the LORD from the money brought into the House of the LORD; (15) this was given only to the overseers of the work for the repair of the House of the LORD. (16) No check was kept on the men to whom the money was delivered to pay the workers; for they dealt honestly. (17) Money brought as a guilt offering or as a sin offering was not deposited in the House of the LORD; it went to the priests.
תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן אֵין מְחַשְּׁבִין בִּצְדָקָה עִם גַּבָּאֵי צְדָקָה וְלֹא בְּהֶקְדֵּשׁ עִם הַגִּזְבָּרִין וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין רְאָיָה לַדָּבָר זֵכֶר לַדָּבָר שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְלֹא יְחַשְּׁבוּ אֶת הָאֲנָשִׁים אֲשֶׁר יִתְּנוּ אֶת הַכֶּסֶף עַל יָדָם לָתֵת לְעֹשֵׂי הַמְּלָאכָה כִּי בֶאֱמֻנָה הֵם עֹשִׂים
§ The Sages taught: One does not calculate sums with charity collectors concerning the money they collected for charity, to verify how much they received and how much they distributed, nor does one calculate sums with the Temple treasurers concerning the property consecrated to the Temple. And even though there is no explicit proof of the matter from the Bible, there is nevertheless an allusion to the matter, as it is stated: “And they did not reckon with the men into whose hand they delivered the money to pay out to the workmen; for they dealt in good faith” (II Kings 12:16).
(יח) אָ֣ז יַעֲלֶ֗ה חֲזָאֵל֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אֲרָ֔ם וַיִּלָּ֥חֶם עַל־גַּ֖ת וַֽיִּלְכְּדָ֑הּ וַיָּ֤שֶׂם חֲזָאֵל֙ פָּנָ֔יו לַעֲל֖וֹת עַל־יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ (יט) וַיִּקַּ֞ח יְהוֹאָ֣שׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־יְהוּדָ֗ה אֵ֣ת כׇּל־הַקֳּדָשִׁ֡ים אֲשֶׁר־הִקְדִּ֣ישׁוּ יְהוֹשָׁפָ֣ט וִיהוֹרָם֩ וַאֲחַזְיָ֨הוּ אֲבֹתָ֜יו מַלְכֵ֤י יְהוּדָה֙ וְאֶת־קֳדָשָׁ֔יו וְאֵ֣ת כׇּל־הַזָּהָ֗ב הַנִּמְצָ֛א בְּאֹצְר֥וֹת בֵּית־יְהֹוָ֖ה וּבֵ֣ית הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיִּשְׁלַ֗ח לַֽחֲזָאֵל֙ מֶ֣לֶךְ אֲרָ֔ם וַיַּ֖עַל מֵעַ֥ל יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃ (כ) וְיֶ֛תֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י יוֹאָ֖שׁ וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָשָׂ֑ה הֲלוֹא־הֵ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֗ים עַל־סֵ֛פֶר דִּבְרֵ֥י הַיָּמִ֖ים לְמַלְכֵ֥י יְהוּדָֽה׃ (כא) וַיָּקֻ֥מוּ עֲבָדָ֖יו וַיִּקְשְׁרוּ־קָ֑שֶׁר וַיַּכּוּ֙ אֶת־יוֹאָ֔שׁ בֵּ֥ית מִלֹּ֖א הַיֹּרֵ֥ד סִלָּֽא׃ (כב) וְיוֹזָכָ֣ר בֶּן־שִׁ֠מְעָ֠ת וִיהוֹזָבָ֨ד בֶּן־שֹׁמֵ֤ר ׀ עֲבָדָיו֙ הִכֻּ֣הוּ וַיָּמֹ֔ת וַיִּקְבְּר֥וּ אֹת֛וֹ עִם־אֲבֹתָ֖יו בְּעִ֣יר דָּוִ֑ד וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ אֲמַצְיָ֥ה בְנ֖וֹ תַּחְתָּֽיו׃ {פ}
(18) At that time, King Hazael of Aram came up and attacked Gath and captured it; and Hazael proceeded to march on Jerusalem. (19) Thereupon King Joash of Judah took all the objects that had been consecrated by his fathers, Kings Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah of Judah, and by himself, and all the gold that there was in the treasuries of the Temple of the LORD and in the royal palace, and he sent them to King Hazael of Aram, who then turned back from his march on Jerusalem. (20) The other events of Joash’s reign, and all his actions, are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Judah. (21) His courtiers formed a conspiracy against Joash and assassinated him at Beth-millo that leads down to Silla. (22) The courtiers who assassinated him were Jozacar son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer. He died and was buried with his fathers in the City of David; and his son Amaziah succeeded him as king.
(טו) וַיִּזְקַ֧ן יְהוֹיָדָ֛ע וַיִּשְׂבַּ֥ע יָמִ֖ים וַיָּמֹ֑ת בֶּן־מֵאָ֧ה וּשְׁלֹשִׁ֛ים שָׁנָ֖ה בְּמוֹתֽוֹ׃ (טז) וַיִּקְבְּרֻ֥הוּ בְעִיר־דָּוִ֖יד עִם־הַמְּלָכִ֑ים כִּֽי־עָשָׂ֤ה טוֹבָה֙ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְעִ֥ם הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים וּבֵיתֽוֹ׃ {פ}
(יז) וְאַחֲרֵ֥י מוֹת֙ יְה֣וֹיָדָ֔ע בָּ֚אוּ שָׂרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה וַיִּֽשְׁתַּחֲו֖וּ לַמֶּ֑לֶךְ אָ֛ז שָׁמַ֥ע הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ (יח) וַיַּעַזְב֗וּ אֶת־בֵּ֤ית יְהֹוָה֙ אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבֽוֹתֵיהֶ֔ם וַיַּֽעַבְד֥וּ אֶת־הָאֲשֵׁרִ֖ים וְאֶת־הָעֲצַבִּ֑ים וַֽיְהִי־קֶ֗צֶף עַל־יְהוּדָה֙ וִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם בְּאַשְׁמָתָ֖ם זֹֽאת׃ (יט) וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח בָּהֶם֙ נְבִאִ֔ים לַהֲשִׁיבָ֖ם אֶל־יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיָּעִ֥ידוּ בָ֖ם וְלֹ֥א הֶאֱזִֽינוּ׃ {ס} (כ) וְר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֗ים לָֽבְשָׁה֙ אֶת־זְכַרְיָה֙ בֶּן־יְהוֹיָדָ֣ע הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וַֽיַּעֲמֹ֖ד מֵעַ֣ל לָעָ֑ם וַיֹּ֨אמֶר לָהֶ֜ם כֹּ֣ה ׀ אָמַ֣ר הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים לָמָה֩ אַתֶּ֨ם עֹבְרִ֜ים אֶת־מִצְוֺ֤ת יְהֹוָה֙ וְלֹ֣א תַצְלִ֔יחוּ כִּֽי־עֲזַבְתֶּ֥ם אֶת־יְהֹוָ֖ה וַיַּעֲזֹ֥ב אֶתְכֶֽם׃ (כא) וַיִּקְשְׁר֣וּ עָלָ֔יו וַיִּרְגְּמֻ֥הוּ אֶ֖בֶן בְּמִצְוַ֣ת הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ בַּחֲצַ֖ר בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃ (כב) וְלֹא־זָכַ֞ר יוֹאָ֣שׁ הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ הַחֶ֙סֶד֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֜ה יְהוֹיָדָ֤ע אָבִיו֙ עִמּ֔וֹ וַֽיַּהֲרֹ֖ג אֶת־בְּנ֑וֹ וּכְמוֹת֣וֹ אָמַ֔ר יֵ֥רֶא יְהֹוָ֖ה וְיִדְרֹֽשׁ׃ {פ}
(15) Jehoiada reached a ripe old age and died; he was one hundred and thirty years old at his death. (16) They buried him in the City of David together with the kings, because he had done good in Israel, and on behalf of God and His House. (17) But after the death of Jehoiada, the officers of Judah came, bowing low to the king; and the king listened to them. (18) They forsook the House of the LORD God of their fathers to serve the sacred posts and idols; and there was wrath upon Judah and Jerusalem because of this guilt of theirs. (19) The LORD sent prophets among them to bring them back to Him; they admonished them but they would not pay heed. (20) Then the spirit of God enveloped Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest; he stood above the people and said to them, “Thus God said: Why do you transgress the commandments of the LORD when you cannot succeed? Since you have forsaken the LORD, He has forsaken you.” (21) They conspired against him and pelted him with stones in the court of the House of the LORD, by order of the king. (22) King Joash disregarded the loyalty that his father Jehoiada had shown to him, and killed his son. As he was dying, he said, “May the LORD see and requite it.”
(ה) וְאַ֨ךְ אֶת־דִּמְכֶ֤ם לְנַפְשֹֽׁתֵיכֶם֙ אֶדְרֹ֔שׁ מִיַּ֥ד כׇּל־חַיָּ֖ה אֶדְרְשֶׁ֑נּוּ וּמִיַּ֣ד הָֽאָדָ֗ם מִיַּד֙ אִ֣ישׁ אָחִ֔יו אֶדְרֹ֖שׁ אֶת־נֶ֥פֶשׁ הָֽאָדָֽם׃
(5) But for your own life-blood I will require a reckoning: I will require it of every beast; of man, too, will I require a reckoning for human life, of every man for that of his fellow man!
(טו) וַיְצַו֩ יְהוֹיָדָ֨ע הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אֶת־שָׂרֵ֥י (המאיות) [הַמֵּא֣וֹת ׀] פְּקֻדֵ֣י הַחַ֗יִל וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם֙ הוֹצִ֤יאוּ אֹתָהּ֙ אֶל־מִבֵּ֣ית לַשְּׂדֵרֹ֔ת וְהַבָּ֥א אַחֲרֶ֖יהָ הָמֵ֣ת בֶּחָ֑רֶב כִּ֚י אָמַ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן אַל־תּוּמַ֖ת בֵּ֥ית יְהֹוָֽה׃
(15) Then the priest Jehoiada gave the command to the army officers, the chiefs of hundreds, and said to them, “Take her out between the ranks and, if anyone follows her, put him to the sword.” For the priest thought: “Let her not be put to death in the House of the LORD.”
(כ) רְאֵ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ וְֽהַבִּ֔יטָה לְמִ֖י עוֹלַ֣לְתָּ כֹּ֑ה אִם־תֹּאכַ֨לְנָה נָשִׁ֤ים פִּרְיָם֙ עֹלְלֵ֣י טִפֻּחִ֔ים אִם־יֵהָרֵ֛ג בְּמִקְדַּ֥שׁ אֲדֹנָ֖י כֹּהֵ֥ן וְנָבִֽיא׃ {ס}
(20) See, O LORD, and behold, To whom You have done this! Alas, women eat their own fruit, Their new-born babes! Alas, priest and prophet are slain In the Sanctuary of the Lord!
(כג) וַיְהִ֣י ׀ לִתְקוּפַ֣ת הַשָּׁנָ֗ה עָלָ֣ה עָלָיו֮ חֵ֣יל אֲרָם֒ וַיָּבֹ֗אוּ אֶל־יְהוּדָה֙ וִיר֣וּשָׁלַ֔͏ִם וַיַּשְׁחִ֛יתוּ אֶת־כׇּל־שָׂרֵ֥י הָעָ֖ם מֵעָ֑ם וְכׇל־שְׁלָלָ֥ם שִׁלְּח֖וּ לְמֶ֥לֶךְ דַּרְמָֽשֶׂק׃ (כד) כִּי֩ בְמִצְעַ֨ר אֲנָשִׁ֜ים בָּ֣אוּ ׀ חֵ֣יל אֲרָ֗ם וַֽיהֹוָה֙ נָתַ֨ן בְּיָדָ֥ם חַ֙יִל֙ לָרֹ֣ב מְאֹ֔ד כִּ֣י עָֽזְב֔וּ אֶת־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י אֲבוֹתֵיהֶ֑ם וְאֶת־יוֹאָ֖שׁ עָשׂ֥וּ שְׁפָטִֽים׃ (כה) וּבְלֶכְתָּ֣ם מִמֶּ֗נּוּ כִּי־עָזְב֣וּ אֹתוֹ֮ בְּמַחֲלֻיִ֣ים רַבִּים֒ הִתְקַשְּׁר֨וּ עָלָ֜יו עֲבָדָ֗יו בִּדְמֵי֙ בְּנֵי֙ יְהֽוֹיָדָ֣ע הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וַיַּהַרְגֻ֥הוּ עַל־מִטָּת֖וֹ וַיָּמֹ֑ת וַֽיִּקְבְּרֻ֙הוּ֙ בְּעִ֣יר דָּוִ֔יד וְלֹ֥א קְבָרֻ֖הוּ בְּקִבְר֥וֹת הַמְּלָכִֽים׃ (כו) וְאֵ֖לֶּה הַמִּתְקַשְּׁרִ֣ים עָלָ֑יו זָבָ֗ד בֶּן־שִׁמְעָת֙ הָעַמּוֹנִ֔ית וִיה֣וֹזָבָ֔ד בֶּן־שִׁמְרִ֖ית הַמּוֹאָבִֽית׃ (כז) וּבָנָ֞יו (ורב) [יִ֧רֶב] הַמַּשָּׂ֣א עָלָ֗יו וִיסוֹד֙ בֵּ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים הִנָּ֣ם כְּתוּבִ֔ים עַל־מִדְרַ֖שׁ סֵ֣פֶר הַמְּלָכִ֑ים וַיִּמְלֹ֛ךְ אֲמַצְיָ֥הוּ בְנ֖וֹ תַּחְתָּֽיו׃ {פ}
(23) At the turn of the year, the army of Aram marched against him; they invaded Judah and Jerusalem, and wiped out all the officers of the people from among the people, and sent all the booty they took to the king of Damascus. (24) The invading army of Aram had come with but a few men, but the LORD delivered a very large army into their hands, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. They inflicted punishments on Joash. (25) When they withdrew, having left him with many wounds, his courtiers plotted against him because of the murder of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and they killed him in bed. He died and was buried in the City of David; he was not buried in the tombs of the kings. (26) These were the men who conspired against him: Zabad son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad son of Shimrith the Moabitess. (27) As to his sons, and the many pronouncements against him, and his rebuilding of the House of God, they are recorded in the story in the book of the kings. His son Amaziah succeeded him as king.
חזא דמיה דזכריה דהוה קא רתח אמר להו מאי האי אמרו ליה דם זבחים הוא דאישתפיך אמר להו אייתי ואנסי אי מדמו כסי ולא אידמו אמר להו גלו לי ואי לא סריקנא לכו לבשרייכו במסריקא דפרזלא אמרו ליה האי כהן ונביא הוא דאינבי להו לישראל בחורבנא דירושלם וקטלוהו אמר להו אנא מפייסנא ליה אייתי רבנן קטיל עילויה ולא נח אייתי דרדקי דבי רב קטיל עילויה ולא נח אייתי פרחי כהונה קטיל עילויה ולא נח עד די קטל עילויה תשעין וארבעה ריבוא ולא נח קרב לגביה אמר זכריה זכריה טובים שבהן איבדתים ניחא לך דאיקטלינהו לכולהו מיד נח הרהר תשובה בדעתיה אמר מה הם שלא איבדו אלא נפש אחת כך ההוא גברא מה תיהוי עליה ערק שדר פורטיתא לביתיה ואיתגייר
When he reached the Sanctuary, he saw the blood of Zechariah the priest boiling. It had not calmed since he was killed in the Temple (see II Chronicles 24:20–22). Nebuzaradan said to the priests there: What is this? They said to him: It is the blood of offerings that was spilled. Nebuzaradan said to them: Bring animals and I will test to determine if the blood of the animals is similar to the blood that is boiling. He slaughtered the animals and their blood was not similar to the boiling blood. Nebuzaradan said to the priests: Reveal the source of that blood to me, and if not I will comb your flesh with an iron comb. The priests said to Nebuzaradan: This blood is the blood of a priest and a prophet who prophesied for the Jewish people with regard to the destruction of Jerusalem and whom they killed. He said to the priests: I will pacify the blood so the boiling will stop. He brought the Sages and killed them over the blood and its boiling did not cease. He brought schoolchildren and killed them over the blood and its boiling did not cease. He brought young priests and killed them over the blood and its boiling did not cease. He continued killing until he killed 940,000 people over the blood, and its boiling did not cease. Nebuzaradan approached the blood and said: Zechariah, Zechariah, the worthy among them I killed on your behalf. Is it satisfactory for you that I kill them all? Immediately the boiling ceased. Nebuzaradan contemplated repentance. He said: If they, who caused only one person to perish, gained atonement only after all this killing, then with regard to that man, referring to himself, what will be required for him to gain atonement? He deserted his army and dispatched a last will to his house and converted.