Joash in the Bible Encyclopedia - ISBE
jo'-ash (yo'ash, "Yahweh is strong" or "Yahweh has
bestowed"; Ioas):
(1) Father of Gideon, of the clan of Abiezer and the tribe
Manasseh (Jdg 6:11,29,30,31; 7:14; 8:13,19,32). Gideon
declares (Jdg 6:15) that the family is the poorest in
Manasseh, words similar to those of Saul (1 Sam 9:21), and
not to be taken too literally. Joash would be a man of
standing and wealth, for Gideon was able to command 10
servants to destroy the altar and the Asherah (Jdg 6:27,34),
and also to summon the whole clan to follow him. Further,
the altar that Joash had was that used by the community (Jdg
6:28), so that he would be the priest, not only of his own
family qua paterfamilias, but also of the community in
virtue of his position as chief. When Gideon destroyed the
altar and the Asherah or sacred pillar by it, Joash refused
to deliver his son to death, declaring that Baal, if he was
a god, should avenge himself (compare Elijah in 1 Ki 18).
(2) Called "the king's son" (1 Ki 22:26; 2 Ch 18:25; compare
Jer 36:26; 38:6), or, less probably, "the son of Hammelech,"
the Revised Version margin; perhaps a son of Ahab. Micaiah
the prophet was handed over to his custody and that of Amon
by Ahab.
(3) A Judahite, descendant of Shelah (1 Ch 4:22).
(4) A Benjamite recruit of David at Ziklag. Commentators
read here, "Joash the son of Shemaiah (or Jehoshamai), the
Gibeathite" (1 Ch 12:3).
(5) In 2 Ki 11:2, etc. = Jehoash, king of Judah.
(6) In 2 Ki 13:9, etc. = Jehoash, king of Northern Israel.
David Francis Roberts
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