It cannot be doubted that the sections about Joash in 2Kings (xi. 1-xii. 17 [16]), having their scene end subject laid in the temple, are at bottom identical with 2Chronicles xxii. 10-xxiv. 14. In the case of 2Kings xi., to begin with, the beginning and the close, vers. 1-3, vers. 13-20, recur verbatim in 2Chronicles xxii. 10-12, xxiii. 12-21, if trifling alterations be left out of account. But in the central portion also there occur passages which are taken over into 2Chronicles without any change. Only here they are inappropriate, while in the original connection they are intelligible. For the meaning and colour of the whole is entirely altered in Chronicles, as the following comparison in the main passage will show; to understand it one must bear in mind that the regent Athaliah has put to death all the members of the house of David who had escaped the massacre of Jehu, with the exception of the child Joash, who, with the knowledge of Jehoiada, the priest, has found hiding and protection in the temple. 2 KINGS xi 4. In the seventh year Jehoiada sent and took the captains of the Carians and runners, 2CHRONICLES xxiii. 1. _In the seventh year Jehoiada_ sent and took the captains of strengthened himself and _took the captains_, 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. And they went about in Judah and gathered the Levites out of all the cities in Judah, and the chiefs of the fathers of Israel, land they came to Jerusalem. 2 KINGS xi and brought them to him into the house of Jehovah, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of Jehovah, and showed them the king's son; 2CHRONICLES xxiii. 3. And the whole congregation made _a covenant in the house of God_ with the king. And he said unto them, _Behold, the king's son_ shall reign, as Jehovah said concerning the sons of David. 2 KINGS xi 5. And commanded them, saying, This is the thing that ye shall do; the third part of you which enter on the Sabbath and keep the watch of the king's house, 2CHRONICLES xxiii. 4. _This is the thing that ye shall do: the third part of you, which enter on the Sabbath_, of the priests and of the Levites, shall keep the doors. 2 KINGS xi [6. And the third part in the gate of Jesod, and the third part in the gate behind the runners, and ye shall keep the watch in the house...]: 2CHRONICLES xxiii. 5. And the third part of you shall be _in the house of the king_, and the third part in the gate Jesod; and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of Jehovah.