2 Kings 10-11 | 2 Chronicles 22:10-23:21

Jehu purged from Israel all of the descendants of Ahab, and also wiped out the worshippers of baal in the land, so God told him that his descendants would reign in Israel to the fourth generation. Yet, in spite of these things, Jehu followed after false gods and did not lead Israel in returning to God. In Judah, when it was realized that Ahaziah was dead, his mother tried to kill all of the royal descendants, but the infant Joash was protected, and raised by the priests in the temple for 6 years. She acted as queen during those 6 years, but when Joash was seven years old the chief priest took steps to make him king, and his grandmother Athaliah was executed for her treason. Joash became king in Judah at the age of 7 years old, and he reigned for 40 years.