דברי הימים ב, פרק כ״ד, פסוק כ״א

Zechariah, acting as both a priest and a prophet, stood before the nation and its leaders to deliver a harsh rebuke. His prophetic words provoked an immediate, violent, and highly organized reaction. Rather than facing a proper legal trial overseen by the elders, Zechariah was targeted by a conspiracy. A mob of rioters, acting on behalf of the government, banded together to silence him [מלבי"ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The method of his execution highlights the sheer severity of the crime. King Joash explicitly commanded that the prophet be stoned to death [מצודת דוד]. This order completely violated the established boundaries of royal authority. Under the laws governing the monarchy, a king only holds the right to execute criminals by the sword, never by stoning [מלבי"ם]. Making matters even worse, this brutal assassination took place directly in the courtyard of the House of God, desecrating a profoundly holy space with murder [מלבי"ם].

God did not delay in bringing justice for this terrible act. Just one year later, the Aramean army invaded Judah. Although the invading force was small in number, God granted them overwhelming strength. They wiped out the nation's leaders and inflicted severe blows upon King Joash. After the foreign army retreated, the king's own servants conspired against him. They assassinated Joash on his own bed, exacting revenge for the innocent blood he had spilled.

The historical record frames this sin as a crime against the sons of Jehoiada. This implies that the murder not only ended Zechariah's life but also wiped out his line of future descendants. Alternatively, King Joash may have executed other sons of Jehoiada as well, punishing them because they dared to condemn the king for murdering their brother [רלב"ג].