The conclusion of King Joash's reign over Judah is marked by a summary of his life's defining events, spanning his ambitious construction projects, the harsh prophecies directed against him, and the eventual passing of the crown. His assassination was not the result of a widespread rebellion against the royal House of David. Rather, it was a highly targeted act of retaliation for the deep ingratitude he showed toward Jehoiada the priest. Because the general public still desired the continuation of the Davidic dynasty, they immediately crowned his son Amaziah to rule in his place [ביאור שטיינזלץ].
The history of the king was documented in a text known as the Midrash of the Book of Kings. Commentators note that this is not the biblical Book of Kings known today, but a separate composition. It may have served as an expanded appendix to the known historical records [ביאור שטיינזלץ], or perhaps it was a comprehensive chronicle of all the kings that was lost over the generations [רלב״ג]. The title "Midrash" indicates that the book deeply explored and detailed the specific affairs and histories of the monarchs [מצודת דוד].
Within this historical text, several central themes from Joash's era were recorded. It detailed the accounts of his sons, as well as the founding of the House of God, which documented how the king rebuilt, strengthened, and repaired the Temple [מצודת דוד, רד״ק, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The text also highlights a great burden placed upon the king. The primary approach among commentators is that this burden refers to the numerous prophecies and heavy words of rebuke delivered by the prophets against Joash. Others suggest a more specific connection to the sons of Jehoiada the priest, particularly his son Zechariah. Zechariah carried the heavy burden of prophecy to rebuke the king, a mission that ultimately led to his death at the king's own hands within the Temple [רלב״ג].
A completely different perspective offers an alternative understanding of these records. According to this view, the great burden and the founding of the House of God do not refer to prophecies or architectural projects at all. Instead, these were actually the names of two of Joash's sons, and it is the personal stories of these specific children that were recorded in the ancient historical text [מלבי״ם].