מלכים ב, פרק י״ב, פסוק כ׳

A general reference to a king's remaining deeds often conceals dramatic events that were intentionally left out of the main narrative. For King Joash, the brief summary of his final days hides severe actions that are fully recorded in the Book of Chronicles. After Joash strayed from the proper path, Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada the priest, stepped forward to rebuke him. Instead of accepting the correction, the king ordered Zechariah to be executed right in the courtyard of the House of God.

The consequences for this murder arrived a year later through a renewed Aramean attack. Unlike an earlier invasion, this assault was carried out by a small force that arrived without their king, Hazael. Despite their small numbers, the Arameans managed to wipe out the leaders of Judah and severely wound Joash. They left the king suffering from numerous illnesses, a vulnerable state that ultimately led his own servants to plot against him and take his life.

The prophet Jeremiah, who authored the Book of Kings, deliberately chose not to spell out these dark events. He omitted the details because the story was already widely known during his time, as the spilled blood of Zechariah continued to bubble on the ground, refusing to settle [מלבי״ם].