And they conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of the house of the LORD.
They plotted against him and threw stones at him until he died, following the king's orders, right there in the courtyard of the Lord's temple.
This verse describes how King Joash ordered the brutal execution of Zechariah the priest in God's own temple courtyard, showing how far the king had fallen from righteousness.
📚 Historical Context
This refers to the stoning of Zechariah, son of Jehoiada the priest who had saved and mentored King Joash. After Jehoiada died, Joash turned away from God and listened to corrupt officials who led him astray. When Zechariah spoke out against their idolatry and warned of God's judgment, Joash ordered his execution in the very temple where he had once been protected as a child.
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