2 Chronicles 24:21 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The king and people executed Zechariah by stoning in the temple courtyard.
The Context of 2 Chronicles 24:21
The murder of the prophet Zechariah at Joash's command.
What Does 2 Chronicles 24:21 Mean?
Zechariah's murder marks the climax of Joash's spiritual fall. The execution occurred in the very temple he had restored, transforming it once again into a place of violence and injustice. The king's command to stone the prophet shows Joash's full reversal—he now actively suppresses divine witness. The conspiracy involved multiple parties, making the crime corporate rather than individual.
Stoning in the temple courtyard inverted sacred space into a place of bloodshed. This act violated the sanctuary's sanctity and demonstrated spiritual contamination worse than Athaliah's plunder. The king who once labored to purify the temple now desecrated it with the blood of a righteous man.
Frequently Asked Questions About 2 Chronicles 24:21
What does 2 Chronicles 24:21 mean?
The king and people executed Zechariah by stoning in the temple courtyard.
What is the context of 2 Chronicles 24:21?
The murder of the prophet Zechariah at Joash's command.