Why King Joash Was Mistaken for a God in the Holy of Holies

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Vaera 16:3

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

Joash also made himself into a god, as it is stated (II Chron. 24:17): "[Now] after the death of Jehoiada the priest, [the princes of Judah came and bowed low to the king]." They said to him: You are a god! Were you not a god, you would not have spent six years in the Holy of Holies. The High Priest would enter there only one time, and everyone would pray for him that he enter in peace; yet you spent six years there. Were you not a god, you would not have lived. At that time he accepted it from them, as it is stated (II Chron. 24:17, continued): "Then the king hearkened unto them." Immediately the Holy One made known to him that he was flesh and blood. What is written (II Chron. 24:24)? "So they inflicted judgments on Joash." Ergo (Ps. 9:21): "Let the nations know that they are only human. Selah."

Themes

Divine JudgmentKingsTempleDeceptionTribes

Biblical References

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