The abandonment of the temple — 'And they abandoned the house of the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and served the Asherim and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt of theirs' (ויעזבו את בית יהוה אלהי אבותיהם וַיְעָבְדוּ אֶת־הָאֲשֵׁרִים וְאַבְנֵי הַגִּלּוּלִים וַתְּהִי קְצַף עַל־יְהוּדָה וִירוּשָׁלִַם עַל־אַשְׁמַת־הַזֹּאת). The language of abandonment (עזב) of the LORD and service (עבדו) of Asherim and idols mirrors the earlier apostasy under Ahaziah. The phrase 'wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem for this guilt' (קצף על יהודה וירושׁלם על אשׁמת הזאת) invokes the divine judgment that follows covenant violation. The removal of Jehoiada's influence removes the brake on idolatry; the officials seduce Joash into apostasy.

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