
2 Kings 12
This chapter recounts the reign of Jehoash (Joash) as king of Judah, focusing on his reforms in repairing the temple. He began his reign under the guidance of Jehoiada the priest, which helped him to do what was right in the sight of the Lord. However, challenges arose in the administration of temple repairs, and Jehoash faced external threats, including an attack by the Syrians. The chapter ends with the assassination of Jehoash and a summary of his reign.
2 Kings 12:1-5 (NKJV)
1 In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba.
2 Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
3 But the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
4 And Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the dedicated gifts that are brought into the house of the Lord—each man’s census money, each man’s assessment money—and all the money that a man purposes in his heart to bring into the house of the Lord,
5 let the priests take it themselves, each from his constituency; and let them repair the damages of the temple, wherever any dilapidation is found.”
Jehoash, becoming king at a young age, was guided by the godly priest Jehoiada, which helped him start his reign in righteousness. However, the high places—where illicit worship occurred—were not removed, indicating incomplete reform. Jehoash’s focus was on the temple’s repair, instituting a system where money collected from various sources was used for repairs. This was an effort to restore the temple, which had been damaged during previous years of neglect and idolatry, ensuring that God’s house remained in good condition.
2 Kings 12:6-8 (NKJV)
6 Now it was so, by the twenty-third year of King Jehoash, that the priests had not repaired the damages of the temple.
7 So King Jehoash called Jehoiada the priest and the other priests, and said to them, “Why have you not repaired the damages of the temple? Now therefore, do not take more money from your constituency, but deliver it for repairing the damages of the temple.”
8 And the priests agreed that they would neither receive more money from the people, nor repair the damages of the temple.
Despite Jehoash’s initiative, the priests failed to repair the temple even after many years. This delay prompted Jehoash to take action by holding them accountable and ensuring that the funds were properly used for the intended purpose. The priests agreed to stop collecting money and to relinquish the responsibility of repairs, which reveals either inefficiency or a lack of prioritization in their duties. This moment highlights the king’s dedication to seeing the temple restored.
2 Kings 12:9-12 (NKJV)
9 Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest, bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into the house of the Lord; and the priests who kept the door put there all the money brought into the house of the Lord.
10 So it was, whenever they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king’s scribe and the high priest came up and put it in bags, and counted the money that was found in the house of the Lord.
11 Then they gave the money, which had been apportioned, into the hands of those who did the work, who had the oversight of the house of the Lord; and they paid it out to the carpenters and builders who worked on the house of the Lord,
12 and to masons and stonecutters, and for buying timber and hewn stone, to repair the damage of the house of the Lord, and for all that was paid out to repair the temple.
A new system was set up, with a chest placed at the temple where people could deposit their offerings. This ensured transparency and accountability, as the money was counted and distributed directly to the workers responsible for the repairs. This approach was more efficient and practical, as the funds were now handled by professionals overseeing the restoration. It shows Jehoash’s commitment to making sure the temple was properly maintained.
2 Kings 12:13-14 (NKJV)
13 However there were not made for the house of the Lord basins of silver, trimmers, sprinkling bowls, trumpets, any articles of gold or articles of silver, from the money brought into the house of the Lord.
14 But they gave that to the workmen, and they repaired the house of the Lord with it.
The money collected was prioritized solely for the structural repairs of the temple rather than for making new utensils or decorative items. This suggests that Jehoash and his administration were more concerned with restoring the integrity of the temple’s physical structure, leaving additional ceremonial objects for a later time. Their focus was on the most urgent needs.
2 Kings 12:15-16 (NKJV)
15 Moreover they did not require an account from the men into whose hand they delivered the money to be paid to workmen, for they dealt faithfully.
16 The money from the trespass offerings and the money from the sin offerings was not brought into the house of the Lord. It belonged to the priests.
The men responsible for distributing the funds to the workmen were trusted because of their faithfulness and integrity. This shows that a level of trust existed among those handling the restoration work. Additionally, the funds from sin and trespass offerings were not used for repairs; those were set aside for the priests, maintaining the proper distribution of different types of offerings.
2 Kings 12:17-18 (NKJV)
17 Hazael king of Syria went up and fought against Gath, and took it; then Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.
18 And Jehoash king of Judah took all the sacred things that his fathers, Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own sacred things, and all the gold found in the treasuries of the house of the Lord and in the king’s house, and sent them to Hazael king of Syria. Then he went away from Jerusalem.
Facing an imminent threat from Hazael, king of Syria, Jehoash chose to appease him by offering all the sacred items and treasures from the temple and royal palace. This payment of tribute prevented an attack on Jerusalem but came at a high cost, as Jehoash gave away valuable and dedicated items. This decision likely reflects the precarious situation of Judah at the time and Jehoash’s attempt to protect his kingdom from destruction.
2 Kings 12:19-21 (NKJV)
19 Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
20 And his servants arose and formed a conspiracy, and killed Joash in the house of the Millo, which goes down to Silla.
21 For Jozachar the son of Shimeath and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, struck him, so he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the City of David. Then Amaziah his son reigned in his place.
Joash’s reign ended in violence when his own servants conspired against him and assassinated him in the house of Millo. Although he initially ruled well under the guidance of Jehoiada, his later actions, including paying tribute to the Syrians and straying from complete faith in God, likely contributed to growing discontent among his servants. This lack of faith and reliance on foreign powers undermined his authority and led to his downfall. His death marks a tragic end to a reign that had begun with hope for reform. After his assassination, he was buried with his fathers in the City of David, and his son Amaziah reigned in his place.