2 Kings 12:18

And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold [that was] found in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and in the king's house, and sent [it] to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.

And Jehoash {H3060} king {H4428} of Judah {H3063} took {H3947} all the hallowed things {H6944} that Jehoshaphat {H3092}, and Jehoram {H3088}, and Ahaziah {H274}, his fathers {H1}, kings {H4428} of Judah {H3063}, had dedicated {H6942}, and his own hallowed things {H6944}, and all the gold {H2091} that was found {H4672} in the treasures {H214} of the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068}, and in the king's {H4428} house {H1004}, and sent {H7971} it to Hazael {H2371} king {H4428} of Syria {H758}: and he went away {H5927} from Jerusalem {H3389}.

Y'ho'ash king of Y'hudah took all the consecrated articles that Y'hoshafat, Y'horam and Achazyah, his ancestors, kings of Y'hudah, had dedicated, as well as his own consecrated articles and all the gold found in the treasuries of the house of ADONAI and of the royal palace, and sent them to Haza'el king of Aram, who then withdrew from Yerushalayim.

So King Joash of Judah took all the sacred objects dedicated by his fathers—Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, the kings of Judah—along with his own consecrated items and all the gold found in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the royal palace, and he sent them to Hazael king of Aram. So Hazael withdrew from Jerusalem.

And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of Jehovah, and of the king’s house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.

Commentary

Context of 2 Kings 12:18

This verse describes a critical moment during the reign of King Jehoash (also known as Joash) of Judah. Jehoash had a promising start to his rule, becoming king at a young age and initiating significant repairs to the Temple under the guidance of the priest Jehoiada (2 Kings 12:4-16). However, after Jehoiada's death, Jehoash's reign took a spiritual downturn, as recorded in 2 Chronicles 24:17-18. At this point, Judah faced a severe threat from Hazael, the formidable King of Syria, who had already conquered Gath and was marching towards Jerusalem. Jehoash's desperate act in this verse is a direct response to this military pressure, attempting to buy off Hazael and prevent a devastating siege on the capital.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Desperation and Misplaced Trust: King Jehoash's action reveals a profound sense of desperation. Instead of seeking divine intervention or strengthening Jerusalem's defenses through God's help, he resorted to a worldly solution – bribery. This demonstrates a reliance on human wealth and power rather than the Lord's protection, a significant deviation from the faith often expected of Judah's kings.
  • Sacrilege and Compromise: The verse highlights the use of "hallowed things" – items dedicated to the Lord by his predecessors, and even his own dedicated offerings – to appease an enemy. This represents a serious act of sacrilege, as sacred items intended for God's worship and honor were repurposed for political expediency. It underscores a profound compromise of spiritual principles for immediate physical security.
  • Consequences of Spiritual Decline: This event serves as a stark illustration of the spiritual decline that had taken root in Judah under Jehoash, particularly after the death of the faithful priest Jehoiada. The willingness to plunder the Temple's treasures, which were meant to glorify God, signifies a departure from the covenant and foreshadows further troubles for Jehoash and the kingdom, including his eventual assassination (2 Kings 12:20-21).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "hallowed things" translates from the Hebrew qadashim (קדשים), meaning "holy things" or "things set apart" for God. These were consecrated items, often votive offerings or treasures dedicated to the Temple for sacred use. Their seizure and transfer to a pagan king signify a profound disrespect for their divine purpose and the sanctity of God's house. Similarly, "treasures" (אצרות - otsarot) refers to accumulated wealth, emphasizing the vast amount of valuable resources, both sacred and royal, that were handed over.

Practical Application

The account of 2 Kings 12:18 offers valuable lessons for believers today:

  • Where is Our Trust? In times of crisis or pressure, this verse challenges us to examine where our ultimate trust lies. Do we resort to human schemes and compromises, or do we turn to God for deliverance and wisdom, even when circumstances seem dire?
  • Stewardship of What is Sacred: It reminds us of the importance of respecting and properly stewarding all that is dedicated to God, whether it be material possessions, time, talents, or spiritual principles. What we deem "hallowed" should not be compromised for worldly gain or temporary relief.
  • Vigilance Against Compromise: The narrative serves as a warning against spiritual complacency and compromise, even after periods of faithfulness. Constant vigilance and reliance on God are essential to prevent backsliding and to maintain integrity in our walk with Him.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Kings 15:18

    Then Asa took all the silver and the gold [that were] left in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house, and delivered them into the hand of his servants: and king Asa sent them to Benhadad, the son of Tabrimon, the son of Hezion, king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,

  • 2 Kings 18:15

    And Hezekiah gave [him] all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house.

  • 2 Kings 18:16

    At that time did Hezekiah cut off [the gold from] the doors of the temple of the LORD, and [from] the pillars which Hezekiah king of Judah had overlaid, and gave it to the king of Assyria.

  • 2 Kings 12:4

    ¶ And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the LORD, [even] the money of every one that passeth [the account], the money that every man is set at, [and] all the money that cometh into any man's heart to bring into the house of the LORD,

  • 2 Chronicles 16:2

    Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent to Benhadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,

  • 2 Kings 16:8

    And Ahaz took the silver and gold that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house, and sent [it for] a present to the king of Assyria.

  • 1 Kings 14:26

    And he took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he even took away all: and he took away all the shields of gold which Solomon had made.
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