2 Kings 12:19

KJV

And 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?

KJV (with Strong's)

And the rest {H3499} of the acts {H1697} of Joash {H3101}, and all that he did {H6213}, are they not written {H3789} in the book {H5612} of the chronicles {H1697}{H3117} of the kings {H4428} of Judah {H3063}?

Complete Jewish Bible

Other activities of Yo'ash and all his accomplishments are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Y'hudah.

Berean Standard Bible

As for the rest of the acts of Joash, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah?

American Standard Version

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?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Second Kings 12:19 serves as a conventional editorial conclusion to the narrative of King Joash's reign in Judah, directing the reader to external, more comprehensive historical records for further details of his "acts" and "all that he did." This formulaic statement underscores the biblical author's theological selectivity, emphasizing that while the scriptural account is historically grounded and verifiable, its primary purpose is not to provide a exhaustive national history but rather to highlight events that reveal God's covenantal dealings with His people and the consequences of their faithfulness or unfaithfulness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse marks the end of the main narrative concerning King Joash (also known as Jehoash), immediately preceding the account of his assassination by his servants. It is a standard concluding formula used throughout the Books of Kings for nearly every monarch, signaling that the biblical author has presented the divinely inspired summary of the king's reign and refers the reader to the official state annals for additional information. The preceding chapters detail Joash's miraculous rescue from Athaliah's purge as an infant, his enthronement under the guidance of the high priest Jehoiada, and his initial faithfulness, particularly in the significant temple repair project described in [2 Kings 12:4-16](/2_kings/12-4 "2 Kings 12:4-16 - Joash's Temple Repairs"). However, the broader narrative, especially in [2 Chronicles 24](/2_chronicles/24 "2 Chronicles 24 - Joash's Apostasy and Death"), reveals Joash's tragic apostasy after Jehoiada's death, leading to Judah's decline and his eventual downfall, which this concluding note implicitly covers.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The practice of keeping official royal annals was common in the ancient Near East. Kingdoms maintained scribes whose duty it was to record the significant events, policies, military campaigns, and administrative decisions of their monarchs. These "chronicles" were state-sponsored historical documents, distinct from the inspired biblical texts, though the biblical authors often drew upon them as source material. The reference to "the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah" indicates that the southern kingdom, like other monarchies of the time, meticulously preserved its royal records. This practice provided a verifiable historical backdrop for the biblical narrative, demonstrating that the events described were rooted in actual historical occurrences and were not mere legends or myths.
* **Key Themes:** The verse, though seemingly administrative, contributes to several key themes within the Books of Kings and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it reinforces the **historical veracity and reliability of Scripture**, asserting that the biblical account is grounded in verifiable historical records, even if those records are not entirely preserved for us today. Secondly, it highlights the **theological selectivity and purpose of the biblical narrative**. The inspired authors of Kings were not writing exhaustive national histories but rather theological histories, focusing on those aspects of a king's reign that illuminated their covenant relationship with God and the consequences of their obedience or disobedience. For example, Joash's early faithfulness and later apostasy are emphasized because they serve as a powerful lesson on the importance of sustained devotion to the Lord, as seen in [2 Chronicles 24:17-22](/2_chronicles/24-17 "2 Chronicles 24:17-22 - Joash's Departure from God"). Finally, the consistent reference to these chronicles subtly points to **God's meticulous oversight of human history**, suggesting that even the seemingly mundane details of royal reigns are known and, in some sense, preserved under His sovereign hand.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Acts (Hebrew, _divrei_):** This word, often translated as "deeds," "events," or "matters," refers to the comprehensive scope of a king's activities and accomplishments during his reign. It encompasses not only significant political or military achievements but also the daily affairs, policies, and character of the monarch. The use of "all that he did" further emphasizes the totality of Joash's public and private life as king.
* **Book of the chronicles (Hebrew, _sepher divrei hayamim_):** This specific phrase denotes the official, state-kept annals or daily records of the kings. It literally means "book of the matters of the days" or "book of the events of the times." These were not popular histories but rather administrative records maintained by royal scribes, detailing the official business of the monarchy. It's crucial to distinguish these ancient royal annals from the canonical biblical books of 1 and 2 Chronicles, though the latter likely utilized the former as source material.
* **Kings of Judah (Hebrew, _malkhei Yehudah_):** This specifies that the referred-to chronicles were those of the southern kingdom, Judah, indicating a distinct set of records from those of the northern kingdom of Israel, which also had its own set of royal annals (e.g., [1 Kings 14:19](/1_kings/14-19 "1 Kings 14:19 - Jeroboam's Reign")). This distinction underscores the separate historical trajectories and record-keeping practices of the two divided kingdoms.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did":** This opening clause serves as a clear indication that the biblical account of Joash's reign is not exhaustive. It acknowledges that there is a larger body of information concerning his rule, encompassing the full range of his deeds, policies, and life choices, beyond what the inspired author has chosen to include in the narrative of Kings. This phrase highlights the biblical text's selective nature, focusing on the theologically significant aspects of Joash's reign.
* **"[are] they not written":** This is a rhetorical question, functioning as an emphatic affirmation. It is not seeking information but rather asserting that the information *is* indeed recorded and accessible elsewhere. This literary device directs the reader's attention to the existence of external, verifiable historical documents, thereby lending credibility and historical grounding to the biblical narrative. It implies that the biblical author is well aware of these records and is confident in their contents.
* **"in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?":** This final clause precisely identifies the source of the additional information: the official state annals of the Judean monarchy. By explicitly naming these "chronicles," the biblical author grounds the narrative in historical reality, inviting readers to consult these (now mostly lost) external records if they desire more comprehensive details. This practice reinforces the historical reliability of the biblical account, demonstrating its basis in documented history rather than mythical tradition.

#### Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs a **Formulaic Closing** common throughout the Books of Kings, which serves as a consistent structural marker for the end of a king's reign. This formula typically includes the king's death, burial, succession, and a reference to external historical records. The phrase "[are] they not written" is a powerful **Rhetorical Question**, which functions not as an inquiry but as an emphatic assertion, affirming the existence and accessibility of the mentioned historical records. This device strengthens the sense of historical veracity. Furthermore, the verse demonstrates **Intertextuality** or **Referentiality**, as it explicitly points beyond itself to an external body of literature ("the book of the chronicles"), thereby establishing a connection between the inspired biblical narrative and the broader historical documentation of the ancient world. This also implies a degree of **Ellipsis** or **Conciseness** in the biblical narrative, as it deliberately chooses to summarize rather than exhaustively detail every aspect of a king's reign, prioritizing theological lessons over comprehensive historical reporting.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This seemingly administrative verse carries profound theological weight. It underscores the Bible's commitment to historical truth, demonstrating that the inspired narrative is not a collection of fables but an account rooted in real events and verifiable records. This commitment to historical accuracy serves as a foundation for the theological claims of Scripture, affirming that God acts within human history. The consistent reference to external chronicles throughout Kings highlights God's sovereignty over all of history, including the meticulous record-keeping of human governments. While these human records are incomplete and often biased, they nonetheless bear witness to a divine hand that orchestrates events and ensures that the essential story of His covenant people is preserved, both in human annals and, more importantly, in His inspired Word. The verse also implicitly teaches about the selective nature of divine revelation; God reveals what is necessary for our salvation and spiritual instruction, not every detail of human existence.

* [Deuteronomy 31:19](/deuteronomy/31-19 "Deuteronomy 31:19 - Write this song")
* [Luke 1:1-4](/luke/1-1 "Luke 1:1-4 - Luke's Purpose for Writing")
* [Revelation 20:12](/revelation/20-12 "Revelation 20:12 - The Books Opened")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The brief, administrative note in 2 Kings 12:19 offers a quiet but profound assurance to the modern reader: the biblical narrative is profoundly rooted in historical reality. This should bolster our confidence in the trustworthiness of God's Word. It reminds us that the God who inspired these accounts is the God of history, meticulously overseeing all events, from the grand narratives of kings to the minute details of individual lives. Just as Joash's "acts" were recorded in earthly chronicles, so too are our lives being lived out before an omniscient God, whose "books" contain every thought, word, and deed. This truth should inspire both reverence and responsibility. It calls us to live lives worthy of the Gospel, knowing that our choices, both public and private, contribute to a spiritual record that holds eternal significance. Our lives are not random; they are part of God's grand narrative, and our faithfulness, or lack thereof, has lasting consequences.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the Bible's consistent reference to external historical documents, like the "chronicles of the kings of Judah," strengthen your confidence in the historical reliability of Scripture?**
* **Considering that Joash's "rest of the acts" were recorded, what does this imply about God's comprehensive knowledge of your own life and the importance of seemingly small daily choices?**
* **In what ways can you live more intentionally, recognizing that your life is a "chronicle" being written before God, and what kind of story do you desire it to tell?**

### FAQ
**What is "the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah"?**

Answer: "The book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah" refers to the official, state-maintained royal annals or historical records of the Kingdom of Judah. These were administrative documents compiled by royal scribes, detailing the significant events, policies, and deeds of each king during their reign. They were distinct from the canonical biblical books of 1 and 2 Chronicles, though the biblical authors of Chronicles likely utilized these very royal annals as source material for their inspired writings. The reference in [2 Kings 12:19](/2_kings/12-19 "2 Kings 12:19 - The Chronicles of Joash") indicates that the biblical author was aware of and relied upon these external historical records, underscoring the historical grounding of the biblical narrative.

**Why does the Bible frequently refer to these external historical books?**

Answer: The Bible refers to these external historical books for several key reasons. Firstly, it serves to affirm the historical reliability and veracity of the biblical narrative, demonstrating that the events described are rooted in actual historical occurrences and were not fabricated. The authors were not writing mythology but recounting real history. Secondly, it highlights the theological selectivity of the biblical account. The inspired authors chose to include only those details necessary to convey God's message and His dealings with humanity, referring readers to more comprehensive secular records for additional historical data. This shows that the Bible's purpose is not to be an exhaustive history book but a divinely inspired theological narrative. Finally, it implicitly acknowledges God's sovereignty over all of history, including the meticulous record-keeping of human kingdoms, suggesting that even these secular archives served a purpose in preserving the historical context for God's unfolding plan. This practice is seen throughout Kings, for example, in references to the "book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel" for northern kingdom rulers like Jeroboam ([1 Kings 14:19](/1_kings/14-19 "1 Kings 14:19 - Jeroboam's Reign")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While 2 Kings 12:19 points to the earthly chronicles of King Joash, it subtly directs our gaze toward the ultimate "chronicle" of God's redemptive history, which finds its climactic fulfillment in Jesus Christ. The "acts" of Joash, like all human kings, were imperfect and ultimately led to his downfall, illustrating humanity's inability to achieve lasting righteousness. In contrast, the "acts" of Jesus are perfect, eternally significant, and foundational to our salvation. He is the true King whose life, death, and resurrection constitute the central events of all history, recorded not merely in human annals but in the divinely inspired Gospels ([Luke 1:1-4](/luke/1-1 "Luke 1:1-4 - Luke's Purpose for Writing")). He is the one whose every "act" was in perfect obedience to the Father, fulfilling all righteousness and securing our redemption ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience")). The ultimate "book of chronicles" that truly matters is the [Lamb's Book of Life](/revelation/21-27 "Revelation 21:27 - Book of Life"), in which the names of those redeemed by Christ are eternally inscribed. Thus, Joash's earthly record, though historically significant, pales in comparison to the eternal record of Christ's perfect work, which offers hope and salvation to all who believe, ushering in a kingdom that will never end ([Daniel 7:14](/daniel/7-14 "Daniel 7:14 - Everlasting Dominion")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

2 Kings 8:23

And the rest of the acts of Joram, and all that he did, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

1 Kings 14:29

Now the rest of the acts of Rehoboam, and all that he did, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

1 Kings 11:41

¶ And the rest of the acts of Solomon, and all that he did, and his wisdom, [are] they not written in the book of the acts of Solomon?

1 Kings 14:19

And the rest of the acts of Jeroboam, how he warred, and how he reigned, behold, they [are] written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel.