2 Kings 12:7

Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the [other] priests, and said unto them, Why repair ye not the breaches of the house? now therefore receive no [more] money of your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house.

Then king {H4428} Jehoash {H3060} called {H7121} for Jehoiada {H3077} the priest {H3548}, and the other priests {H3548}, and said {H559} unto them, Why repair {H2388} ye not the breaches {H919} of the house {H1004}? now therefore receive {H3947} no more money {H3701} of your acquaintance {H4378}, but deliver {H5414} it for the breaches {H919} of the house {H1004}.

So King Y'ho'ash summoned Y'hoyada the cohen and the other cohanim and said to them, "Why aren't you repairing the damaged places in the house? Therefore, you are no longer to take money from those who contribute it personally to you; you must hand it over to be used for repairing the damage in the house."

So King Joash called Jehoiada and the other priests and said, โ€œWhy have you not repaired the damage to the temple? Now, therefore, take no more money from your constituency, but hand it over for the repair of the temple.โ€

Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and for the other priests, and said unto them, Why repair ye not the breaches of the house? now therefore take no more money from your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house.

Commentary

2 Kings 12:7 records a pivotal moment in the reign of King Jehoash (also known as Joash) concerning the long-overdue repair of the Jerusalem Temple. This verse highlights the young king's growing maturity and his direct intervention to address a significant problem of neglect.

Context

King Jehoash ascended to the throne as a child, having been saved from his grandmother Athaliah's purge by the high priest Jehoiada. Under Jehoiada's faithful guidance, Jehoash began his reign with a commitment to righteousness and a desire to restore the Temple, which had fallen into disrepair and even desecration during Athaliah's idolatrous rule. An initial plan for funding the Temple repairs was laid out in 2 Kings 12:4-5, involving money collected from various sources. However, as 2 Kings 12:6 indicates, after 23 years, the priests had still not completed the work. This verse marks King Jehoash's decisive action, directly confronting the priests about their failure and demanding a change in their method of handling the Temple funds.

Key Themes

  • Accountability in Leadership: Jehoash, now a mature king, holds the priests directly responsible for their failure to execute their duties regarding the Temple. This demonstrates his commitment to divine service and proper governance.
  • Stewardship of God's House: The verse underscores the importance of maintaining and revering the sacred space dedicated to God. The "breaches of the house" represent both physical decay and a spiritual laxity that needed rectification.
  • Reform and Initiative: Jehoash doesn't just complain; he proposes a new, more effective system for collecting and managing funds to ensure the repairs are completed. This shift in method shows a practical approach to problem-solving.
  • Prioritizing Sacred Duties: The command to "receive no more money of your acquaintance" implies a potential conflict of interest or inefficiency in the previous system, where personal collections might have superseded the direct application of funds to the Temple's needs.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "breaches" is bedeq (ื‘ึผึถื“ึถืง), which literally means "fissure," "crack," or "damage." It emphasizes the physical dilapidation of the Temple structure, which had been neglected for decades. The phrase "receive no more money of your acquaintance" refers to the prior system where priests collected funds personally from individuals. While not necessarily implying corruption, it suggests this method was inefficient or lacked the necessary oversight to ensure the funds were promptly and entirely directed to the Temple's pressing needs. This led to a new, more centralized system of collection, detailed in 2 Kings 12:9-16, where money was placed directly into a chest at the Temple entrance.

Practical Application

This passage offers valuable lessons for today. It reminds us of the importance of:

  • Maintaining Our Spiritual "Houses": Whether it's a physical church building or our personal spiritual lives, there's a need for consistent maintenance and repair to prevent decay and ensure vitality.
  • Accountability in Service: Leaders and those entrusted with responsibilities, especially in spiritual matters, must be held accountable for fulfilling their duties.
  • Addressing Problems Directly: King Jehoash did not allow the problem to fester. He confronted it head-on and sought a practical solution, which is a model for effective leadership.
  • Prioritizing God's Work: We are called to ensure that resources and efforts are directed effectively towards God's purposes, avoiding inefficiencies or diversions that hinder progress. The focus on maintaining God's house echoes prophetic calls, such as Haggai's rebuke regarding the neglected Temple.

2 Kings 12:7 serves as a powerful reminder that diligence, accountability, and practical reform are essential for the flourishing of God's work.

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 23:1

    ยถ And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him.

  • 2 Kings 11:4

    ยถ And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and shewed them the king's son.

  • 2 Chronicles 24:16

    And they buried him in the city of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God, and toward his house.

  • 2 Kings 12:2

    And Jehoash did [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.

  • 1 Chronicles 21:3

    And Joab answered, The LORD make his people an hundred times so many more as they [be]: but, my lord the king, [are] they not all my lord's servants? why then doth my lord require this thing? why will he be a cause of trespass to Israel?

  • 2 Chronicles 24:5

    And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that ye hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites hastened [it] not.

  • 2 Chronicles 24:14

    And when they had finished [it], they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the house of the LORD, [even] vessels to minister, and to offer [withal], and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.
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