2 Kings12

King Jehoash began his 40-year reign in Jerusalem, doing right by the Lord under Jehoiada the priest's guidance, though high places persisted. He initiated a temple repair project, initially managed by priests, but later reformed the collection system to ensure funds directly reached the workmen. Towards the end of his reign, he appeased Hazael of Syria with temple treasures and was ultimately assassinated by his servants.
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Jehoash Begins His Reign

1
In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba. ​
2
And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him. ​
3
But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places. ​

Funding the Temple Restoration

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, ​
5
Let the priests take it to them, every man of his acquaintance: and let them repair the breaches of the house, wheresoever any breach shall be found.
6
But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house. ​
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.
8
And the priests consented to receive no more money of the people, neither to repair the breaches of the house. ​
9
But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one cometh into the house of the LORD: and the priests that kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD. ​
10
And it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the house of the LORD.
11
And they gave the money, being told, into the hands of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the LORD: and they laid it out to the carpenters and builders, that wrought upon the house of the LORD,
12
And to masons, and hewers of stone, and to buy timber and hewed stone to repair the breaches of the house of the LORD, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it.
13
Howbeit there were not made for the house of the LORD bowls of silver, snuffers, basons, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of the LORD: ​
14
But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of the LORD.
15
Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen: for they dealt faithfully. ​
16
The trespass money and sin money was not brought into the house of the LORD: it was the priests'. ​

Syrian Threat and Tribute

17
Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem. ​
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. ​

Death of Jehoash

19
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?
20
And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla. ​
21
For Jozachar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, smote him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.

Study Notes for 2 Kings 12

Verse 1

Jehoash (also called Joash) was the sole surviving son of Ahaziah, saved from Athaliah's purge (2 Ki 11). His reign of forty years is one of the longest in Judah's history.

Verse 2

Jehoash’s righteousness was conditional, tied directly to the mentorship of Jehoiada the priest, who had protected him as a child. This suggests his devotion was derived rather than inherent.

Verse 3

The 'high places' (Bamot) were local shrines where unauthorized worship occurred. The failure of even the best kings to remove them illustrates the deep syncretism and popular resistance to centralized worship in Jerusalem.

Verse 4

The three categories of money mentioned cover dedicated vows, mandatory census/tax money, and freewill offerings. This shows the king’s comprehensive plan to fund the necessary repairs.

Verse 6

This delay, lasting 23 years into Jehoash's reign, suggests the priests were either mismanaging the funds or prioritizing their own needs over the Temple structure.

Verse 8

The priests agreed to stop handling the money directly, recognizing the failure of the trust-based system, but also forfeited their role in supervising the repair work.

Verse 9

This new system—a centralized collection chest accessible to all—was designed to bypass clerical corruption and establish clear accountability for the building funds.

Verse 13

All funds were strictly allocated for structural repair (necessity) rather than for new decorative or liturgical items (luxury), emphasizing the urgency of the restoration.

Verse 15

The administration was so trustworthy and transparent that no accounting audit was required from the foremen. This is a rare biblical commendation of integrity in public works.

Verse 16

The money derived from sin and trespass offerings was legally designated for the priests' subsistence (Lev 5:14–16). This verse clarifies that the building funds were kept distinct from the established sacrificial income.

Verse 17

Hazael’s expansion into Philistia (Gath) brought the powerful Aramean kingdom directly to the borders of Judah, posing a grave threat to Jerusalem.

Verse 18

The irony is tragic: after successfully repairing the Temple, Jehoash was forced to strip both the Temple and the palace of dedicated treasures to pay tribute, showing the limits of his political strength.

Verse 20

Jehoash was assassinated by his own servants, possibly as retaliation for his later apostasy and the murder of Jehoiada's son, Zechariah (2 Chron 24). The 'house of Millo' likely refers to a royal citadel or fortress in Jerusalem.

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