2 Kings 13:12

And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might wherewith he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, [are] they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

And the rest {H3499} of the acts {H1697} of Joash {H3101}, and all that he did {H6213}, and his might {H1369} wherewith he fought {H3898} against Amaziah {H558} king {H4428} of Judah {H3063}, are they not written {H3789} in the book {H5612} of the chronicles {H1697}{H3117} of the kings {H4428} of Israel {H3478}?

Other activities of Yo'ash, all his accomplishments and his power in fighting Amatzyah king of Y'hudah are recorded in the Annals of the Kings of Isra'el.

As for the rest of the acts of Jehoash, along with all his accomplishments and his might, including his war against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel?

Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might wherewith he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

Commentary

Context

This verse serves as a concluding summary statement for the reign of King Joash (Jehoash) of Israel, a common literary device found throughout the books of Kings and Chronicles. It follows the accounts of his interactions with the prophet Elisha, including the prophet's deathbed instructions and the limited victories Joash achieved against the Syrians. The verse specifically highlights his military campaign against Amaziah, king of Judah, indicating that further details of his reign and might are recorded in external historical documents.

Historical & Cultural Context

King Joash ruled the Northern Kingdom of Israel, while Amaziah reigned over the Southern Kingdom of Judah. Despite their shared heritage as descendants of Jacob, the two kingdoms frequently engaged in conflict after the division of the united monarchy. The specific war between Joash and Amaziah is detailed in 2 Kings 14:8-14 and 2 Chronicles 25:17-24, where Amaziah foolishly challenged Joash to battle and suffered a decisive defeat. The reference to "the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel" points to official, contemporary historical records maintained by the Israelite kingdom, which were distinct from the biblical narrative itself. These external chronicles served as source material for the biblical authors, lending credibility to the historical accounts presented in Scripture.

Key Themes

  • Historical Record-Keeping: The verse underscores the ancient practice of maintaining detailed royal annals, confirming the historical basis of the biblical accounts.
  • Summary & Transition: It marks the completion of the narrative regarding Joash's reign and prepares the reader for the succession of the next king.
  • Inter-Kingdom Conflict: It highlights the persistent rivalry and warfare between the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah.
  • Biblical Authority & Sources: The Bible's willingness to reference external records demonstrates its integrity and provides a glimpse into the methods of its compilation.

Linguistic Insights

The rhetorical question, "are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?" is a common literary device in the books of Kings and Chronicles. It is not an expression of doubt, but rather an emphatic affirmation that the mentioned events are indeed recorded and accessible (to the original audience). This technique serves to confirm the historical basis of the narrative and to point to further details not included in the biblical text for brevity or thematic focus.

Practical Application

While seemingly a simple summary, this verse reminds us that the Bible is deeply rooted in real history. It doesn't claim to be an exhaustive historical record of every event but rather a divinely inspired account focused on God's interaction with humanity, particularly His covenant people. For the modern reader, it encourages confidence in the reliability of the biblical narrative, knowing that its authors often drew from and referenced verifiable historical sources. It also teaches us the value of historical documentation and how God can use even secular records to preserve knowledge relevant to His overarching plan.

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

  • 2 Kings 13:14 (2 votes)

    Now Elisha was fallen sick of his sickness whereof he died. And Joash the king of Israel came down unto him, and wept over his face, and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof.

  • 2 Kings 13:25 (2 votes)

    And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again out of the hand of Benhadad the son of Hazael the cities, which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times did Joash beat him, and recovered the cities of Israel.

  • 2 Kings 14:25 (2 votes)

    He restored the coast of Israel from the entering of Hamath unto the sea of the plain, according to the word of the LORD God of Israel, which he spake by the hand of his servant Jonah, the son of Amittai, the prophet, which [was] of Gathhepher.

  • 2 Chronicles 25:17 (2 votes)

    ¶ Then Amaziah king of Judah took advice, and sent to Joash, the son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us see one another in the face.

  • 2 Chronicles 25:24 (2 votes)

    And [he took] all the gold and the silver, and all the vessels that were found in the house of God with Obededom, and the treasures of the king's house, the hostages also, and returned to Samaria.

  • 2 Kings 14:8 (2 votes)

    ¶ Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash, the son of Jehoahaz son of Jehu, king of Israel, saying, Come, let us look one another in the face.

  • 2 Kings 14:16 (2 votes)

    And Jehoash slept with his fathers, and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel; and Jeroboam his son reigned in his stead.