2 Kings Chapter 12

At a Glance

  • 2 Kings 12 centers on reform and accountability under King Joash (Jehoash) and the influence of Jehoiada the priest.
  • Historical & Literary Context.
  • This chapter is set within the late 8th century BCE Judah, a period when kings occasionally attempted religious reform but often failed to sustain it.
  • - Reform and accountability: Joash’s initial zeal and funding reform demonstrate a desire to repair the sanctuary and honor the covenant.
  • - The danger of complacency: The post-Jehoiada period shows how leadership drift undermines reform.

2 KINGS CHAPTER 12

Chapter Overview

2 Kings 12 centers on reform and accountability under King Joash (Jehoash) and the influence of Jehoiada the priest. Early in his reign, Joash is portrayed as doing what is right in the sight of the LORD, yet the narrative flags a persistent issue: the high places remain. The central concern is funding and maintenance of the temple. Joash commissions a reform of temple finances, promising to redirect money to repair breaches rather than accumulate personal wealth. The priests and temple staff manage the money, though the process reveals complexity and slow progress. The turning point comes when Jehoiada dies, and Joash gradually lapses into neglect, including allowing misappropriation that undermines the temple’s integrity. The chapter thus presents a case study in reform: initial zeal and proper administration, followed by fragility and drift when spiritual leadership weakens. The unfolding story ends with the temple’s breaches still unresolved, signaling both the difficulty of sustainable reform and the continual need for communal faithfulness.

Historical & Literary Context

This chapter is set within the late 8th century BCE Judah, a period when kings occasionally attempted religious reform but often failed to sustain it. The genre remains a historical narrative with administrative details that reveal how religious reform translates into material stewardship. The temple’s governance is a recurring concern in Kings, reflecting the covenantal conviction that true worship requires disciplined, faithful practice and transparent stewardship of resources.

Key Themes

- Reform and accountability: Joash’s initial zeal and funding reform demonstrate a desire to repair the sanctuary and honor the covenant.

- The danger of complacency: The post-Jehoiada period shows how leadership drift undermines reform.

- Sacred economy and worship: Funds are redirected to temple repair, highlighting the correlation between financial stewardship and spiritual health.

- Leadership succession and memory: Jehoiada’s death marks a turning point that tests Joash’s fidelity.

Modern Application

The chapter offers a practical reminder that reform requires not only good intentions but sustained discipline and ethical leadership. Modern congregations can learn from Joash’s commitment to funding worship spaces and supporting ministry, coupled with vigilance against mismanagement after leadership transitions. It also highlights the importance of institutional memory and accountability structures to prevent drift when visionary leaders depart.

- 2 Kings 11 (covenantal restoration as a backdrop)

- 2 Chronicles 24 (parallel account of Joash’s reforms)

- Nehemiah 5 (temple and temple treasury considerations)

- Malachi 3 (temple stewardship and offerings)

- Jehoiada (to appreciate priestly stewardship)

- Joash (to reflect on reform and accountability)

- Priests and temple staff (for leadership in worship)

Chapter Text

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.

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’.

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.

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.

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