Worthy.Bible » Parallel » 2 Kings » Chapter 12 » Verse 1-21

2 Kings 12:1-21 King James Version (KJV)

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, basins, 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.


2 Kings 12:1-21 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 In the seventh H7651 year H8141 of Jehu H3058 Jehoash H3060 began to reign; H4427 and forty H705 years H8141 reigned H4427 he in Jerusalem. H3389 And his mother's H517 name H8034 was Zibiah H6645 of Beersheba. H884

2 And Jehoash H3060 did H6213 that which was right H3477 in the sight H5869 of the LORD H3068 all his days H3117 wherein Jehoiada H3077 the priest H3548 instructed H3384 him.

3 But the high places H1116 were not taken away: H5493 the people H5971 still sacrificed H2076 and burnt incense H6999 in the high places. H1116

4 And Jehoash H3060 said H559 to the priests, H3548 All the money H3701 of the dedicated things H6944 that is brought H935 into the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 even the money H3701 of every one H376 that passeth H5674 the account, the money H3701 that every man H5315 is set at, H6187 and all the money H3701 that cometh H5927 into any man's H376 heart H3820 to bring H935 into the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068

5 Let the priests H3548 take H3947 it to them, every man H376 of his acquaintance: H4378 and let them repair H2388 the breaches H919 of the house, H1004 wheresoever any breach H919 shall be found. H4672

6 But it was so, that in the three H7969 H8141 and twentieth H6242 year H8141 of king H4428 Jehoash H3060 the priests H3548 had not repaired H2388 the breaches H919 of the house. H1004

7 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

8 And the priests H3548 consented H225 to receive H3947 no H1115 more money H3701 of the people, H5971 neither H1115 to repair H2388 the breaches H919 of the house. H1004

9 But Jehoiada H3077 the priest H3548 took H3947 a H259 chest, H727 and bored H5344 a hole H2356 in the lid H1817 of it, and set H5414 it beside H681 the altar, H4196 on the right side H3225 as one H376 cometh H935 into the house H1004 of the LORD: H3068 and the priests H3548 that kept H8104 the door H5592 put H5414 therein all the money H3701 that was brought H935 into the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068

10 And it was so, when they saw H7200 that there was much H7227 money H3701 in the chest, H727 that the king's H4428 scribe H5608 and the high H1419 priest H3548 came up, H5927 and they put up in bags, H6696 and told H4487 the money H3701 that was found H4672 in the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068

11 And they gave H5414 the money, H3701 being told, H8505 into the hands H3027 of them that did H6213 the work, H4399 that had the oversight H6485 H6485 of the house H1004 of the LORD: H3068 and they laid it out H3318 to the carpenters H2796 H6086 and builders, H1129 that wrought H6213 upon the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068

12 And to masons, H1443 and hewers H2672 of stone, H68 and to buy H7069 timber H6086 and hewed H4274 stone H68 to repair H2388 the breaches H919 of the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and for all that was laid out H3318 for the house H1004 to repair H2394 it.

13 Howbeit there were not made H6213 for the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 bowls H5592 of silver, H3701 snuffers, H4212 basons, H4219 trumpets, H2689 any vessels H3627 of gold, H2091 or vessels H3627 of silver, H3701 of the money H3701 that was brought H935 into the house H1004 of the LORD: H3068

14 But they gave H5414 that to the workmen, H4399 H6213 and repaired H2388 therewith the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068

15 Moreover they reckoned H2803 not with the men, H582 into whose hand H3027 they delivered H5414 the money H3701 to be bestowed H5414 on workmen: H4399 for they dealt H6213 faithfully. H530

16 The trespass H817 money H3701 and sin H2403 money H3701 was not brought H935 into the house H1004 of the LORD: H3068 it was the priests'. H3548

17 Then Hazael H2371 king H4428 of Syria H758 went up, H5927 and fought H3898 against Gath, H1661 and took H3920 it: and Hazael H2371 set H7760 his face H6440 to go up H5927 to Jerusalem. H3389

18 And Jehoash H3060 king H4428 of Judah H3063 took H3947 all the hallowed things H6944 that Jehoshaphat, H3092 and Jehoram, H3088 and Ahaziah, H274 his fathers, H1 kings H4428 of Judah, H3063 had dedicated, H6942 and his own hallowed things, H6944 and all the gold H2091 that was found H4672 in the treasures H214 of the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and in the king's H4428 house, H1004 and sent H7971 it to Hazael H2371 king H4428 of Syria: H758 and he went away H5927 from Jerusalem. H3389

19 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

20 And his servants H5650 arose, H6965 and made H7194 a conspiracy, H7195 and slew H5221 Joash H3101 in the house H1004 of Millo, H4407 H1037 which goeth down H3381 to Silla. H5538

21 For Jozachar H3108 the son H1121 of Shimeath, H8100 and Jehozabad H3075 the son H1121 of Shomer, H7763 his servants, H5650 smote H5221 him, and he died; H4191 and they buried H6912 him with his fathers H1 in the city H5892 of David: H1732 and Amaziah H558 his son H1121 reigned H4427 in his stead.


2 Kings 12:1-21 American Standard (ASV)

1 In the seventh year of Jehu began Jehoash to reign; and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.

2 And Jehoash did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.

3 Howbeit 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 hallowed things that is brought into the house of Jehovah, in current money, the money of the persons for whom each man is rated, and all the money that it cometh into any man's heart to bring into the house of Jehovah,

5 let the priests take it to them, every man from his acquaintance; and they shall 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 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.

8 And the priests consented that they should take no `more' money from the people, neither 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 Jehovah: and the priests that kept the threshold put therein all the money that was brought into the house of Jehovah.

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 counted the money that was found in the house of Jehovah.

11 And they gave the money that was weighed out into the hands of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of Jehovah: and they paid it out to the carpenters and the builders, that wrought upon the house of Jehovah,

12 and to the masons and the hewers of stone, and for buying timber and hewn stone to repair the breaches of the house of Jehovah, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it.

13 But there were not made for the house of Jehovah cups of silver, snuffers, basins, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of Jehovah;

14 for they gave that to them that did the work, and repaired therewith the house of Jehovah.

15 Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to give to them that did the work; for they dealt faithfully.

16 The money for the trespass-offerings, and the money for the sin-offerings, was not brought into the house of Jehovah: 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 Jehovah, and of the king's house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.

19 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?

20 And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and smote Joash at the house of Millo, `on the way' that goeth down to Silla.

21 For Jozacar 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.


2 Kings 12:1-21 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 In the seventh year of Jehu reigned hath Jehoash, and forty years he hath reigned in Jerusalem, and the name of his mother `is' Zibiah of Beer-Sheba,

2 and Jehoash doth that which is right in the eyes of Jehovah all his days in which Jehoiada the priest directed him,

3 only, the high places have not turned aside, still are the people sacrificing and making perfume in high places.

4 And Jehoash saith unto the priests, `All the money of the sanctified things that is brought in to the house of Jehovah, the money of him who is passing over, each the money of his valuation, all the money that it goeth up on the heart of a man to bring in to the house of Jehovah,

5 do the priests take to them, each from his acquaintance, and they strengthen the breach of the house, in all `places' where there is found a breach.'

6 And it cometh to pass, in the twenty and third year of king Jehoash, the priests have not strengthened the breach of the house,

7 and king Jehoash calleth to Jehoiada the priest, and to the priests, and saith unto them, `Wherefore are ye not strengthening the breach of the house? and now, receive no money from your acquaintances, but for the breach of the house give it.'

8 And the priests consent not to receive money from the people, nor to strengthen the breach of the house,

9 and Jehoiada the priest taketh a chest, and pierceth a hole in its lid, and putteth it near the altar, on the right side, as one cometh in to the house of Jehovah, and the priests keeping the threshold have put there all the money that is brought in to the house of Jehovah.

10 And it cometh to pass, at their seeing that the money `is' abundant in the chest, that there goeth up a scribe of the king, and of the high priest, and they bind `it' up, and count the money that is found `in' the house of Jehovah,

11 and have given the weighed money into the hands of those doing the work, those inspecting the house of Jehovah, and they bring it out to those working in the wood, and to builders who are working in the house of Jehovah,

12 and to those `repairing' the wall, and to hewers of stone, and to buy wood and hewn stones to strengthen the breach of the house of Jehovah, and for all that goeth out on the house, to strengthen it.

13 Only, there is not made for the house of Jehovah basins of silver, snuffers, bowls, trumpets, any vessel of gold, and vessel of silver, out of the money that is brought into the house of Jehovah;

14 for to those doing the work they give it, and they have strengthened with it the house of Jehovah,

15 and they do not reckon with the men into whose hand they give the money to give to those doing the work, for in faithfulness they are dealing.

16 The money of a trespass-offering, and the money of sin-offerings is not brought in to the house of Jehovah -- for the priests it is.

17 Then go up doth Hazael king of Aram, and fighteth against Gath, and captureth it, and Hazael setteth his face to go up against Jerusalem;

18 and Jehoash king of Judah taketh all the sanctified things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had sanctified, and his own sanctified things, and all the gold that is found in the treasures of the house of Jehovah and of the house of the king, and sendeth to Hazael king of Aram, and he goeth up from off Jerusalem.

19 And the rest of the matters of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written on the book of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah?

20 And his servants rise, and make a conspiracy, and smite Joash in the house of Millo, that is going down to Silla:

21 yea, Jozachar son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad son of Shemer, his servants, have smitten him, and he dieth, and they bury him with his fathers in the city of David, and reign doth Amaziah his son, in his stead.


2 Kings 12:1-21 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash began to reign; and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem; and his mother's name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.

2 And Jehoash did what was right in the sight of Jehovah, all the days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.

3 Only, the high places were not removed: the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

4 And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the hallowed things that is brought into the house of Jehovah, the money of every one that passes [the account], the money at which every man is valued, [and] all the money that comes into any man's heart to bring into the house of Jehovah,

5 let the priests take it, every man of his acquaintance; and let them repair the breaches of the house, wherever any breach is found.

6 And it was [so that] in the twenty-third 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 priests, and said to them, Why have ye not repaired the breaches of the house? And now receive no money of your acquaintances, but give it for the breaches of the house.

8 And the priests consented to receive no money of the people, and that they should only repair the breaches of the house.

9 And Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into the house of Jehovah; and the priests that kept the door put into it all the money brought into the house of Jehovah.

10 And it came to pass when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest came up, and they tied up and counted the money that was found in the house of Jehovah.

11 And they gave the money, weighed out into the hands of them that did the work, who were appointed over the house of Jehovah; and they laid it out to the carpenters and builders that wrought upon the house of Jehovah,

12 and to masons, and hewers of stone, and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the breaches of the house of Jehovah, and for all that had to be laid out on the house for repairs.

13 However there were not made for the house of Jehovah basons of silver, knives, bowls, trumpets, nor any utensil of gold or utensil of silver, of the money that was brought [into] the house of Jehovah;

14 but they gave that to the workmen, and repaired the house of Jehovah with it.

15 And they did not reckon with the men into whose hand they gave the money to be bestowed on workmen; for they dealt faithfully.

16 The money of trespass-offerings, and the money of sin-offerings, was not brought into the house of Jehovah: it was for 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 against 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 found in the treasures of the house of Jehovah 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 rose up and made a conspiracy, and smote Joash in the house of Millo, at the descent of Silla.

21 And 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.


2 Kings 12:1-21 World English Bible (WEB)

1 In the seventh year of Jehu began Jehoash to reign; and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba.

2 Jehoash did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh all his days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him.

3 However the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.

4 Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the holy things that is brought into the house of Yahweh, in current money, the money of the persons for whom each man is rated, and all the money that it comes into any man's heart to bring into the house of Yahweh,

5 let the priests take it to them, every man from his acquaintance; and they shall repair the breaches of the house, wherever 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 for the [other] priests, and said to them, Why don't you repair the breaches of the house? now therefore take no [more] money from your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house.

8 The priests consented that they should take no [more] money from the people, neither 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 comes into the house of Yahweh: and the priests who kept the threshold put therein all the money that was brought into the house of Yahweh.

10 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 counted the money that was found in the house of Yahweh.

11 They gave the money that was weighed out into the hands of those who did the work, who had the oversight of the house of Yahweh: and they paid it out to the carpenters and the builders, who worked on the house of Yahweh,

12 and to the masons and the stone cutters, and for buying timber and hewn stone to repair the breaches of the house of Yahweh, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it.

13 But there were not made for the house of Yahweh cups of silver, snuffers, basins, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of Yahweh;

14 for they gave that to those who did the work, and repaired therewith the house of Yahweh.

15 Moreover they didn't demand an accounting from the men into whose hand they delivered the money to give to those who did the work; for they dealt faithfully.

16 The money for the trespass-offerings, and the money for the sin-offerings, was not brought into the house of Yahweh: 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 Jehoash king of Judah took all the holy things that Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own holy things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of Yahweh, and of the king's house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.

19 Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?

20 His servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and struck Joash at the house of Millo, [on the way] that goes down to Silla.

21 For Jozacar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, struck him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Amaziah his son reigned in his place.


2 Kings 12:1-21 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 In the seventh year of Jehu's rule, Jehoash became king; and he was ruling for forty years in Jerusalem; his mother's name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.

2 Jehoash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all his days, because he was guided by the teaching of Jehoiada the priest.

3 But the high places were not taken away; the people went on making offerings and burning them in the high places.

4 And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the holy things, which comes into the house of the Lord, (the amount fixed for every man's payment,) and all the money given by any man freely from the impulse of his heart,

5 Let the priests take, every man from his friends and neighbours, to make good what is damaged in the house, wherever it is to be seen.

6 But in the twenty-third year of King Jehoash, the priests had not made good the damaged parts of the house.

7 Then King Jehoash sent for Jehoiada the priest, and the other priests, and said to them, Why have you not made good what is damaged in the house? now take no more money from your neighbours, but give it for the building up of the house.

8 So the priests made an agreement to take no more money from the people, and not to make good what was damaged in the house.

9 But Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and making a hole in the cover of it, put it by the altar, on the right side when one comes into the house of the Lord; and the priests who kept the door put in it regularly all the money which was taken into the house of the Lord.

10 And when they saw that there was much money in the chest, the king's scribe and the high priest came and put it in bags, noting the amount of all the money there was in the house of the Lord.

11 And the money which was measured out they gave regularly to those who were responsible for overseeing the work, and these gave it in payment to the woodworkers and the builders who were working on the house of the Lord,

12 And to the wall-builders and the stone-cutters, and to get wood and cut stone for building up the broken parts of the house of the Lord, and for everything needed to put the house in good order.

13 But the money was not used for making silver cups or scissors or basins or wind-instruments or any vessels of gold or silver for the house of the Lord;

14 But it was all given to the workmen who were building up the house.

15 And they did not get any statement of accounts from the men to whom the money was given for the workmen, for they made use of it with good faith.

16 The money of the offerings for error and the sin-offerings was not taken into the house of the Lord; it was the priests'.

17 Then Hazael, king of Aram, went up against Gath and took it; and his purpose was to go up to Jerusalem.

18 Then Jehoash, king of Judah, took all the holy things which Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah his fathers, the kings of Judah, had given to the Lord, together with the things he himself had given, and all the gold in the Temple store and in the king's house, and sent it to Hazael, king of Aram; and he went away from Jerusalem.

19 Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all he did, are they not recorded in the book of the history of the kings of Israel?

20 And his servants made a secret design and put Joash to death at the house of Millo on the way down to Silla.

21 And Jozacar, the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad, the son of Shomer, his servants, came to him and put him to death; and they put him into the earth with his fathers in the town of David; and Amaziah his son became king in his place.

Commentary on 2 Kings 12 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible


CHAPTER 12

2Ki 12:1-18. Jehoash Reigns Well while Jehoiada Lived.

2. Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord—so far as related to his outward actions and the policy of his government. But it is evident from the sequel of his history that the rectitude of his administration was owing more to the salutary influence of his preserver and tutor, Jehoiada, than to the honest and sincere dictates of his own mind.

3. But the high places were not taken away—The popular fondness for the private and disorderly rites performed in the groves and recesses of hills was so inveterate that even the most powerful monarchs had been unable to accomplish their suppression; no wonder that in the early reign of a young king, and after the gross irregularities that had been allowed during the maladministration of Athaliah, the difficulty of putting an end to the superstitions associated with "the high places" was greatly increased.

4. Jehoash said to the priests, &c.—There is here given an account of the measures which the young king took for repairing the temple by the levying of taxes: 1. "The money of every one that passeth the account," namely, half a shekel, as "an offering to the Lord" (Ex 30:13). 2. "The money that every man is set at," that is, the redemption price of every one who had devoted himself or any thing belonging to him to the Lord, and the amount of which was estimated according to certain rules (Le 27:1-8). 3. Free will or voluntary offerings made to the sanctuary. The first two were paid annually (see 2Ch 24:5).

7-10. Why repair ye not the breaches of the house?—This mode of collection not proving so productive as was expected (the dilatoriness of the priests was the chief cause of the failure), a new arrangement was proposed. A chest was placed by the high priest at the entrance into the temple, into which the money given by the people for the repairs of the temple was to be put by the Levites who kept the door. The object of this chest was to make a separation between the money to be raised for the building from the other moneys destined for the general use of the priests, in the hope that the people would be more liberal in their contributions when it was known that their offerings would be devoted to the special purpose of making the necessary repairs. The duty of attending to this work was no longer to devolve on the priests, but to be undertaken by the king.

11, 12. they gave the money, being told, into the hands of them that did the work—The king sent his secretary along with an agent of the high priest to count the money in the chest from time to time (2Ch 24:11), and deliver the amount to the overseers of the building, who paid the workmen and purchased all necessary materials. The custom of putting sums of certain amount in bags, which are labelled and sealed by a proper officer, is a common way of using the currency in Turkey and other Eastern countries.

13-16. Howbeit there were not made … bowls, &c.—When the repairs of the temple had been completed, the surplus was appropriated to the purchase of the temple furniture. The integrity of the overseers of the work being undoubted, no account was exacted of the way in which they applied the money given to them, while other moneys levied at the temple were left to the disposal of the priests as the law directed (Le 5:16; Nu 5:8).

17, 18. Then Hazael … fought against Gath—(See on 2Ch 24:23).

2Ki 12:19-21. He Is Slain.

20. his servants arose … and slew Joash in the house of Millo—(See on 2Ch 24:25).