2 Kings 12 Study Notes: Joash Repairs the Temple
Joash rules Judah faithfully while Jehoiada the priest guides him, though the high places remain. When the priests fail to repair the temple, Jehoiada sets up a collection chest so trustworthy overseers can pay the workmen. Joash later buys off Hazael of Aram with sacred treasures and is murdered by his own servants.
General
True or False: Joash tore down the high places during his reign, so the people offered sacrifices only at the temple.
Answer: False
This is false. Even with Joash’s good start, the high places stayed in use, and the people kept offering sacrifices and burning incense at them (12:3). High places were local hilltop shrines. God’s law had told Israel to offer burnt offerings only where He Himself would choose, not wherever they liked (Deuteronomy 12:13-14). The same mixed verdict was given for earlier good kings such as Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:43). Not until Hezekiah did a king of Judah finally remove the high places (18:4).
- 2 Kings 12:3 (BSB)“Nevertheless, the high places were not removed; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there.”Despite Joash’s good start, the high places remain and sacrifices continue there.
- Deuteronomy 12:13-14 (BSB)“Be careful not to offer your burnt offerings in just any place you see; you must offer them only in the place the LORD will choose in one of your tribal territories, and there you shall do all that I command you.”God’s law limited burnt offerings to the place the LORD would choose.
- 1 Kings 22:43 (BSB)“And Jehoshaphat walked in all the ways of his father Asa; he did not turn away from them, but did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. The high places, however, were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.”The same verdict was given for Jehoshaphat, a good king who also left the high places.
- 2 Kings 18:4 (BSB)“He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He also demolished the bronze snake called Nehushtan that Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had burned incense to it.”Hezekiah later removes the high places, the step Joash did not take.
Theological
True or False: Joash did away with the high places, centralizing all sacrifice at the temple.
Answer: False
This is false. The high places remained, and the people continued to sacrifice and burn incense at them (12:3), contrary to the requirement in Deuteronomy that offerings be brought only to the site of the LORD’s choosing (Deuteronomy 12:13-14). The same reservation qualifies earlier good kings such as Jehoshaphat (1 Kings 22:43), and only Hezekiah finally removes them (18:4). Joash’s reform, like theirs, is real but incomplete.
- 2 Kings 12:3 (BSB)“Nevertheless, the high places were not removed; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there.”Despite Joash’s good start, the high places remain and sacrifices continue there.
- Deuteronomy 12:13-14 (BSB)“Be careful not to offer your burnt offerings in just any place you see; you must offer them only in the place the LORD will choose in one of your tribal territories, and there you shall do all that I command you.”God’s law limited burnt offerings to the place the LORD would choose.
- 1 Kings 22:43 (BSB)“And Jehoshaphat walked in all the ways of his father Asa; he did not turn away from them, but did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. The high places, however, were not removed; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.”The same verdict was given for Jehoshaphat, a good king who also left the high places.
- 2 Kings 18:4 (BSB)“He removed the high places, shattered the sacred pillars, and cut down the Asherah poles. He also demolished the bronze snake called Nehushtan that Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had burned incense to it.”Hezekiah later removes the high places, the step Joash did not take.
General
What did Jehoiada set up so that the money for the repairs went to the work (2 Kings 12:9-12)?
Answer: A chest with an opening cut in its lid, placed by the altar
Jehoiada took a chest, cut an opening in the lid, and placed it to the right of the altar as worshipers entered the temple. The priests who kept watch at the entrance dropped every gift of money for the temple into it (12:9). When the chest was full, the king’s secretary and the chief priest counted the money, bagged it, and handed it to the men overseeing the work, who paid the craftsmen of every kind and bought timber and cut stone (12:10-12). The money went to the repairs rather than to new silver and gold articles (12:13-14). Paul later took similar care in handling a gift so that his conduct would be right before both the Lord and people (2 Corinthians 8:20-21).
- 2 Kings 12:9-10 (BSB)“Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest, bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar on the right side as one enters the house of the LORD. There the priests who guarded the threshold put all the money brought into the house of the LORD. Whenever they saw that there was a large amount of money in the chest, the royal scribe and the high priest would go up, count the money brought into the house of the LORD, and tie it up in bags.”Jehoiada sets a chest beside the altar, and the money is counted when it fills.
- 2 Kings 12:11-12 (BSB)“Then they would put the counted money into the hands of those who supervised the work on the house of the LORD, who in turn would pay those doing the work—the carpenters, builders, masons, and stonecutters. They also purchased timber and dressed stone to repair the damage to the house of the LORD, and they paid the other expenses of the temple repairs.”The counted money pays the workers and buys materials for the repairs.
- 2 Corinthians 8:20-21 (BSB)“We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this generous gift. For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.”Paul handles a gift with care so that it is honorable before the Lord and before people.
- 1 Corinthians 4:2 (BSB)“Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”Those trusted with what belongs to God must be found faithful.
Theological
What arrangement did Jehoiada make for collecting the repair funds (2 Kings 12:9-12)?
Answer: A chest with an opening cut in its lid, placed by the altar
Jehoiada installs a chest with an opening in its lid beside the altar, and the doorkeeping priests deposit all temple income in it (12:9). When it fills, the royal secretary and the chief priest count and bag the money and pass it to the supervisors, who pay the craftsmen and buy materials (12:10-12); none of it is diverted to new vessels (12:13-14). The procedure reflects the kind of transparent stewardship Paul practices with the Jerusalem collection, seeking to do right before the Lord and before people (2 Corinthians 8:20-21).
- 2 Kings 12:9-10 (BSB)“Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest, bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar on the right side as one enters the house of the LORD. There the priests who guarded the threshold put all the money brought into the house of the LORD. Whenever they saw that there was a large amount of money in the chest, the royal scribe and the high priest would go up, count the money brought into the house of the LORD, and tie it up in bags.”Jehoiada sets a chest beside the altar, and the money is counted when it fills.
- 2 Kings 12:11-12 (BSB)“Then they would put the counted money into the hands of those who supervised the work on the house of the LORD, who in turn would pay those doing the work—the carpenters, builders, masons, and stonecutters. They also purchased timber and dressed stone to repair the damage to the house of the LORD, and they paid the other expenses of the temple repairs.”The counted money pays the workers and buys materials for the repairs.
- 2 Corinthians 8:20-21 (BSB)“We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this generous gift. For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.”Paul handles a gift with care so that it is honorable before the Lord and before people.
- 1 Corinthians 4:2 (BSB)“Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”Those trusted with what belongs to God must be found faithful.
General
How did Joash’s reign come to an end (2 Kings 12:20-21)?
Answer: His own servants plotted against him and killed him
Joash’s reign ended violently. His own servants plotted against him and murdered him at a place called Beth-millo; two of them, Jozabad and Jehozabad, struck him down. He was laid to rest in David’s city, and Amaziah his son took the throne (12:20-21). The account does not give a reason for the plot. Amaziah went on to reign in his father’s pattern, doing right in the LORD’s eyes yet not as David had (14:3), and once his rule was secure he executed his father’s assassins (14:5).
- 2 Kings 12:20-21 (BSB)“And the servants of Joash rose up and formed a conspiracy and killed him at Beth-millo, on the road down to Silla. His servants Jozabad son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer struck him down, and he died. And they buried him with his fathers in the City of David, and his son Amaziah reigned in his place.”Joash’s servants conspire and kill him, and Amaziah succeeds him.
- 2 Kings 14:3 (BSB)“And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not as his father David had done. He did everything as his father Joash had done.”Amaziah son of Joash did right in the LORD’s eyes, but not as David had, following his father Joash’s pattern.
- 2 Kings 14:5 (BSB)“As soon as the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, Amaziah executed the servants who had murdered his father the king.”Amaziah later executes the servants who murdered Joash.
Theological
How does the narrator report Joash’s death (2 Kings 12:20-21)?
Answer: His own servants plotted against him and killed him
Joash dies by conspiracy: his servants Jozabad and Jehozabad strike him down at Beth-millo, he is laid to rest in David’s city, and Amaziah succeeds him (12:20-21). No motive is given. Amaziah goes on to reign in his father’s pattern, right in the LORD’s eyes yet not like David (14:3), and he executes the assassins once his rule is secure (14:5).
- 2 Kings 12:20-21 (BSB)“And the servants of Joash rose up and formed a conspiracy and killed him at Beth-millo, on the road down to Silla. His servants Jozabad son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer struck him down, and he died. And they buried him with his fathers in the City of David, and his son Amaziah reigned in his place.”Joash’s servants conspire and kill him, and Amaziah succeeds him.
- 2 Kings 14:3 (BSB)“And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not as his father David had done. He did everything as his father Joash had done.”Amaziah son of Joash did right in the LORD’s eyes, but not as David had, following his father Joash’s pattern.
- 2 Kings 14:5 (BSB)“As soon as the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, Amaziah executed the servants who had murdered his father the king.”Amaziah later executes the servants who murdered Joash.
General
When Hazael of Aram turned to attack Jerusalem, how did Joash respond (2 Kings 12:17-18)?
Answer: He sent Hazael the sacred treasures, and Hazael left
Hazael, who ruled Aram (Syria, to Israel’s north), captured the Philistine city of Gath and then set out against Jerusalem. Joash gathered the holy gifts dedicated by Jehoshaphat, his son Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his own dedicated gifts, plus all the gold stored in the temple and the palace, and shipped everything off to Hazael, who then pulled back from Jerusalem (12:17-18). The text does not say that Joash sought the LORD; it reports that he bought off the enemy with what had been set apart for God. King Asa had done much the same before him (1 Kings 15:18-19), and Hezekiah would later strip the temple to pay Assyria (18:15-16). Scripture calls God’s people to trust the LORD Himself rather than any other source of security (Psalm 20:7).
- 2 Kings 12:17-18 (BSB)“At that time Hazael king of Aram marched up and fought against Gath and captured it. Then he decided to attack Jerusalem. So King Joash of Judah took all the sacred objects dedicated by his fathers—Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, the kings of Judah—along with his own consecrated items and all the gold found in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the royal palace, and he sent them to Hazael king of Aram. So Hazael withdrew from Jerusalem.”Hazael threatens Jerusalem, and Joash sends him the dedicated treasures to make him withdraw.
- 1 Kings 15:18-19 (BSB)“So Asa withdrew all the silver and gold that remained in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the royal palace. He entrusted it to his servants and sent them with this message to Ben-hadad son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, the king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus: “Let there be a treaty between me and you as there was between my father and your father. See, I have sent you a gift of silver and gold. Now go and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.””Asa likewise sent temple and palace treasure to an Aramean king.
- 2 Kings 18:15-16 (BSB)“Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace. At that time Hezekiah stripped the gold with which he had plated the doors and doorposts of the temple of the LORD, and he gave it to the king of Assyria.”Hezekiah later gives up temple silver and gold to Assyria in the same way.
- Psalm 20:7 (BSB)“Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”God’s people are called to trust in the LORD’s name rather than in other means of security.
Theological
How did Joash deal with Hazael’s threat to Jerusalem (2 Kings 12:17-18)?
Answer: He sent Hazael the sacred treasures, and Hazael left
After Hazael takes Gath and turns toward Jerusalem, Joash sends him the consecrated gifts of Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, Ahaziah and his own, together with the gold of the temple and palace treasuries, and Hazael withdraws (12:17-18). The narrative reports no appeal to the LORD; Joash secures safety by surrendering what was dedicated to God, as Asa had done (1 Kings 15:18-19) and Hezekiah later would (18:15-16). The contrast is with the confession that God’s people rely on the LORD Himself (Psalm 20:7).
- 2 Kings 12:17-18 (BSB)“At that time Hazael king of Aram marched up and fought against Gath and captured it. Then he decided to attack Jerusalem. So King Joash of Judah took all the sacred objects dedicated by his fathers—Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, the kings of Judah—along with his own consecrated items and all the gold found in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the royal palace, and he sent them to Hazael king of Aram. So Hazael withdrew from Jerusalem.”Hazael threatens Jerusalem, and Joash sends him the dedicated treasures to make him withdraw.
- 1 Kings 15:18-19 (BSB)“So Asa withdrew all the silver and gold that remained in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and the royal palace. He entrusted it to his servants and sent them with this message to Ben-hadad son of Tabrimmon, the son of Hezion, the king of Aram, who was ruling in Damascus: “Let there be a treaty between me and you as there was between my father and your father. See, I have sent you a gift of silver and gold. Now go and break your treaty with Baasha king of Israel, so that he will withdraw from me.””Asa likewise sent temple and palace treasure to an Aramean king.
- 2 Kings 18:15-16 (BSB)“Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD and in the treasuries of the royal palace. At that time Hezekiah stripped the gold with which he had plated the doors and doorposts of the temple of the LORD, and he gave it to the king of Assyria.”Hezekiah later gives up temple silver and gold to Assyria in the same way.
- Psalm 20:7 (BSB)“Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”God’s people are called to trust in the LORD’s name rather than in other means of security.
General
How does the narrator sum up Joash’s conduct as king of Judah (2 Kings 12:2)?
Answer: He did right in the LORD’s sight as long as Jehoiada taught him
The narrator gives Joash a good but limited verdict: he did what pleased the LORD for as long as Jehoiada the priest was guiding and teaching him (12:2). The qualification matters. Joash had become king at only seven years old (11:21), and his faithfulness is tied to the godly priest who had guarded him and placed him on the throne (11:4-12). The chapter goes on to show the limits of his reign: the high places stayed in use (12:3), and he later handed the temple’s dedicated treasures to Hazael (12:18). Proverbs observes that walking with the wise makes a person wise (Proverbs 13:20).
- 2 Kings 12:2 (BSB)“And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days he was instructed by Jehoiada the priest.”Joash does right in the LORD’s eyes during the time Jehoiada instructs him.
- 2 Kings 11:21 (BSB)“Joash was seven years old when he became king.”Joash was only seven years old when he became king.
- Proverbs 13:20 (BSB)“He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.”Walking with the wise makes a person wise, which helps explain Jehoiada’s influence on Joash.
Theological
What is the narrator’s evaluation of Joash’s reign (2 Kings 12:2)?
Answer: He did right in the LORD’s sight as long as Jehoiada taught him
Joash’s verdict is positive but conditioned: he did right in the LORD’s eyes during the period of Jehoiada’s instruction (12:2). Crowned at seven (11:21), he owed his formation to the priest who had guarded and enthroned him, and the clause ties his faithfulness to that guidance. The remainder of the chapter shows its limits, as the high places remain (12:3) and the temple’s dedicated treasures are surrendered to Hazael (12:18). Wisdom literature notes the formative power of companions (Proverbs 13:20).
- 2 Kings 12:2 (BSB)“And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days he was instructed by Jehoiada the priest.”Joash does right in the LORD’s eyes during the time Jehoiada instructs him.
- 2 Kings 11:21 (BSB)“Joash was seven years old when he became king.”Joash was only seven years old when he became king.
- Proverbs 13:20 (BSB)“He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.”Walking with the wise makes a person wise, which helps explain Jehoiada’s influence on Joash.
General
What problem did Joash find with his first plan for repairing the temple (2 Kings 12:4-8)?
Answer: Years later, the priests still had not fixed the temple
Joash told the priests to gather the money given to the temple, including census money, vow money and freewill gifts, and to use it to fix whatever was broken in the building (12:4-5). But by Joash’s twenty-third year the work still had not been done (12:6). Joash summoned Jehoiada along with the priests, asked why the repairs had not happened, and told them to stop collecting money from their own contacts and to pass it on for the work instead. The priests agreed to stop receiving the money and to give up responsibility for the repairs (12:7-8). Since Moses’ day the census money had been set aside to support the sanctuary and its work (Exodus 30:16), and God requires faithfulness from those entrusted with His work (1 Corinthians 4:2).
- 2 Kings 12:6-7 (BSB)“By the twenty-third year of the reign of Joash, however, the priests had not yet repaired the damage to the temple. So King Joash called Jehoiada and the other priests and said, “Why 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.””By Joash’s twenty-third year the repairs are undone, and he confronts the priests.
- Exodus 30:16 (BSB)“Take the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting. It will serve as a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD to make atonement for your lives.””The atonement money collected in the census was to be used for the service of the Tent of Meeting.
- 1 Corinthians 4:2 (BSB)“Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”Stewards must be found faithful, the standard the priests failed to meet.
Theological
Why did Joash have to change his original arrangement for the temple repairs (2 Kings 12:4-8)?
Answer: Years later, the priests still had not fixed the temple
Joash assigns the priests to collect the temple income, census, vow and freewill money, and to apply it to the repairs (12:4-5). By his twenty-third year nothing has been done (12:6), so he confronts Jehoiada and the priests, ends their collection from their own constituencies, and the priests consent to relinquish both the money and the responsibility (12:7-8). The census money had been designated to support the sanctuary since Moses (Exodus 30:16), and stewards of God’s house are required to be faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2).
- 2 Kings 12:6-7 (BSB)“By the twenty-third year of the reign of Joash, however, the priests had not yet repaired the damage to the temple. So King Joash called Jehoiada and the other priests and said, “Why 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.””By Joash’s twenty-third year the repairs are undone, and he confronts the priests.
- Exodus 30:16 (BSB)“Take the atonement money from the Israelites and use it for the service of the Tent of Meeting. It will serve as a memorial for the Israelites before the LORD to make atonement for your lives.””The atonement money collected in the census was to be used for the service of the Tent of Meeting.
- 1 Corinthians 4:2 (BSB)“Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”Stewards must be found faithful, the standard the priests failed to meet.
General
True or False: The men who paid the workers were not asked to account for the funds, because they dealt honestly.
Answer: True
This is true. The supervisors who were given the funds and paid the workers were not required to give an account of it, because they handled it with integrity (12:15). Their honesty earned them trust. The same is said of the men who handled the temple funds in Josiah’s day (22:7). Jesus taught that someone faithful in small things will be faithful in large things too (Luke 16:10), and Paul wrote that those trusted with a charge must be found faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2).
- 2 Kings 12:15 (BSB)“No accounting was required from the men who received the money to pay the workmen, because they acted with integrity.”The men who pay the workers need not give an account because they are honest.
- 2 Kings 22:7 (BSB)“But they need not account for the money put into their hands, since they work with integrity.””The men handling the repair money in Josiah’s day are likewise trusted because of their integrity.
- Luke 16:10 (BSB)“Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”Faithfulness in small matters shows faithfulness in larger ones.
- 1 Corinthians 4:2 (BSB)“Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”Those entrusted with a charge must be found faithful, as these men were.
Theological
True or False: No audit was demanded of those who paid the workmen, since they were known to be honest.
Answer: True
This is true. The supervisors are exempt from accounting because they act with integrity (12:15), a trust repeated in Josiah’s reign (22:7). Their faithfulness in handling sacred funds exemplifies the principle Jesus states, that faithfulness in little shows faithfulness in much (Luke 16:10), and the requirement that stewards be found faithful (1 Corinthians 4:2).
- 2 Kings 12:15 (BSB)“No accounting was required from the men who received the money to pay the workmen, because they acted with integrity.”The men who pay the workers need not give an account because they are honest.
- 2 Kings 22:7 (BSB)“But they need not account for the money put into their hands, since they work with integrity.””The men handling the repair money in Josiah’s day are likewise trusted because of their integrity.
- Luke 16:10 (BSB)“Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”Faithfulness in small matters shows faithfulness in larger ones.
- 1 Corinthians 4:2 (BSB)“Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.”Those entrusted with a charge must be found faithful, as these men were.