1 בֶּןH1121 שֶׁבַעH7651 שָׁנִיםH8141 יְהוֹאָשׁH3060 בְּמָלְכֽוֹH4427
2 בִּשְׁנַתH8141 שֶׁבַעH7651 לְיֵהוּאH3058 מָלַךְH4427 יְהוֹאָשׁH3060 וְאַרְבָּעִיםH705 שָׁנָהH8141 מָלַךְH4427 בִּירֽוּשָׁלִָםH3389 וְשֵׁםH8034 אִמּוֹH517 צִבְיָהH6645 מִבְּאֵרH0 שָֽׁבַעH884
3 וַיַּעַשׂH6213 יְהוֹאָשׁH3060 הַיָּשָׁרH3477 בְּעֵינֵיH5869 יְהוָהH3068 כָּלH3605 יָמָיוH3117 אֲשֶׁרH834 הוֹרָהוּH3384 יְהוֹיָדָעH3077 הַכֹּהֵֽןH3548
4 רַקH7535 הַבָּמוֹתH1116 לֹאH3808 סָרוּH5493 עוֹדH5750 הָעָםH5971 מְזַבְּחִיםH2076 וּֽמְקַטְּרִיםH6999 בַּבָּמֽוֹתH1116
5 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 יְהוֹאָשׁH3060 אֶלH413 הַכֹּהֲנִיםH3548 כֹּלH3605 כֶּסֶףH3701 הַקֳּדָשִׁיםH6944 אֲשֶׁרH834 יוּבָאH935 בֵיתH1004 יְהוָהH3068 כֶּסֶףH3701 עוֹבֵרH5674 אִישׁH376 כֶּסֶףH3701 נַפְשׁוֹתH5315 עֶרְכּוֹH6187 כָּלH3605 כֶּסֶףH3701 אֲשֶׁרH834 יַֽעֲלֶהH5927 עַלH5921 לֶבH3820 אִישׁH376 לְהָבִיאH935 בֵּיתH1004 יְהוָֽהH3068
6 יִקְחוּH3947 לָהֶםH0 הַכֹּהֲנִיםH3548 אִישׁH376 מֵאֵתH853 מַכָּרוֹH4378 וְהֵםH1992 יְחַזְּקוּH2388 אֶתH853 בֶּדֶקH919 הַבַּיִתH1004 לְכֹלH3605 אֲשֶׁרH834 יִמָּצֵאH4672 שָׁםH8033 בָּֽדֶקH919
7 וַיְהִיH1961 בִּשְׁנַתH8141 עֶשְׂרִיםH6242 וְשָׁלֹשׁH7969 שָׁנָהH8141 לַמֶּלֶךְH4428 יְהוֹאָשׁH3060 לֹֽאH3808 חִזְּקוּH2388 הַכֹּהֲנִיםH3548 אֶתH853 בֶּדֶקH919 הַבָּֽיִתH1004
8 וַיִּקְרָאH7121 הַמֶּלֶךְH4428 יְהוֹאָשׁH3060 לִיהוֹיָדָעH3077 הַכֹּהֵןH3548 וְלַכֹּהֲנִיםH3548 וַיֹּאמֶרH559 אֲלֵהֶםH413 מַדּוּעַH4069 אֵינְכֶםH369 מְחַזְּקִיםH2388 אֶתH853 בֶּדֶקH919 הַבָּיִתH1004 וְעַתָּהH6258 אַלH408 תִּקְחוּH3947 כֶסֶףH3701 מֵאֵתH853 מַכָּֽרֵיכֶםH4378 כִּֽיH3588 לְבֶדֶקH919 הַבַּיִתH1004 תִּתְּנֻֽהוּH5414
9 וַיֵּאֹתוּH225 הַכֹּֽהֲנִיםH3548 לְבִלְתִּיH1115 קְחַתH3947 כֶּסֶףH3701 מֵאֵתH853 הָעָםH5971 וּלְבִלְתִּיH1115 חַזֵּקH2388 אֶתH853 בֶּדֶקH919 הַבָּֽיִתH1004
10 וַיִּקַּחH3947 יְהוֹיָדָעH3077 הַכֹּהֵןH3548 אֲרוֹןH727 אֶחָדH259 וַיִּקֹּבH5344 חֹרH2356 בְּדַלְתּוֹH1817 וַיִּתֵּןH5414 אֹתוֹH853 אֵצֶלH681 הַמִּזְבֵּחַH4196 בימיןH3225 מִיָּמִיןH3225 בְּבֽוֹאH935 אִישׁH376 בֵּיתH1004 יְהוָהH3068 וְנָֽתְנוּH5414 שָׁמָּהH8033 הַכֹּֽהֲנִיםH3548 שֹׁמְרֵיH8104 הַסַּףH5592 אֶתH853 כָּלH3605 הַכֶּסֶףH3701 הַמּוּבָאH935 בֵיתH1004 יְהוָֽהH3068
11 וַֽיְהִיH1961 כִּרְאוֹתָםH7200 כִּֽיH3588 רַבH7227 הַכֶּסֶףH3701 בָּֽאָרוֹןH727 וַיַּעַלH5927 סֹפֵרH5608 הַמֶּלֶךְH4428 וְהַכֹּהֵןH3548 הַגָּדוֹלH1419 וַיָּצֻרוּH6696 וַיִּמְנוּH4487 אֶתH853 הַכֶּסֶףH3701 הַנִּמְצָאH4672 בֵיתH1004 יְהוָֽהH3068
12 וְנָתְנוּH5414 אֶתH853 הַכֶּסֶףH3701 הַֽמְתֻכָּןH8505 עַלH5921 ידH3027 יְדֵיH3027 עֹשֵׂיH6213 הַמְּלָאכָהH4399 הפקדיםH6485 הַמֻּפְקָדִיםH6485 בֵּיתH1004 יְהוָהH3068 וַיּוֹצִיאֻהוּH3318 לְחָרָשֵׁיH2796 הָעֵץH6086 וְלַבֹּנִיםH1129 הָעֹשִׂיםH6213 בֵּיתH1004 יְהוָֽהH3068
13 וְלַגֹּֽדְרִיםH1443 וּלְחֹצְבֵיH2672 הָאֶבֶןH68 וְלִקְנוֹתH7069 עֵצִיםH6086 וְאַבְנֵיH68 מַחְצֵבH4274 לְחַזֵּקH2388 אֶתH853 בֶּדֶקH919 בֵּיתH1004 יְהוָהH3068 וּלְכֹלH3605 אֲשֶׁרH834 יֵצֵאH3318 עַלH5921 הַבַּיִתH1004 לְחָזְקָֽהH2394
14 אַךְH389 לֹאH3808 יֵעָשֶׂהH6213 בֵּיתH1004 יְהוָהH3068 סִפּוֹתH5592 כֶּסֶףH3701 מְזַמְּרוֹתH4212 מִזְרָקוֹתH4219 חֲצֹצְרוֹתH2689 כָּלH3605 כְּלִיH3627 זָהָבH2091 וּכְלִיH3627 כָסֶףH3701 מִןH4480 הַכֶּסֶףH3701 הַמּוּבָאH935 בֵיתH1004 יְהוָֽהH3068
15 כִּֽיH3588 לְעֹשֵׂיH6213 הַמְּלָאכָהH4399 יִתְּנֻהוּH5414 וְחִזְּקוּH2388 בוֹH0 אֶתH853 בֵּיתH1004 יְהוָֽהH3068
16 וְלֹאH3808 יְחַשְּׁבוּH2803 אֶתH854 הָאֲנָשִׁיםH582 אֲשֶׁרH834 יִתְּנוּH5414 אֶתH853 הַכֶּסֶףH3701 עַלH5921 יָדָםH3027 לָתֵתH5414 לְעֹשֵׂיH6213 הַמְּלָאכָהH4399 כִּיH3588 בֶאֱמֻנָהH530 הֵםH1992 עֹשִֽׂיםH6213
17 כֶּסֶףH3701 אָשָׁםH817 וְכֶסֶףH3701 חַטָּאוֹתH2399 לֹאH3808 יוּבָאH935 בֵּיתH1004 יְהוָהH3068 לַכֹּהֲנִיםH3548 יִהְיֽוּH1961
18 אָזH227 יַעֲלֶהH5927 חֲזָאֵלH2371 מֶלֶךְH4428 אֲרָםH758 וַיִּלָּחֶםH3898 עַלH5921 גַּתH1661 וַֽיִּלְכְּדָהּH3920 וַיָּשֶׂםH7760 חֲזָאֵלH2371 פָּנָיוH6440 לַעֲלוֹתH5927 עַלH5921 יְרוּשָׁלִָֽםH3389
19 וַיִּקַּחH3947 יְהוֹאָשׁH3060 מֶֽלֶךְH4428 יְהוּדָהH3063 אֵתH853 כָּלH3605 הַקֳּדָשִׁיםH6944 אֲשֶׁרH834 הִקְדִּישׁוּH6942 יְהוֹשָׁפָטH3092 וִיהוֹרָםH3088 וַאֲחַזְיָהוּH274 אֲבֹתָיוH1 מַלְכֵיH4428 יְהוּדָהH3063 וְאֶתH853 קֳדָשָׁיוH6944 וְאֵתH853 כָּלH3605 הַזָּהָבH2091 הַנִּמְצָאH4672 בְּאֹצְרוֹתH214 בֵּיתH1004 יְהוָהH3068 וּבֵיתH1004 הַמֶּלֶךְH4428 וַיִּשְׁלַחH7971 לַֽחֲזָאֵלH2371 מֶלֶךְH4428 אֲרָםH758 וַיַּעַלH5927 מֵעַלH5921 יְרוּשָׁלִָֽםH3389
20 וְיֶתֶרH3499 דִּבְרֵיH1697 יוֹאָשׁH3101 וְכָלH3605 אֲשֶׁרH834 עָשָׂהH6213 הֲלוֹאH3808 הֵםH1992 כְּתוּבִיםH3789 עַלH5921 סֵפֶרH5612 דִּבְרֵיH1697 הַיָּמִיםH3117 לְמַלְכֵיH4428 יְהוּדָֽהH3063
21 וַיָּקֻמוּH6965 עֲבָדָיוH5650 וַיִּקְשְׁרֽוּH7194 קָשֶׁרH7195 וַיַּכּוּH5221 אֶתH853 יוֹאָשׁH3101 בֵּיתH1004 מִלֹּאH4407 הַיּוֹרֵדH3381 סִלָּֽאH5538
22 וְיוֹזָבָדH3107 בֶּןH1121 שִׁמְעָתH8100 וִיהוֹזָבָדH3075 בֶּןH1121 שֹׁמֵרH7763 עֲבָדָיוH5650 הִכֻּהוּH5221 וַיָּמֹתH4191 וַיִּקְבְּרוּH6912 אֹתוֹH853 עִםH5973 אֲבֹתָיוH1 בְּעִירH5892 דָּוִדH1732 וַיִּמְלֹךְH4427 אֲמַצְיָהH558 בְנוֹH1121 תַּחְתָּֽיוH8478
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 The general account here given of Joash is, 1. That he reigned forty years. As he began his reign when he was very young, he might, in the course of nature, have continued much longer, for he was cut off when he was but forty-seven years old,
2Kgs 12:1. 2. That he did that which was right as long as Jehoiada lived to instruct him,
2Kgs 12:2. Many young men have come too soon to an estate - have had wealth, and power, and liberty, before they knew how to use them - and it has been of bad consequence to them; but against this danger Joash was well guarded by having such a good director as Jehoiada was, so wise, and experienced, and faithful to him, and by having so much wisdom as to hearken to him and be directed by him, even when he was grown up. Note, It is a great mercy to young people, and especially to young princes, and all young men of consequence, to be under good direction, and to have those about them that will instruct them to do
that which is right in the sight of the Lord; and they then do wisely and well for themselves when they are willing to be counselled and ruled by such.
A child left to himself brings his mother to shame, but a child left to such a tuition may bring himself to honour and comfort. 3. That the
high places were not taken away, 2Kgs 12:3. Up and down the country they had altars both for sacrifice and incense, to the honour of the God of Israel only, but in competition with, and at least in tacit contempt of, his altar at Jerusalem. These private altars, perhaps, had been more used in the late bad reigns than formerly, because it was not safe to go up to Jerusalem, nor was the temple-service performed as it should have been; and, it may be, Jehoiada connived at them, because some well-meaning people were glad of them when they could not have better, and he hoped that the reforming of the temple, and putting things into a good posture there, would by degrees draw people from their high places and they would dwindle of themselves; or perhaps neither the king nor the priest had zeal enough to carry on their reformation so far, nor courage and strength enough to encounter such an inveterate usage.
4 We have here an account of the repairing of the temple in the reign of Joash.
I. It seems, the temple had gone out of repair. Though Solomon built it very strong, of the best materials and in the best manner, yet in time it went to decay, and there were
breaches found in it (
2Kgs 12:5), in the roofs, or walls, or floors, the ceiling, or wainscoting, or windows, or the partitions of the courts. Even temples themselves are the worse for the wearing; but the heavenly temple will never wax old. Yet it was not only the teeth of time that made these breaches, the sons of Athaliah had
broken up the house of God (
2Chr 24:7), and, out of enmity to the service of the temple, had damaged the buildings of it, and the priests had not taken care to repair the breaches in time, so that they went worse and worse. Unworthy were those husbandmen to have this valuable vineyard let out to them upon such easy terms who could not afford to keep the winepress in due and tenantable repair,
Matt 21:33. Justly did their great Lord sue them for this permissive waste, and by his judgments recover
locum vastatum -
for dilapidations (as the law speaks), when this neglected temple was laid even with the ground.
II. The king himself was (as it should seem) the first and forwardest man that took care for the repair of it. We do not find that the priests complained of it or that Jehoiada himself was active in it, but the king was zealous in the matter, 1. Because he was king, and God expects and requires from those who have power that they use it for the maintenance and support of religion, the redress of grievances, and reparation of decays, for the exciting and engaging of ministers to do their part and people theirs. 2. Because the temple had been both his nursery and his sanctuary when he was a child, in a grateful remembrance of which he now appeared zealous for the honour of it. Those who have experienced the comfort and benefit of religious assemblies will make the reproach of them their burden (
Zeph 3:18), the support of them their care, and the prosperity of them their chief joy.
III. The priests were ordered to collect money for these repairs, and to take care that the work was done. The king had the affairs of his kingdom to mind, and could not himself inspect this affair, but he employed the priests to manage it, the fittest persons, and most likely, one would think, to be hearty in it. 1. He gave them orders for the levying of the money of the dedicated things. They must not stay till it was paid in, but they must call for it where they knew it was due, in their respective districts, as redemption-money (by virtue of the law,
Lev 27:2,
Lev 27:3), or as a free-will offering,
2Kgs 12:4. This they were to gather every man of his acquaintance, and it was supposed that there was no man but had acquaintance with some or other of the priests. Note, We should take the opportunity that God gives us of exciting those we have a particular acquaintance with to that which is good. 2. He gave them orders for laying out the money they had levied in
repairing the breaches of the house, 2Kgs 12:5.
IV. This method did not answer the intention,
2Kgs 12:6. Little money was raised. Either the priests were careless, and did not call on the people to pay in their dues, or the people had so little confidence in the priests' management that they were backward to pay money into their hands; if they were distrusted without cause, it was the people's shame; if with, it was more theirs. But what money was raised was not applied to the proper use:
The breaches of the house were not repaired; the priests thought it might serve as well as it had done, and therefore put off repairing from time to time. Church work is usually slow work, but it is a pity that churchmen, of all men, should be slow at it. Perhaps what little money they raised they thought it necessary to use for the maintenance of the priests, which must needs fall much short when ten tribes had wholly revolted and the other two were wretchedly corrupted.
V. Another method was therefore taken. The king had his heart much set upon having
the breaches of the house repaired, 2Kgs 12:7. His apostasy, at last, gives us cause to question whether he had as good an affection for the service of the temple as he had for the structure. Many have been zealous for building and beautifying churches, and for other forms of godliness, who yet have been strangers to the power of it. However, we commend his zeal, and blame him not for reproving even his tutor Jehoiada himself when he saw him remiss; and so convincing was his reproof that the priests owned themselves unworthy to be any longer employed, and consented to the taking of some other measures, and the giving up of the money they had received into other hands,
2Kgs 12:8. It was honestly done, when they found they had not spirit to do it themselves, not to hinder other people from doing it. Another course was taken,
1. For raising money,
2Kgs 12:9,
2Kgs 12:10. The money was not paid into private hands, but put into a public chest, and then people brought it in readily and in great abundance, not only their dues, but their free-will offerings for so good a work. The high priest and the secretary of state counted the money out of the chest, and laid it by
in specie for the use to which it was appropriated. When public distributions are made faithfully public contributions will be made cheerfully. The money that was given, (1.) Was dropped into the chest through a hole in the lid, past recall, to intimate that what has been once resigned to God must never be resumed.
Every man, as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give. (2.) The chest was put on the right hand as they went in, which, some think, is alluded to in that rule of charity which our Saviour gives,
Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth. But, while they were getting all they could for the repair of the temple, they did not break in upon that which was the stated maintenance of the priests,
2Kgs 12:16. The trespass-money and the sin-money (which were given to them by that law,
Lev 5:15,
Lev 5:16) were reserved to them. Let not the servants of the temple be starved under colour of repairing the breaches of it.
2. For laying out the money that was raised.
(1.) They did not put it into the hands of the priests, who were not versed in affairs of this nature, having other work to mind, but
into the hands of those that did the work, or at least
had the oversight of it, 2Kgs 12:11. Those were fittest to be entrusted with this business whose employment lay that way.
Tractant fabrilia fabri -
Every artist has his trade assigned; but let not those who are called to war the holy warfare entangle themselves in the affairs of this life. Those that were thus entrusted did the business, [1.] Carefully, purchasing materials and paying workmen,
2Kgs 12:12. Business is done with expedition when those are employed in it that understand it and know which way to go about it. [2.] Faithfully; such a reputation they got for honesty that there was no occasion to examine their bills or audit their accounts. Let all that are entrusted with public money, or public work, learn hence to deal faithfully, as those that know God will reckon with them, whether men do or no. Those that think it is no sin to cheat the government, cheat the country, or cheat the church, will be of another mind when God shall set their sins in order before them.
(2.) They did not lay it out in ornaments for the temple, in vessels of gold or silver, but in necessary repairs first (
2Kgs 12:13), whence we may learn, in all our expenses to give that the preference which is most needful, and, in dealing for the public, to deal as we would for ourselves. After the repairs were finished we find the overplus turned into plate for the service of the temple,
2Chr 24:14.
17 When Joash had revolted from God and become both an idolater and a persecutor the hand of the Lord went out against him, and his
last state was worse than his first. I. His wealth and honour became an easy prey to his neighbours. Hazael, when he had chastised Israel (
2Kgs 10:32), threatened Judah and Jerusalem likewise, took Gath, a strong city (
2Kgs 12:17), and thence intended to march with his forces against Jerusalem, the royal city, the holy city, but whose defence, on account of its sinfulness, had departed. Joash had neither spirit nor strength to make head against him, but gave him all the hallowed things, and all the gold that was found both in his exchequer and in the treasures of the temple (
2Kgs 12:18), to bribe him to march another way. If it were lawful to do this for the public safety, better part with the gold of the temple than expose the temple itself; yet, 1. If he had not forsaken God, and forfeited his protection, his affairs would not have been brought to this extremity, but he might have forced Hazael to retire. 2. He diminished himself, and made himself very mean, lost the honour of a prince and a soldier, and of an Israelite too, in alienating the dedicated things. 3. He impoverished himself and his kingdom. And, 4. He tempted Hazael to come again, when he could carry home so rich a booty without striking a stroke. And it had this effect, for the next year the host of Syria came up against Jerusalem, destroyed the prince, and plundered the city,
2Chr 24:23,
2Chr 24:24.
II. His life became an easy prey to his own servants. They conspired against him and slew him (
2Kgs 12:20,
2Kgs 12:21), not aiming at his kingdom, for they opposed not his son's succeeding him, but to be avenged on him for some crime he had committed; and we are told in Chronicles that his murdering the prophet, Jehoiada's son, was the provocation. In this, how unrighteous soever they were (vengeance was not theirs, nor did it belong to them to repay), God was righteous; and this was not the only time that he let even kings know that it was at their peril if they touched his anointed and did his prophets any harm, and that, when he comes to make inquisition for blood, the blood of prophets will run the account very high. Thus fell Joash, who began in the spirit and ended in the flesh. God usually sets marks of his displeasure upon apostates, even in this life; for they, of all sinners, do most
reproach the Lord.
