1
In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah, from Beersheba.
2
Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the LORD all his life, as long as the priest Jehoiada instructed him.
3
Nevertheless, the high places were not removed. The people still offered and burned sacrifices on the high places.
4
Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money brought into the house of the LORD as sacred offerings, namely the money from the census of persons, the money for the redemption of persons according to the valuation for each one, and all the money that comes into the house of the LORD from a person’s freewill offering,
5
let the priests take it for themselves, each from his acquaintance, and let them use it to repair whatever is damaged in the house, wherever any damage is found.”
6
But in the twenty-third year of King Jehoash, the priests still had not repaired the damage to the house.
7
So King Jehoash called the priest Jehoiada and the other priests, and said to them, “Why have you not repaired the damage to the house? Now therefore, you must no longer receive money from your acquaintances, but hand it over for repairing the damage to the house.”
8
Then the priests agreed not to receive money from the people, but they were no longer to repair the damage to the house.
9
Then the priest Jehoiada took a chest, made a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one enters the house of the LORD. The priests who guarded the doorway put into it all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD.
10
And whenever they saw that there was much money in the chest, the king’s scribe and the high priest would come and bind up and count the money found in the house of the LORD.
11
They would give the counted money into the hands of the workers appointed over the house of the LORD, and these would pay it out to the carpenters and to the builders who worked on the house of the LORD,
12
to the masons and to the stonecutters; they also used it for buying timber and dressed stone to repair the house of the LORD, and for all expenses for repairing the house.
13
But no silver basins, knives, sprinkling bowls, trumpets, or any vessels of gold or silver were made for the house of the LORD from the money that had been brought into the house of the LORD.
14
Rather, they gave it to the workers, so that it might be used to repair the house of the LORD.
15
Moreover, they did not require an accounting from the men into whose hand they gave the money to pay the workers, because they dealt faithfully.
16
But the money from the guilt offering and the money from the sin offering was not brought into the house of the LORD; it belonged to the priests.
17
At that time Hazael king of Aram went up and fought against Gath and captured it. Then Hazael set his face to attack Jerusalem,
18
but Jehoash king of Judah took all the holy gifts that Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, together with his own holy gifts, and all the gold that was found in the treasuries of the house of the LORD and of the king’s palace. He sent them all to Hazael king of Aram, and Hazael withdrew from attacking Jerusalem.
19
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoash, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
20
His servants arose and formed a conspiracy, and they killed Jehoash in the house of Millo, on the way down to Silla.
21
Jozacar the son of Shimeath and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, killed him. He was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Amaziah his son became king in his place.
🧱👑💰 Summary of 2 Kings 12 – The Reign of King Jehoash and the Restoration of the Temple
2 Kings 12 records the reign of Jehoash, the king of Judah who was made king at the age of 7. Under the guidance of Priest Jehoiada, Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the Lord and began an important project: repairing the damaged temple. Yet, amid his administrative success, problems arose in the handling of funds and in compromise toward enemies, showing that outward restoration is not always followed by full faithfulness of heart.
📌 1. Jehoash Did What Was Right While Jehoiada the Priest Lived (verses 1–3)
➡️ Jehoash began to reign at the age of 7 and reigned for 40 years
➡️ He did what was right in the sight of the Lord while Priest Jehoiada lived
➡️ However, the high places (illegal places of worship) were not removed
🎯 Godly leadership depends greatly on strong spiritual guidance — but personal commitment is also needed.
📌 2. Jehoash Planned the Repair of the Temple (verses 4–8)
➡️ Jehoash ordered that the offering money be used to repair the house of God
➡️ But after many years, the priests had not carried it out
➡️ Jehoash rebuked them, and in the end the system for collecting funds was changed
🎯 Spiritual reform requires not only good intentions, but real action and effective oversight.
📌 3. A New System for Repair Funds (verses 9–16)
➡️ A collection chest was placed near the house of the Lord
➡️ The people gave willingly, and the money was managed directly by the craftsmen for the repairs
➡️ There was no report of misuse of funds because the management was honest
🎯 The service of the Lord needs integrity, transparency, and accountability.
📌 4. Joash Pays Tribute to Hazael, King of Aram (verses 17–18)
➡️ When Hazael attacked Jerusalem, Joash did not go to war
➡️ Instead, he took all the offerings and treasures of the house of the Lord to give as a peace tribute
🎯 Compromise with an enemy may seem wise, but it shows a lack of faith in the Lord’s protection.
📌 5. Joash Is Killed by His Servants (verses 19–21)
➡️ Joash’s life ended tragically — he was killed by his own servants in a conspiracy
➡️ He was succeeded by his son, Amaziah
🎯 Without true repentance and a sincere heart for the Lord, even a spiritual leader can fail at the end.
📖 Main Teaching
- The restoration of the house of the Lord is the responsibility of all God’s people, including leaders and the people.
- Good leaders still need systems that are transparent and trustworthy.
- True obedience is not only symbolic (repairing the temple building), but also a heart surrendered to the Lord.
- Relying on spiritual leaders is not enough — personal faith must keep growing.
- Buying peace from an enemy shows weakness of faith.
✨ Spiritual Meaning (New Testament)
📖 1 Corinthians 3:16
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”
➡️ Just as Joash repaired the physical temple, we too are called to renew our lives as a temple of the Holy Spirit.
📖 James 1:22
“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.”
➡️ The priests did not repair the temple even though they were commanded to — faith without action is dead.
📖 Matthew 6:21
“Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
➡️ The people’s offerings, handled honestly, are a sign of true love for God.
📖 Galatians 5:7
“You were running well. Who hindered you?”
➡️ Joash began well, but failed to persevere because he lost spiritual guidance.
🕊️ “Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.” – 2 Kings 12:2
🕊️ “Why do you not repair the damage of the house of the LORD?” – 2 Kings 12:7
🕊️ “They did not require an accounting for the money, because they dealt honestly.” – 2 Kings 12:15
🕊️ “His servants killed him…” – 2 Kings 12:20
