Melachim Bais 12

1 2 In the seventh year of Yehu, Yehoash (Yoash) began to reign; and arba’im shanah he reigned in Yerushalayim. And shem immo was Tzivyah of Beer Sheva.

23 (3) And Yehoash did that which was yashar in the sight of Hashem all his days wherein Yehoyada HaKohen instructed him.

34 (4) But the high places were not removed; HaAm still sacrificed and burned ketoret at the high places.

45 (5) And Yehoash said to the Kohanim, All the kesef of the kadashim (money offered as holy donations) that is brought into the Bais Hashem, even the kesef of every one numbered in the census [Ex.30:11-16], the kesef nafshot of each one’s valuation (Lev.27:1-8), and all the kesef that cometh from lev ish to bring into the Bais Hashem,

56 (6) Let the Kohanim receive [kesef, money] to them, every Kohen from his donors; and let the Kohanim repair the breaches of the Bais [Hamikdash], wheresoever any damage shall be found.

67 (7) But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of Melech Yehoash, the Kohanim had not repaired the breaches of the Bais [Hamikdash].

78 (8) Then Melech Yehoash summoned Yehoyada HaKohen, and the other Kohanim, and said unto them, Why repair ye not the breaches of the Bais [Hamikdash]? Now therefore receive no more kesef (silver, money) of your donors, but hand it over for the breaches of the Bais.

89 (9) And the Kohanim consented to receive no more kesef of HaAm; also not to repair the breaches of the Bais.

101 (11) And it was so, when they saw that there was much kesef in the aron, that the Sofer HaMelech and the Kohen HaGadol came up, and they put up in bags, and counted the kesef that was found in the Bais Hashem.

111 (12) And they gave the kesef that was weighed out into the hands of the osei hamelachah (workmen) who were hamepekadim (the overseers, supervisors) of the Bais Hashem; and they made the outlay to the woodworkers and the bonim (builders) that wrought upon the Bais Hashem,

121 (13) And to masons, and stonecutters, and to buy timber and quarried stone to repair the breaches of the Bais Hashem, and for all the outlay for the Bais [Hashem] to repair it.

131 (14) However, for the Bais Hashem no silver bowls, lamp snuffers, tzotzerot (trumpets), vessels of gold or silver, none of these were acquired from the money that was brought into the Bais Hashem.

141 (15) But they gave that money to the osei hamelachah (workmen), and repaired therewith the Bais Hashem.

151 (16) Moreover they audited not the anashim, into whose yad they delivered the kesef to be bestowed on the osei hamelachah (workmen); for they dealt be’emunah (faithfully, honestly).

161 (17) The kesef asham (money from the guilt offerings) and the kesef chatta’ot (money from the sin offerings) was not brought into the Bais Hashem; it belonged to the Kohanim.

171 (18) Then Chazael Melech Aram (Syria) went up, and fought against Gat, and captured it; and Chazael set his face to go up against Yerushalayim.

181 (19) And Yehoash Melech Yehudah took all the kadashim that Yehoshaphat, and Yehoram, and Achazyahu, his avot, Melachim of Yehudah, had dedicated, and his own kadashim, and all the zahav that was found in the otzarot of the Bais Hashem, and in the Bais HaMelech, and sent them to Chazael Melech Aram; and he withdrew from Yerushalayim.

192 (20) And the rest of the acts of Yoash, and all that he did, are they not written in the Sefer of the Divrei HaYamim L’Malchei Yehudah?

202 (21) And his avadim arose, and made a kesher (conspiracy), and assassinated Yoash in the Bais Millo, on the way down to Silla.

212 (22) For Yozachar ben Shim’at, and Yehozavad ben Shomer, his avadim, struck him down that he died; and they buried him with his avot in Ir Dovid; and Amatzyah bno reigned in his place.

910 (10) But Yehoyada HaKohen took aron echad (a pishkeh), and bored a hole in the lid of it, and placed it beside the Mizbe’ach, on the right side as one cometh into the Bais Hashem; and the Kohanim that were Shomrei HaSaf (Guards of the Threshold) put therein kol hakesef that was brought into the Bais Hashem.

Melachim Bais 12 Commentary

Chapter 12

Jehoash orders the repair of the temple. (1-16) He is slain by his servants. (17-21)

Verses 1-16 It is a great mercy to young people, especially to all young men of rank, like Jehoash, to have those about them who will instruct them to do what is right in the sight of the Lord; and they do wisely and well for themselves, when willing to be counselled and ruled. The temple was out of repair; Jehoash orders the repair of the temple. The king was zealous. God requires those who have power, to use it for the support of religion, the redress of grievances, and repairing of decays. The king employed the priests to manage, as most likely to be hearty in the work. But nothing was done effectually till the twenty-third year of his reign. Another method was therefore taken. When public distributions are made faithfully, public contributions will be made cheerfully. While they were getting all they could for the repair of the temple, they did not break in upon the stated maintenance of the priests. Let not the servants of the temple be starved, under colour of repairing the breaches of it. Those that were intrusted did the business carefully and faithfully. They did not lay it out in ornaments for the temple, till the other work was completed; hence we may learn, in all our expenses, to prefer that which is most needful, and, in dealing for the public, to deal as we would for ourselves.

Verses 17-21 Let us review the character of Jehoash, and consider what we may learn from it. When we see what a sad conclusion there was to so promising a beginning, it ought to make us seek into our spiritual declinings. If we know any thing of Christ as the foundation of our faith and hope, let us desire to know nothing but Christ. May the work of the blessed Spirit on our souls be manifest; may we see, feel, and be earnest, in seeking after Jesus in all his fulness, suitableness, and grace, that our souls may be brought over from dead works to serve the living and true God.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 12

In this chapter some account is given of the reign of Jehoash, that it was long, and the beginning of it good, during the life of Jehoiada, 2Ki 12:1-3 how urgent he was to have the temple repaired, and what methods were taken for that purpose, 2Ki 12:4-16, how meanly, as well as impiously, he behaved, when the king of Syria was about to come up to Jerusalem and besiege it, 2Ki 12:17,18, and the chapter is closed with an account of his death, and the manner of it, 2Ki 12:19-21.