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The Temple Repaired

12 In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash began to reign; he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba. Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all his days because the priest Jehoiada instructed him. Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued to sacrifice and make offerings on the high places.(A)

Jehoash said to the priests, “All the silver offered as sacred donations that is brought into the house of the Lord—the census tax, personal redemption payments, and silver from voluntary offerings brought into the house of the Lord(B) let the priests receive from each of the donors, and let them repair the house wherever any need of repairs is discovered.” But by the twenty-third year of King Jehoash the priests had made no repairs on the house.(C) Therefore King Jehoash summoned the priest Jehoiada with the other priests and said to them, “Why are you not repairing the house? Now therefore do not accept any more silver from your donors but hand it over for the repair of the house.”(D) So the priests agreed that they would neither accept more silver from the people nor repair the house.

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 entered the house of the Lord; the priests who guarded the threshold put in it all the silver that was brought into the house of the Lord.(E) 10 Whenever they saw that there was a great deal of silver in the chest, the king’s secretary and the high priest went up, cast the silver that was found in the house of the Lord into ingots, and counted it.(F) 11 They gave the silver that was weighed out into the hands of the workers who had the oversight of the house of the Lord; then they paid it out to the carpenters and the builders who worked on the house of the Lord, 12 to the masons and the stonecutters, as well as to buy timber and quarried stone for making repairs on the house of the Lord, as well as for any outlay for repairs of the house.(G) 13 But for the house of the Lord no basins of silver, snuffers, bowls, trumpets, or any vessels of gold or of silver were made from the silver that was brought into the house of the Lord,(H) 14 for that was given to the workers who were repairing the house of the Lord with it. 15 They did not ask an accounting from those into whose hand they delivered the silver to pay out to the workers, for they dealt honestly.(I) 16 The silver from the guilt offerings and the silver from the sin offerings was not brought into the house of the Lord; it belonged to the priests.(J)

Hazael Threatens Jerusalem

17 At that time King Hazael of Aram went up, fought against Gath, and took it. But when Hazael set his face to go up against Jerusalem,(K) 18 King Jehoash of Judah took all the votive gifts that Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his ancestors, the kings of Judah, had dedicated, as well as his own votive gifts, all the gold that was found in the treasuries of the house of the Lord and of the king’s house, and sent these to King Hazael of Aram. Then Hazael withdrew from Jerusalem.(L)

Death of Joash

19 Now the rest of the acts of Joash and all that he did, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Judah? 20 His servants arose, devised a conspiracy, and killed Joash in the house of Millo, on the way that goes down to Silla.(M) 21 It was Jozacar son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer, his servants, who struck him down, so that he died. He was buried with his ancestors in the city of David; then his son Amaziah succeeded him.(N)

12 In the seventh year of Jehu, Joash became king and reigned 40 years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah, who was from Beer-sheba.(A) Throughout the time Jehoiada(B) the priest instructed(C) him, Joash did what was right in the Lord’s sight.(D) Yet the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense on the high places.(E)

Repairing the Temple

Then(F) Joash said to the priests, “All the dedicated money brought to the Lord’s temple,(G) census money,(H) money from vows,(I) and all money voluntarily given(J) for the Lord’s temple, each priest is to take from his assessor[a] and repair whatever damage to the temple is found.”[b](K)

But by the twenty-third year(L) of the reign of King Joash, the priests had not repaired the damage[c] to the temple.(M) So King Joash called Jehoiada(N) the priest and the other priests and said, “Why haven’t you repaired the temple’s damage? Since you haven’t, don’t take any money from your assessors; instead, hand it over for the repair of the temple.” So the priests agreed they would not take money from the people and they would not repair the temple’s damage.

Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest,(O) bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar on the right side as one enters the Lord’s temple; in it the priests who guarded the threshold put all the money brought into the Lord’s temple.(P) 10 Whenever they saw there was a large amount of money in the chest, the king’s secretary(Q) and the high priest would go to the Lord’s temple and count the money found there and tie it up in bags.(R) 11 Then they would put the counted money into the hands of those doing the work—those who oversaw the Lord’s temple. They in turn would pay it out to those working on the Lord’s temple—the carpenters, the builders, 12 the masons, and the stonecutters—and would use it to buy timber and quarried stone to repair the damage to the Lord’s temple(S) and for all spending for temple repairs.

13 However, no silver bowls, wick trimmers, sprinkling basins, trumpets, or any articles of gold or silver(T) were made for the Lord’s temple from the money brought into the temple. 14 Instead, it was given to those doing the work, and they repaired the Lord’s temple with it. 15 No accounting was required from the men who received the money to pay those doing the work, since they worked with integrity.(U) 16 The money from the restitution offering and the sin offering was not brought to the Lord’s temple since it belonged to the priests.(V)

Aramean Invasion of Judah

17 At that time Hazael(W) king of Aram marched up and fought against Gath and captured it. Then he planned to attack Jerusalem.(X) 18 So King Joash of Judah took all the consecrated items that his ancestors—Judah’s kings Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah—had consecrated, along with his own consecrated items and all the gold found in the treasuries of the Lord’s temple and in the king’s palace, and he sent them to Hazael king of Aram.(Y) Then Hazael withdrew from Jerusalem.

Joash Assassinated

19 The rest of the events of Joash’s reign, along with all his accomplishments, are written in the Historical Record of Judah’s Kings.(Z) 20 Joash’s servants conspired against him and killed him(AA) at Beth-millo(AB) on the road that goes down to Silla. 21 His servants Jozabad[d] son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer struck him down, and he died.(AC) Then they buried him with his fathers in the city of David, and his son Amaziah became king in his place.(AD)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 12:5 Hb obscure
  2. 2 Kings 12:5 Lit repair the breach of the house wherever there is found a breach
  3. 2 Kings 12:6 Lit breach in 2Kg 12:5-12
  4. 2 Kings 12:21 Some Hb mss, LXX read Jozacar; 2Ch 24:26 reads Zabad