Keraia
2 Kings 12

2 Kings 12:18

The Death of Joash · 2 Kings 12:17–21
Read 2 Kings 12

Translations

Modern
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.
Traditional
And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the house of the Lord, and in the king’s house, and sent it to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.
Literal
And Jehoash king of Judah took all the holy things that Jehoshaphat, and Joram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own sacred things, and all the gold found in the treasuries of the house of YHWH and in the house of the king. And he sent them to Hazael king of Aram. And he went up from Jerusalem.
Latin
Quam ob rem tulit Joas rex Juda omnia sanctificata quæ consecraverant Josaphat, et Joram, et Ochozias, patres ejus reges Juda, et quæ ipse obtulerat: et universum argentum quod inveniri potuit in thesauris templi Domini et in palatio regis: misitque Hazaëli regi Syriæ, et recessit ab Jerusalem.

Original

Hebrew
English
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.

Notes

2 Kings 12:18

  • consecrated items … gold: Solomon and Asa had given these treasures to the temple earlier (1 Kings 7:51; 15:15).

  • Hazael had started attacking Jerusalem, and Joash was injured in the battle (2 Chronicles 24:25). Paying tribute to Hazael might have stopped more damage to the city.

2 Kings 11:21–12:21

The record of Joash's reign follows a typical format:

  1. It describes when he became king (2 Kings 11:21–12:3)

  2. It tells about his royal activities (2 Kings 12:4–18)

  3. It gives the closing notice of his reign (2 Kings 12:19–21).

The main focus is Joash’s efforts to repair the temple of the Lord (2 Kings 12:4–16). Later, when the army of Aram [the Arameans] invaded, Joash took treasures from the temple and gave them away to protect his city (2 Kings 12:17–18).

Theme notes and profiles

Arameans

Events

Parallels

2 Chronicles 24:23–27

People

Ahaziah: King of Judah, son of Jehoram and Athaliah Hazael: King of Aram (Syria), anointed by Elijah Jehoram: Son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah Jehoshaphat: Son of Asa, king of Judah Joash: King of Judah, son of Ahaziah Judah: Israelite tribe, kingdom, and province

Places

Jerusalem: The capital of Israel, a holy city for three religions Syria: Ancient region north of Israel, often in conflict

Glossary

Damascus Galilee Hazael Jehoash Jehu Kings, Books of First and Second Temple

Topics

Ahaziah: King of Judah--Called Azariah and Jehoahaz: Gifts of, to the Temple Church and State: State Superior to Religion: Jehoash, in Supervising the Repairs of the Temple Dedication: Things Dedicated to God: Esteemed Holy Dedication: Things Dedicated to God: Given to Propitiate Enemies Diplomacy: Jehoash Purchases Peace from Hazael Hazael: Conquests By Jehoshaphat: King of Judah: Makes Valuable Gifts to the Temple Joash: Procured Peace from Hazael, King of Syria, by Gift of Dedicated Treasures from the Temple Liberality: Jehoshaphat Prophecies Concerning Israel: Jehoash Succeeds Athaliah Temple: Solomon's by Jehoash, King of Judah, from Hazael the First Temple: Treasures of Given by Jehoash to Propitiate the Syrians Treasure-Houses: Solomon's Temple Used For