2 Kings 12

Ver. 2. — all his days wherein Jehoiada — instructed him.] Jehoiada who was the tutor of his infancy, was the counsellor of his riper age, and was equally happy in both. Bp. Hall. This history shews of what advantage it is to have good instructors and counsellors about a king. Jehoiada preserved Joash in virtuous courses while he lived; but, when he was dead, Joash entirely changed his manners, and was persuaded, by the flatteries of some of his courtiers, to fall into idolatry; and, as is related at 2 Chron. xxiv. 17, 21. he killed the son of this pious Jehoiada, who reproved him for it. Still “the high places (ver. 3) were not taken away;” meaning the private altars on which they worshipped the true God, which were not removed by the best of their kings till the reign of Hezekiah. Bp. Patrick.

Chap. XIII. ver. 4. And Jehoahaz besought the Lord.] These miserable calamities brought the king to have recourse to God by prayers and fastings; and God was pleased, in the next reign, to grant them a deliverance, not out of respect to him, but in regard to the piety of the famous ancestors of this people, to grant them a deliverance from this ruinous war, for notwithstanding all these prayers and tears, no reformation was begun, but all manner of superstitions and irregularities, first introduced by Jeroboam, were continued and encouraged. Pyle. — and the Lord hearkened unto him:] Not for his own sake, but for the sake of the pious ancestors of that people, and of His promise to them. Wicked men have recourse to God in their afflictions; but, as soon as they are over, they forget Him, and return to their sins, as this prince did. Bp. Wilson.

2 Kings 12:4

4. — All the money of the dedicated things &c.] The first good thing he did was to repair the temple, which had been suffered to run to decay under the wicked reigns of Athaliah and her son. In order whereunto, he appointed all the priests to make exact and speedy collection of the several moneys due from the people by way of tax, redemption, vow, or free gift, for the repairs of the temple, agreeably to the law in those cases, some of which payments having been greatly neglected in the late times of idolatry, the collectors were not to stay till the people brought them in, but to go about

VOL. I. neither to repair the breaches of the house.

2 Kings 12:5

5. — let them repair the breaches of the house.] It is probable that the temple had been entirely neglected in the time of the idolatrous kings, his predecessors: he therefore, in gratitude to God, and from reverence to the sacred place where his life was saved, set about the work of repairing it. Bp. Wilson.

6. — a saviour.] Either some extraordinary captain, whom God raised up to fight their battles with success; or else, as it is said ver. 22, that while Hazael lived he oppressed them, it seems more reasonable to understand by this saviour, the son of Jehoahaz, who, when Hazael 856. twentieth year and third year. walked after. about 849. about 842.

2 Kings 12:6

6. — the priests had not repaired the breaches] They were dilatory and careless in collecting the money, 2 Chron. xxiv. 5. and did not bring in what they had gathered, to begin the work. Bp. Patrick.

2 Kings 12:9

9. — put therein all the money — brought &c.] A more full description is given at 2 Chron. xxiv. 9, where it is stated, that proclamation was made for all the people to bring in their half shekel, which Moses commanded every one of a certain age to pay. This they brought to the priests, who stood at the door that led into their court, and saw them put into the chest.

2 Kings 12:10

10. — they put up in bags,] It appears to have been usual in the East for money to be put in bags; which being ascertained as to the exact sum deposited in each, were sealed, and labelled probably, and thus passed currently. We are informed by Major Rennell, that in the east in the present times, a bag of money passes (for some time at least) currently from hand to hand, under

2 Kings 12:15

15. — they reckoned not with the men.] These overseers were persons of such known fidelity, and the workmen did their parts so honestly, that the high priest had no difficulty in his accounts with them, but, in great measure, trusted to their integrity. As to the trespass money, ver. 16, spoken of at Levit. v. 15, 16, it was given to the priests to buy sacrifices with, for the offerers, and none of it applied to the temple-building. Pyle.

2 Kings 12:18

18. — Jehoash — took all the hallowed things] He was forced to buy his peace at the expense of all the treasures dedicated to the temple by his forefathers and himself, and stript even the royal palace to make up the sum demanded by his imperious enemy. Pyle. It is probable that, besides the present of gold which Joash sent to Hazael, in order to bribe him to withdraw his army, he made him also a promise of an annual tribute, and that, upon his refusal to pay this, the Syrian army took the field the next year; and, as the expression is at 2 Chron. xxiv. 24, “executed judgment against Joash.” Calmet.

2 Kings 12:20

20. And his servants arose, &c.] See 2 Chron. xxiv, where further particulars are given, of his having been struck with a lingering and uncommon disease, and after some time murdered by his own subjects, in revenge for his barbarous treatment of the son of that very high his fathers in the city of David: and Amaziah his son reigned in his stead. Before CHRIST 830. # CHAP. XIII.