2 Kings 12

2Ki 12:1-18.

JEHOASH

REIGNS

WELL WHILE

JEHOIADA

LIVED.

2. Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord--so far

as related to his outward actions and the policy of his government. But

it is evident from the sequel of his history that the rectitude of his

administration was owing more to the salutary influence of his

preserver and tutor, Jehoiada, than to the honest and sincere dictates

of his own mind.

3. But the high places were not taken away--The popular fondness for

the private and disorderly rites performed in the groves and recesses

of hills was so inveterate that even the most powerful monarchs had

been unable to accomplish their suppression; no wonder that in the

early reign of a young king, and after the gross irregularities that

had been allowed during the maladministration of Athaliah, the

difficulty of putting an end to the superstitions associated with "the

high places" was greatly increased.

4. Jehoash said to the priests, &c.--There is here given an account

of the measures which the young king took for repairing the temple by

the levying of taxes: 1. "The money of every one that passeth the

account," namely, half a shekel, as "an offering to the Lord"

(Ex 30:13).

2. "The money that every man is set at," that is, the redemption price

of every one who had devoted himself or any thing belonging to him to

the Lord, and the amount of which was estimated according to certain

rules

(Le 27:1-8).

3. Free will or voluntary offerings made to the sanctuary. The first

two were paid annually (see

2Ch 24:5).

7-10. Why repair ye not the breaches of the house?--This mode of

collection not proving so productive as was expected (the dilatoriness

of the priests was the chief cause of the failure), a new arrangement

was proposed. A chest was placed by the high priest at the entrance

into the temple, into which the money given by the people for the

repairs of the temple was to be put by the Levites who kept the door.

The object of this chest was to make a separation between the money

to be raised for the building from the other moneys destined for the

general use of the priests, in the hope that the people would be more

liberal in their contributions when it was known that their offerings

would be devoted to the special purpose of making the necessary

repairs. The duty of attending to this work was no longer to devolve on

the priests, but to be undertaken by the king.

11, 12. they gave the money, being told, into the hands of them that

did the work--The king sent his secretary along with an agent of the

high priest to count the money in the chest from time to time

(2Ch 24:11),

and deliver the amount to the overseers of the building, who paid the

workmen and purchased all necessary materials. The custom of putting

sums of certain amount in bags, which are labelled and sealed by a

proper officer, is a common way of using the currency in Turkey and

other Eastern countries.

13-16. Howbeit there were not made . . . bowls, &c.--When the repairs

of the temple had been completed, the surplus was appropriated to the

purchase of the temple furniture. The integrity of the overseers of the

work being undoubted, no account was exacted of the way in which they

applied the money given to them, while other moneys levied at the

temple were left to the disposal of the priests as the law directed

(Le 5:16;

Nu 5:8).

17, 18. Then Hazael . . . fought against

Gath--(See on

2Ch 24:23).

2Ki 12:19-21.

HE

IS

SLAIN.

20. his servants arose . . . and slew Joash in the house of

Millo--(See on

2Ch 24:25).