--- title: "Clarke" description: "hallowed things of the house of the Lord, 17, 18. The servants of Jehoash conspire against and slay him, 19-21. NOTES ON CHAP. XII Verse 2 Kings 12:2. Jeh" image: "/images/missing.jpg" url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/2-kings/12" --- *hallowed things of the house of the Lord*, 17, 18. *The servants of Jehoash conspire against and slay him*, 19-21. NOTES ON CHAP. XII Verse [2 Kings 12:2](../../../kjv/2-kings/12/2). ***Jehoash did - right in the sight of the Lord*** — While Jehoiada the priest, who was a pious, holy man, lived, Jehoash walked uprightly; but it appears from [2 Chronicles 24:17-18](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/24/17-18), that he departed from the worship of the true God after the death of this eminent high priest, lapsed into idolatry, and seems to have had a share in the murder of Zechariah, who testified against his transgressions, and those of the princes of Judah. See above, [2 Kings 24:20-22](../../../kjv/2-kings/24/20-22). O how *few* of the *few* who begin to live to God *continue unto the* *end*! Verse [2 Kings 12:3](../../../kjv/2-kings/12/3). ***The high places were not taken away*** — Without the total destruction of these there could be no *radical* reform. The toleration of any species of idolatry in the land, whatever else was done in behalf of true religion, left, and in effect fostered, a seed which springing up, regenerated in time the whole infernal system. Jehoiada did not use his influence as he might have done; for as he had the king's heart and hand with him, he might have done what he pleased. Verse [2 Kings 12:4](../../../kjv/2-kings/12/4). ***All the money of the dedicated things*** — From all this account we find that the temple was in a very ruinous state; the walls were falling down, some had perhaps actually fallen, and there was no person so zealous for the pure worship of God, as to exert himself to shore up the falling temple! The king himself seems to have been the first who noticed these dilapidations, and took measures for the necessary repairs. The repairs were made from the following sources: 1. The *things* which pious persons *had dedicated* to the service of God. 2. The *free-will offerings* of strangers who had visited Jerusalem: *the* *money of every one that passeth*. 3. The *half-shekel* which the males were obliged to pay from the age of *twenty* years ([Exodus 30:12](../../../kjv/exodus/30/12)) for the redemption of their *souls*, that is their *lives*, which is here called *the money that every man is set at*. All these sources had ever been in some measure open, but instead of repairing the dilapidations in the Lord's house, the priests and Levites had converted the income to their own use. Verse [2 Kings 12:6](../../../kjv/2-kings/12/6). ***In the three and twentieth year*** — In what year Jehoash gave the orders for these repairs, we cannot tell; but the account here plainly intimates that they had been long given, and that nothing was done, merely through the inactivity and *negligence of* *the priests*; see [2 Chronicles 24:6](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/24/6). It seems that the people had brought money in abundance, and the pious Jehoiada was over the priests, and yet nothing was done! Though Jehoiada was a good man, he does not appear to have had much of the spirit of an active *zeal*; and simple *piety*, without zeal and activity, is of little use when a reformation in religion and manners is necessary to be brought about. *Philip Melancthon* was orthodox, pious, and learned, but he was a man of comparative *inactivity*. In many respects *Martin Luther* was by far his inferior, but in zeal and activity he was a flaming and consuming fire; and by him, under God, was the mighty Reformation, from the corruptions of popery, effected. Ten thousand *Jehoiadas* and *Melancthons* might have *wished* it in vain; Luther *worked*, and God worked *by* him, *in* him, and *for* him. Verse [2 Kings 12:9](../../../kjv/2-kings/12/9). ***Jehoiada - took a chest*** — This chest was at first *set* *beside the altar*, as is here mentioned; but afterwards, for the convenience of the people, it was set *without the gate*; see [2 Chronicles 24:8](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/24/8). Verse [2 Kings 12:10](../../../kjv/2-kings/12/10). ***The king's scribe and the high priest*** — It was necessary to associate with the high priest some *civil authority* and activity, in order to get the neglected work performed. Verse [2 Kings 12:13](../../../kjv/2-kings/12/13). ***Howbeit there were not made - bowls, c.*** — That is, there were no vessels made for the service of the temple till all the outward repairs were completed but after this was done, *they* *brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada,* *whereof were made vessels of gold and silver*; [2 Chronicles 24:14](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/24/14). Verse [2 Kings 12:15](../../../kjv/2-kings/12/15). ***They reckoned not with the men*** — They placed great confidence in them, and were not disappointed, *for they dealt* *faithfully*. Verse [2 Kings 12:17](../../../kjv/2-kings/12/17). ***Hazael - fought against Gath, and took it*** — This city, with its satrapy or *lordship*, had been taken from the Philistines by David, (see [2 Samuel 8:1](../../../kjv/2-samuel/8/1), and [1 Chronicles 18:1](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/18/1)); and it had continued in the possession of the kings of Judah till this time. On what pretence Hazael seized it, we cannot tell; he had the *ultima ratio* *regum, power* to do it, and he *wanted more territory*. Verse [2 Kings 12:18](../../../kjv/2-kings/12/18). ***Took all the hallowed things*** — He dearly bought a peace which was of *short duration*, for the next year Hazael returned, and Jehoash, having no more treasures, was obliged to hazard a battle, which he lost, with the principal part of his nobility, so that Judah was totally ruined, and Jehoash shortly after slain in his bed by his own servants; [2 Chronicles 24:23](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/24/23). Verse [2 Kings 12:19](../../../kjv/2-kings/12/19). ***The rest of the acts of Joash*** — We have already seen that this man, so promising in the beginning of his reign, apostatized, became an idolater, encouraged idolatry among his subjects, and put the high priest Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada his benefactor, to death; and now God visited that blood upon him by the hands of the tyrannous king of Syria, and by his own servants. Verse [2 Kings 12:20](../../../kjv/2-kings/12/20). ***The house of Millo*** — Was a royal palace, built by David; (see [2 Samuel 5:9](../../../kjv/2-samuel/5/9)); and *Silla* is supposed to be the name of the *road* or *causeway* that led to it. *Millo* was situated between the old city of Jerusalem, and the city of David. Verse [2 Kings 12:21](../../../kjv/2-kings/12/21). ***For Jozachar*** — This person is called *Zabad* in [2 Chronicles 24:26](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/24/26); and *Shimeath* his mother is said to be an *Ammonitess*, as *Jehozabad* is said to be the son, not of *Shomer*, but of *Shimrith*, a Moabitess. ***They buried him with his fathers in the city of David*** — But they did not bury him in the *sepulchres of the kings*; this is supposed to express the popular disapprobation of his conduct. Thus ended a reign full of promise and hope in the beginning, but profligate, cruel, and ruinous in the end. Never was the hand of God's justice more signally stretched out against an apostate king and faithless people, than at this time. Now Hazael had a plenary commission; the king, the nobles, and the people, were food for his sword, and by a handful of Syrians the mighty armies of Israel were overthrown: *For the army of the Syrians came with a small company* *of men, and the Lord delivered a very great host into their hand,* *because they had forsaken the Lord God*, [2 Chronicles 24:24](../../../kjv/2-chronicles/24/24). Thus, as righteousness exalteth a nation, so sin is the disgrace and confusion of any people. Sin destroys both counsel and strength; and the wicked flee when none pursue. ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com","name":"Real Bible Believers","description":"RBB","publisher":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/search?q={search_term_string}","query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/2-kings/12#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","contentUrl":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/images/missing.jpg","width":640,"height":370,"caption":"Clarke's Commentary - 2 Kings 12"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/2-kings/12#webpage","url":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/2-kings/12","name":"Clarke's Commentary - 2 Kings 12","isPartOf":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/clarkes-commentary/2-kings/12#primaryimage"},"datePublished":null,"dateModified":null,"author":{"@id":"https://realbiblebelievers.com/#/schema/person/e966585dde703268e7f6ae890ea98509"},"description":"hallowed things of the house of the Lord, 17, 18. 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