Bible Commentaries
2 Kings 12

Verse 3

But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.

Burnt incense — To the true God.

Verse 4

And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the LORD, even the money of every one that passeth the account, the money that every man is set at, and all the money that cometh into any man’s heart to bring into the house of the LORD,

And Jehoash said, … — Remembering that he owed his preservation and restoration to the temple, and that he was made by God the guardian of his temple, he now takes care to repair it.

Dedicated things — The money which had been either formerly or lately vowed or dedicated to the service of God and of his house.

That is brought — Or rather, that shall be brought: for though the people might vow to bring it thither in convenient time, yet it is not likely they would bring much money thither in the tyrannical and idolatrous reign of Athaliah.

The money — The half shekel, which was paid for every one that was numbered from twenty years old and upward.

Is set at — Heb. the money of souls, or persons according to his taxing, the money which every man that had vowed his person to God, paid according to the rate which the priest put upon him.

That cometh — All that shall be freely offered.

Verse 15

Moreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen: for they dealt faithfully.

Faithfully — For they perceived by many experiments that they were faithful.

Verse 20

And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla.

And slew Joash — We are told, in the Chronicles, that his murdering the prophet, Jehoiada’s son, was the provocation. In this, how unrighteous so ever they were, yet the Lord was righteous. And this was not the only time, that he let even kings know, it was at their peril, if they touched his anointed, or did his prophets any harm. Thus fell Joash, who began in the spirit, and ended in the flesh. And indeed God usually sets marks of his displeasure upon apostates, even in this life.