II Kings Chapter 12

Please read:  II Kings 12 –

A little 7-year-old boy became the next king of Judah.  His name was Jehoash (or Joash).  Of course, he would have had an adult that was really making the decisions until he was old enough to do so himself.  Thankfully the priest Jehoiada was the godly man behind the young king of the southern kingdom.  Because of the godly leadership of Jehoiada, Jehoash was known to be a king who mostly did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD.  I used the word mostly because after Jehoiada passed away, things changed. 

We learn in the later years of Jehoash’s 40-year reign that he was attacked by the king of Syria.  In this chapter we learn that Jehoash gave up the temple treasures to the Syrian king, but if we look ahead to II Chronicles 24 we read that Jehoash was injured in the attack and probably gave up all the treasures to save his own life.  Jehoash was not killed during that Syrian attack, but he was murdered by some of his own servants.  This would seem to indicate that toward the end of his reign he became an intolerable man to have to serve under. 

Let's Reflect

1.  According to verse 2 the Bible says that Jehoash did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD.  What reason was given that this young king was pleasing to the LORD?

2.  In verse 3 we learn something about the high places that were utilized for sacrifices and making offerings to the LORD.  These existed during the reigns of the previous kings as well.  The high places did not particularly indicate idol worship but were places for the people to make their sacrifices to God as a matter of convenience rather than having to travel to the temple.  This, however, was not what God had instructed.  Did Jehoash instruct that the high places be torn down?

3.  Every king or man in power wants to be remembered for some great cause they championed.  For Jehoash it was repairing the temple.  He made a decree that from the monies the priests collected in the temple that the repairs would commence.  Because of poor money management what happened to the king’s plan to repair the temple?

4.  How long did things continue before Jehoash questioned why the repairs were not finished in the temple?

5.  There were two purposes for the money given to the temple that were a requirement.  One was a census money, sort of a personal tax on each individual, and the other was his assessment money.  Each person was to give a portion for their assessed value.  This was like a property tax.  There was a third special offering that was a gift above the other offerings.  When the priests were found to be negligent in handling the monies that came in Jehoiada put a plan in place to fulfill the king’s decree.  What did Jehoiada do so that a person could give his special offering gifts to be used specifically for the temple repairs?

6.  Jehoiada found a way to finance the building repairs without taking away monies from the other priests.  We learn in II Chronicles 24 that there was enough money left over to have vessels and various articles made for the temple.  But who came to destroy all of that?

7.  Jehoash was not killed by the attack of Syria but by the hands of his own servants.  His son then became the next king of Judah.  What was his name?