2 Kings 12 Jehoash reigneth well all the days of Jehoiada: he giveth order for the repair of the temple, 2 Kings 12:1–16. He diverteth Hazael from Jerusalem by a present of the hallowed treasures: he is slain by his servants: Amaziah suceedeth him, 2 Kings 12:17–21.

To wit, for the matter of it, though not with an honest and sincere mind, but only by the influence of his good tutor and restorer, as the words here following plainly imply.

The people were so fondly and strangely addicted to the high places, that the foregoing kings, though men of riper years, and great power and courage, and finally settled in their thrones, could not take them away; and therefore it is not strange if Jehoiada could not now remove them, when the king…

Remembering that he owed his preservation and restoration to the temple, and that he was made by God the guardian of his temple and worship, and that he had covenanted to be so, Jehoash now takes care to repair it.

Let the priests take it to them; let them go abroad through all the parts of the land, as they have acquaintance and interest, and gather up the money, and bring it to Jerusalem.

Either because the people were generally corrupt and backward to the worship of God, especially where it cost them any thing; or because the persons employed in making the collections were negligent, or unfaithful, perverting the money received to their own uses, as may seem probable from the…

i.e. The money which you have already received.

Nor to take the charge of that work which the king had committed unto them, but freely to resign it to whom the king should appoint.

Jehoiada the priest, by the king’s consent, 2 Chron. 24:8. Beside the altar, in the priests’ court. Object. It was placed without at the gate of the house of the Lord, 2 Chron. 24:8. Answ.

The king’s scribe, who kept an exact account hereof in writing. See 2 Kings 19:2, 2 Kings 22:3.

Them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the Lord; who were chosen out of the people, not without a reflection upon the priests for their neglect or unfaithfulness.

And for all other things which were necessary for the reparation of the house.

There were not made, to wit, until all the breaches of the house were repaired; but when that was done, they laid it out for these things, as is noted, 2 Chron. 24:14.

For they perceived by many experiments that they were faithful.

i.e. It was not employed towards the reparation of the house, because, as it follows, it was the priests’; it was given to them for their private use and maintenance. Quest.

Then, i.e. in this king’s days, when Jehoiada was dead, and Joash revolted from God; of which see 2 Chron. 24:17;c. Gath; once a city of the Philistines, but taken by David, 1 Chron. 18:1, and now a part of the kingdom of Judah. Set his face, i.e. directed his march, and led his forces.

Took all the hallowed things: that necessity of saving his kingdom and people by this means, which otherwise might seem to excuse the fact, was brought upon himself by his apostacy from God. See Poole “1 Kings 15:18”.

Made a conspiracy; of which see 2 Chron. 24:25. In the house of Millo; either in that strong and famous place in Jerusalem called Millo; of which see 2 Sam.

Jozachar, called also Zabad, 2 Chron. 24:26. Silomer, called Shimrith, 2 Chron. 24:26; except Shomer be the father’s name, and Shimrith the mother’s. With his fathers, i.e. in the same city, but not in the same royal sepulchre, 2 Chron. 24:25.