Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 12:18
And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold [that was] found in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and in the king’s house, and sent [it] to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.
18. hallowed things] See above on verse 4.
kings of Judah had dedicate ] No doubt there were occasions in almost every reign when the king was able to give from his conquests some gift as a thankoffering to God for success. Hence the sacred treasures would come to be of great value.
and he went away from Jerusalem ] Since Hazael is not mentioned by the Chronicler as present in this expedition, and the spoils are described as being sent away to him, we may conclude that what he is here said to have done was done by the hosts of Syria which he sent forth. In Chronicles, though nothing is said there about the way in which Jehoash bribed the Syrians to depart, we learn that for some reason or other they did depart without prosecuting the siege of Jerusalem.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 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; 2Ch 24:23.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
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 “1Ki 15:18“.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated,…. To sacred uses, and had laid up in the temple:
and his own hallowed things: which he had devoted to the same uses:
and all the gold [that was] found in the treasures of the house of the Lord: which were gifts and presents from divers persons for sacred services:
and sent it to Hazael king of Syria, and he went away from Jerusalem; to bribe him, that he might desist from his purpose; which showed a meanness of spirit, and was the effect of his idolatry and apostasy, having forsaken the Lord, and being forsaken by him; in whom should have been his trust and confidence, and then he need not have been afraid to meet the king of Syria.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(18) The hallowed things that . . . Jehoram, and Ahaziah . . . had dedicatedAlthough these kings had sought to naturalise the Baal-worship, they had not ventured to abolish that of Jehovah. On the contrary, as appears from this passage, they even tried to conciliate the powerful priesthood and numerous adherents of the national religion, by dedicating gifts to the sanctuary. The fact that there was so much treasure disposable is not to be wondered at, even after the narrative of the way in which funds were raised for repairing the Temple; because the treasure in question, especially that of the Temple, appears to have been regarded as a reserve, only to be touched in case of grave national emergency like the present.
And he went away from Jerusalemi.e., withdrew his forces. Thenius asserts that the present expedition of Hazael is distinct from that recorded in 2Ch. 24:23, seq., which he admits to be historical. But it is not said here that Hazael went in person against Jerusalem. (Comp, 2Ki. 12:17, set his face to go up, i.e., prepared to march thither.) The serious defeat of the army of Jehoash, related in Chronicles, accounts very satisfactorily for the sacrifice of his treasures here specified; while the withdrawal of the Syrians after their victory, as told in Chronicles, is explained by the bribe which Jehoash is here said to have paid them. The two narratives thus supplement each other.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
18. Took all the hallowed things This was a too expensive buying of an uncertain peace, and led to no permanent security. Asa before him, (1Ki 15:18,) and Ahaz and Hezekiah after him, (2Ki 16:8; 2Ki 18:15,) did the like foolish thing, to the great damage of the kingdom.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2Ki 12:18. And sent it to Hazael king of Syria It is highly probable, that besides the present of gold, which Jehoash sent to Hazael in order to bribe him to withdraw his army, he had made him a promise of an annual tribute, and that, upon his refusal to pay it, the Syrian army took the field the next year, and, as the expression is, 2Ch 24:24 executed judgment upon Joash; for, according to the author of the Jewish traditions upon the second book of Chronicles, while they killed his children before his eyes, they upbraided him with the cruel and unjust death of Zechariah. See Calmet.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
2Ki 12:18 And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold [that was] found in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and in the king’s house, and sent [it] to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.
Ver. 18. He went away. ] But the next year he returned again, spoiled Jerusalem, killed many, wounded Jehoash, after that he had put to death Zechariah the son of Jehoiada for his plain dealing. 2Ch 24:17 , &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
hallowed = set apart. Hebrew. kodesh. See note on Exo 3:5.
treasures = treasuries
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
took all the hallowed: He dearly bought, by such unhallowed means, 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, and the principal part of his nobility, so that Judah was totally ruined, and Jehoash soon after slain in his bed by his own servants. 2Ki 18:15, 2Ki 18:16, 1Ki 15:18, 2Ch 16:2
went away: Heb. went up
Reciprocal: 2Ki 12:4 – the money 2Ki 15:19 – Menahem 2Ki 16:8 – the silver 1Ch 18:11 – dedicated 2Ch 24:23 – the host 2Ch 24:27 – burdens Joe 3:5 – ye
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
12:18 And Jehoash king of Judah took all the hallowed things that Jehoshaphat, and Jehoram, and Ahaziah, his fathers, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own hallowed things, and all the gold [that was] found in the treasures of the house of the LORD, and in the king’s house, and {i} sent [it] to Hazael king of Syria: and he went away from Jerusalem.
(i) After the death of Jehoiada, Joash fell to idolatry: therefore God rejected him, and stirred up his enemy against him, whom he pacified with the treasures of the temple: for God would not be served with those gifts, seeing the king’s heart was wicked.