2 Kings Chapters 12-13, 2 Chronicles Chapter 24
Opening Prayer:
Heavenly Father, as we open Your Word to 2 Kings 12-13 and 2 Chronicles 24, we thank You for preserving Your people and Your promises through dark times. Open our eyes to see Your faithfulness, convict our hearts of any compromise, and strengthen us to remain steadfast in obedience all our days. Guide our discussion and apply these truths to our lives for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Looking Back
Recalling 2 Kings 11 & 2 Chronicles 23
In the wake of Ahaziah’s death, his mother Athaliah seized the throne of Judah by destroying the royal heirs, but her sister-in-law Jehosheba courageously hid the infant Joash (with his nurse) in the temple for six years. In the seventh year, the godly high priest Jehoiada bravely rallied the captains, guards, and Levites, crowned the young Joash as king in the house of the Lord, executed Athaliah, destroyed the temple of Baal, and led the people in renewing their covenant with the true God—thus preserving the Davidic line through divine protection and faithful leadership.
Introducing 2 Kings 12-13 and 2 Chronicles 24
Joash, who began reigning at age seven under Jehoiada’s guidance, did what was right in the Lord’s eyes for many years; he initiated major repairs to the neglected temple by collecting dedicated funds from the people, demonstrating renewed worship and stewardship. Yet after the death of his mentor Jehoiada, Joash and the leaders turned to idolatry, ignored prophetic warnings, faced judgment through foreign invasion, and ultimately suffered conspiracy and assassination—highlighting the danger of drifting from God without ongoing godly influence.
Scripture NKJV
II Kings 12
Jehoash Repairs the Temple
1 In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 3 But the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.
4 And Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the dedicated gifts that are brought into the house of the Lord—each man’s census money, each man’s assessment money—and all the money that a man purposes in his heart to bring into the house of the Lord, 5 let the priests take it themselves, each from his constituency; and let them repair the damages of the temple, wherever any dilapidation is found.”
6 Now it was so, by the twenty-third year of King Jehoash, that the priests had not repaired the damages of the temple. 7 So King Jehoash called Jehoiada the priest and the other priests, and said to them, “Why have you not repaired the damages of the temple? Now therefore, do not take more money from your constituency, but deliver it for repairing the damages of the temple.” 8 And the priests agreed that they would neither receive more money from the people, nor repair the damages of the temple.
9 Then Jehoiada the priest took a chest, bored a hole in its lid, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one comes into the house of the Lord; and the priests who kept the door put there all the money brought into the house of the Lord. 10 So it was, whenever they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king’s scribe and the high priest came up and put it in bags, and counted the money that was found in the house of the Lord. 11 Then they gave the money, which had been apportioned, into the hands of those who did the work, who had the oversight of the house of the Lord; and they paid it out to the carpenters and builders who worked on the house of the Lord, 12 and to masons and stonecutters, and for buying timber and hewn stone, to repair the damage of the house of the Lord, and for all that was paid out to repair the temple. 13 However there were not made for the house of the Lord basins of silver, trimmers, sprinkling-bowls, trumpets, any articles of gold or articles of silver, from the money brought into the house of the Lord. 14 But they gave that to the workmen, and they repaired the house of the Lord with it. 15 Moreover they did not require an account from the men into whose hand they delivered the money to be paid to workmen, for they dealt faithfully. 16 The money from the trespass offerings and the money from the sin offerings was not brought into the house of the Lord. It belonged to the priests.
Hazael Threatens Jerusalem
17 Hazael king of Syria went up and fought against Gath, and took it; then Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem. 18 And Jehoash king of Judah took all the sacred things that his fathers, Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah, kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own sacred things, and all the gold found in the treasuries of the house of the Lord and in the king’s house, and sent them to Hazael king of Syria. Then he went away from Jerusalem.
Death of Joash
19 Now the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?
20 And his servants arose and formed a conspiracy, and killed Joash in the house of the Millo, which goes down to Silla. 21 For Jozachar the son of Shimeath and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, struck him. So he died, and they buried him with his fathers in the City of David. Then Amaziah his son reigned in his place.
II Kings 13
Jehoahaz Reigns in Israel
1 In the twenty-third year of Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, Jehoahaz the son of Jehu became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned seventeen years. 2 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and followed the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who had made Israel sin. He did not depart from them.
3 Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel, and He delivered them into the hand of Hazael king of Syria, and into the hand of Ben-Hadad the son of Hazael, all their days. 4 So Jehoahaz pleaded with the Lord, and the Lord listened to him; for He saw the oppression of Israel, because the king of Syria oppressed them. 5 Then the Lord gave Israel a deliverer, so that they escaped from under the hand of the Syrians; and the children of Israel dwelt in their tents as before. 6 Nevertheless they did not depart from the sins of the house of Jeroboam, who had made Israel sin, but walked in them; and the wooden image also remained in Samaria. 7 For He left of the army of Jehoahaz only fifty horsemen, ten chariots, and ten thousand foot soldiers; for the king of Syria had destroyed them and made them like the dust at threshing.
8 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoahaz, all that he did, and his might, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 9 So Jehoahaz rested with his fathers, and they buried him in Samaria. Then Joash his son reigned in his place.
Jehoash Reigns in Israel
10 In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz became king over Israel in Samaria, and reigned sixteen years. 11 And he did evil in the sight of the Lord. He did not depart from all the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel sin, but walked in them.
12 Now the rest of the acts of Joash, all that he did, and his might with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 13 So Joash rested with his fathers. Then Jeroboam sat on his throne. And Joash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.
Death of Elisha
14 Elisha had become sick with the illness of which he would die. Then Joash the king of Israel came down to him, and wept over his face, and said, “O my father, my father, the chariots of Israel and their horsemen!”
15 And Elisha said to him, “Take a bow and some arrows.” So he took himself a bow and some arrows. 16 Then he said to the king of Israel, “Put your hand on the bow.” So he put his hand on it, and Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands. 17 And he said, “Open the east window”; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, “Shoot”; and he shot. And he said, “The arrow of the Lord’s deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria; for you must strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them.” 18 Then he said, “Take the arrows”; so he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground”; so he struck three times, and stopped. 19 And the man of God was angry with him, and said, “You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck Syria till you had destroyed it! But now you will strike Syria only three times.”
20 Then Elisha died, and they buried him. And the raiding bands from Moab invaded the land in the spring of the year. 21 So it was, as they were burying a man, that suddenly they spied a band of raiders; and they put the man in the tomb of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived and stood on his feet.
Israel Recaptures Cities from Syria
22 And Hazael king of Syria oppressed Israel all the days of Jehoahaz. 23 But the Lord was gracious to them, had compassion on them, and regarded them, because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not yet destroy them or cast them from His presence.
24 Now Hazael king of Syria died. Then Ben-Hadad his son reigned in his place. 25 And Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz recaptured from the hand of Ben-Hadad, the son of Hazael, the cities which he had taken out of the hand of Jehoahaz his father by war. Three times Joash defeated him and recaptured the cities of Israel.
II Chronicles 24
Joash Repairs the Temple
1 Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2 Joash did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3 And Jehoiada took two wives for him, and he had sons and daughters.
4 Now it happened after this that Joash set his heart on repairing the house of the Lord. 5 Then he gathered the priests and the Levites, and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather from all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that you do it quickly.”
However the Levites did not do it quickly. 6 So the king called Jehoiada the chief priest, and said to him, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring in from Judah and from Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the servant of the Lord and of the assembly of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?” 7 For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house of God, and had also presented all the dedicated things of the house of the Lord to the Baals.
8 Then at the king’s command they made a chest, and set it outside at the gate of the house of the Lord. 9 And they made a proclamation throughout Judah and Jerusalem to bring to the Lord the collection that Moses the servant of God had imposed on Israel in the wilderness. 10 Then all the leaders and all the people rejoiced, brought their contributions, and put them into the chest until all had given. 11 So it was, at that time, when the chest was brought to the king’s official by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money, that the king’s scribe and the high priest’s officer came and emptied the chest, and took it and returned it to its place. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.
12 The king and Jehoiada gave it to those who did the work of the service of the house of the Lord; and they hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the Lord, and also those who worked in iron and bronze to restore the house of the Lord. 13 So the workmen labored, and the work was completed by them; they restored the house of God to its original condition and reinforced it. 14 When they had finished, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada; they made from it articles for the house of the Lord, articles for serving and offering, spoons and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the Lord continually all the days of Jehoiada.
Apostasy of Joash
15 But Jehoiada grew old and was full of days, and he died; he was one hundred and thirty years old when he died. 16 And they buried him in the City of David among the kings, because he had done good in Israel, both toward God and His house.
17 Now after the death of Jehoiada the leaders of Judah came and bowed down to the king. And the king listened to them. 18 Therefore they left the house of the Lord God of their fathers, and served wooden images and idols; and wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem because of their trespass. 19 Yet He sent prophets to them, to bring them back to the Lord; and they testified against them, but they would not listen.
20 Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest, who stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God: ‘Why do you transgress the commandments of the Lord, so that you cannot prosper? Because you have forsaken the Lord, He also has forsaken you.’ ” 21 So they conspired against him, and at the command of the king they stoned him with stones in the court of the house of the Lord. 22 Thus Joash the king did not remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son; and as he died, he said, “The Lord look on it, and repay!”
Death of Joash
23 So it happened in the spring of the year that the army of Syria came up against him; and they came to Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the leaders of the people from among the people, and sent all their spoil to the king of Damascus. 24 For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men; but the Lord delivered a very great army into their hand, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash. 25 And when they had withdrawn from him (for they left him severely wounded), his own servants conspired against him because of the blood of the sons of Jehoiada the priest, and killed him on his bed. So he died. And they buried him in the City of David, but they did not bury him in the tombs of the kings.
26 These are the ones who conspired against him: Zabad the son of Shimeath the Ammonitess, and Jehozabad the son of Shimrith the Moabitess. 27 Now concerning his sons, and the many oracles about him, and the repairing of the house of God, indeed they are written in the annals of the book of the kings. Then Amaziah his son reigned in his place.
What it all means
In-Depth Explanation: 2 Kings 12–13 and 2 Chronicles 24
These chapters focus on the reign of Joash (also called Jehoash) of Judah and parallel events in the northern kingdom of Israel. They highlight themes of godly influence, stewardship of resources for God’s house, the danger of spiritual drift, partial obedience, and God’s covenant faithfulness.
Historical Context Joash of Judah began reigning around 835 BC at age 7 after the overthrow of the wicked Queen Athaliah (detailed in 2 Kings 11 and 2 Chronicles 23). He reigned 40 years in Jerusalem. His early years were shaped by the godly high priest Jehoiada, who had protected and raised him.
The northern kingdom (Israel) was ruled by the dynasty of Jehu. Both kingdoms faced pressure from Aram (Syria) under kings Hazael and later Ben-Hadad.
Kings tends to emphasize political and military history with a somewhat neutral tone. Chronicles (written later, likely for post-exilic readers) focuses more on spiritual condition, temple worship, and the consequences of covenant faithfulness or failure. The accounts complement each other beautifully.
2 Kings 12 – Joash Repairs the Temple (and Later Declines)
Verses 1–3: Summary of Joash’s Reign Joash became king in the seventh year of Jehu (king of Israel). He reigned 40 years. While Jehoiada the priest instructed him, “Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” However, “the high places were not removed” — a recurring failure even among relatively good kings. The people still sacrificed at these unauthorized sites.
Verses 4–16: The Temple Repair Project This is the heart of the chapter. The temple had been neglected and damaged during Athaliah’s reign (she and her sons had even used sacred objects for Baal worship — see 2 Chron 24:7).
Joash instructed the priests to collect money from census taxes, personal vows, and freewill offerings and use it to repair the temple. By Joash’s 23rd year, little progress had been made — the priests were apparently using the funds for other purposes or not prioritizing the work.
Joash confronted them and changed the system:
A chest (offering box) with a hole in the lid was placed beside the altar at the temple entrance.
Priests guarding the entrance collected the money into the chest.
When full, the royal secretary and high priest counted it, put it in bags, and gave it to supervisors who paid the workers (carpenters, builders, masons, stonecutters).
Key observations:
The people responded generously when the system was clear and accountable.
The money was used only for repairs — not for making new silver/gold articles for the temple (those came later from surplus).
The workers and overseers “acted with complete honesty,” so no detailed accounting was even required (v. 15). This shows remarkable integrity.
Guilt and sin offerings still went directly to the priests (their provision).
Verses 17–18: Hazael Threatens Jerusalem Hazael of Aram captured Gath and threatened Jerusalem. Joash bought him off with sacred objects and gold from the temple and palace treasuries. This was a pragmatic but spiritually costly move — using dedicated items to appease an enemy rather than trusting God.
Verses 19–21: Joash’s Assassination Joash’s officials conspired against him and assassinated him at Beth Millo. He was buried in the City of David. His son Amaziah succeeded him. (Chronicles gives more context for why this happened.)
Spiritual Lessons from 2 Kings 12
Godly mentorship produces good fruit, but it must lead to personal conviction.
Clear systems and accountability help God’s work get done faithfully.
Even “good” kings can compromise under pressure or drift over time.
Using resources dedicated to God for other purposes (even “practical” ones) is serious.
2 Kings 13 – Jehoahaz and Jehoash of Israel; Elisha’s Final Days
This chapter shifts to the northern kingdom.
Jehoahaz (vv. 1–9) Jehoahaz son of Jehu reigned 17 years and “did evil in the eyes of the Lord,” following Jeroboam’s sins (golden calves, etc.). God’s anger led to severe oppression by Hazael and Ben-Hadad of Aram. Israel’s army was reduced to almost nothing.
In his distress, Jehoahaz “sought the Lord’s favor,” and God listened. He provided a deliverer, and Israel escaped Aram’s power for a time. Yet they did not turn from their sins — the Asherah pole remained in Samaria. Partial repentance brought partial relief.
Jehoash (Jehoash of Israel) and Elisha (vv. 10–19) Jehoash reigned 16 years and also did evil. While Elisha was dying, Jehoash visited him and wept, crying, “My father! My father! The chariots and horsemen of Israel!” (echoing Elisha’s own words about Elijah).
Elisha gave a prophetic object lesson:
He told the king to take a bow and arrows.
He placed his hands on the king’s hands and had him shoot an arrow out the east window toward Aram. Elisha declared: “The Lord’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!” (v. 17).
Then he told the king to strike the ground with the remaining arrows. Jehoash struck only three times and stopped.
Elisha was angry: “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.”
This illustrates wholehearted vs. halfhearted faith. The king believed enough for a symbolic act but not enough to press through for full victory. He received only partial success (three victories over Ben-Hadad, recovering some cities — vv. 24–25).
Elisha’s Death and the Miracle (vv. 20–21) Elisha died and was buried. Moabite raiders appeared during a burial. The mourners threw a dead man’s body into Elisha’s tomb; when it touched Elisha’s bones, the man came back to life and stood up. This was a final sign of the life-giving power associated with Elisha’s prophetic ministry.
God’s Covenant Faithfulness (vv. 22–25) Despite Israel’s sin, “the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion… because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” He would not destroy them or banish them from His presence. Hazael died; his son Ben-Hadad succeeded him. Jehoash recovered towns from him three times, as prophesied.
Lessons from 2 Kings 13
God hears cries of distress even from imperfect people, but sustained blessing requires turning from sin.
Symbolic acts of faith matter — but halfhearted effort limits what God will do through us.
God’s covenant love endures even when His people are unfaithful (though consequences remain).
The power of God’s word and His servants outlasts their physical lives.
2 Chronicles 24 – The Rise and Tragic Fall of Joash (Parallel to 2 Kings 12)
Chronicles provides a more detailed and spiritually focused account of Joash’s reign.
Verses 1–3: Good Beginning Joash was seven when he became king and reigned 40 years. While Jehoiada lived, he did right. Jehoiada even arranged wives for him, and he had sons and daughters.
Verses 4–14: Passionate Temple Restoration Joash decided to restore the temple. He confronted the priests and Levites for delay. A chest was placed at the gate. A proclamation went out to bring the tax Moses had required.
The response was joyful: “All the officials and all the people brought their contributions gladly.” The chest was regularly emptied, and a great amount was collected. The work was diligent; the temple was rebuilt “according to its original design and reinforced.”
When finished, surplus money was used to make articles for service and burnt offerings. As long as Jehoiada lived, burnt offerings were presented continually.
Verses 15–16: Jehoiada’s Death Jehoiada died at 130 years old — an extraordinary lifespan. He was buried among the kings in the City of David because of the good he had done for God and His temple. (This honorable burial is not mentioned in Kings.)
Verses 17–22: Apostasy and the Stoning of Zechariah After Jehoiada’s death, the officials of Judah came and “paid homage to the king, and he listened to them.” They abandoned the temple and worshiped Asherah poles and idols. God sent prophets, but the people would not listen.
The Spirit of God came on Zechariah son of Jehoiada. He confronted them: “Why do you disobey the Lord’s commands? You will not prosper. Because you have forsaken the Lord, he has forsaken you.”
They plotted against him, and by order of the king, Zechariah was stoned to death in the temple courtyard. Joash forgot the kindness Jehoiada had shown him as a child. As Zechariah died, he said, “May the Lord see this and call you to account.”
Verses 23–27: Judgment Falls At the turn of the year, a small Aramean army invaded (sent by God as judgment). They killed the leaders and plundered. Joash was severely wounded. His officials conspired against him (for murdering Zechariah) and killed him in his bed. He was buried in the City of David but not in the tombs of the kings. Amaziah succeeded him.
Key Emphases in Chronicles
Greater detail on the temple project and joyful giving.
Explicit connection between removing godly influence and rapid spiritual decline.
The stoning of Zechariah (later referenced by Jesus in Matthew 23:35 as an example of rejecting prophets).
Joash’s failure to remember kindness shown to him — a powerful warning about ingratitude.
Overall Themes
The Power and Limits of Godly Mentorship — Jehoiada’s influence was transformative while he lived. When removed, Joash quickly followed bad advice. We need personal relationship with God, not just borrowed faith.
Stewardship and Generosity — Clear vision + accountability + joyful giving = God’s work advances. The chest method succeeded where previous efforts failed.
Wholeheartedness Matters — Jehoash of Israel struck the ground only three times. Partial obedience brings partial results. God invites us to “strike the ground” with faith and persistence.
Consequences of Forgetting Kindness and Covenant — Joash forgot what Jehoiada had done for him. Idolatry and rejection of prophets brought judgment.
God’s Faithfulness — Even in Israel’s sin, God remembered His covenant with the patriarchs and preserved a remnant.
Closing
As we close today’s reading, we see a powerful thread running through 2 Kings 12–13 and 2 Chronicles 24: the blessing of godly influence, the urgency of wholehearted obedience, the danger of drifting once that influence is removed, and the tender faithfulness of God who remembers His covenant even when His people falter. From the joyful restoration of the temple to the sobering fall of Joash, and even in the quiet miracle of a dead man revived by Elisha’s bones, we are reminded that our God is the Author of life, restoration, and resurrection hope.
Thank you to everyone who joined in today’s reading—your hearts and fellowship make this journey so meaningful. Tomorrow we will continue with 2 Kings 14 and 2 Chronicles 25. May the Lord bless each and every one who follows along with me in this chronological reading of the Bible. May He keep our hearts steadfast, our faith wholehearted, and our eyes fixed on Jesus, the perfect King who never fails. Amen.
Until tomorrow—walk in His grace! I love you
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Special thanks are given to Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, for the gift of writing and the privilege of sharing this Bible Study. His guidance and blessings have made this work possible, and it is with a grateful heart that can share my study with you. I hope you find it informational and helpful in your spiritual journey. I am asking that you open your hearts and minds to accept the word of Christ into your hearts and accept His word to transform your life in positive ways. This is the first part of my online Christian Bookstore Fellowship and I do accept donations that will further my mission to have a Bookstore in our community, a place where we can sit down face to face and enjoy this Bible Study over open and honest conversation. I will continue this online Study as well to complete the entire year. Thank you for following The Mustard Seed Christian Bookstore Fellowship & Café online Bible Study.
This Bible study is written with inspiration and wisdom from the Holy Spirit, Scripture from the Holy Bible (NIV), NKJV Life Application Study Bible, analytical support and help in organizing and presentation from Grok AI (which examines multiple sources online) and writing assistance with drafting and editing from Microsoft Co-Pilot.
