2 Kings 12 6

2 Kings 12:6 kjv

But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house.

2 Kings 12:6 nkjv

Now it was so, by the twenty-third year of King Jehoash, that the priests had not repaired the damages of the temple.

2 Kings 12:6 niv

But by the twenty-third year of King Joash the priests still had not repaired the temple.

2 Kings 12:6 esv

But by the twenty-third year of King Jehoash, the priests had made no repairs on the house.

2 Kings 12:6 nlt

But by the twenty-third year of Joash's reign, the priests still had not repaired the Temple.

2 Kings 12 verses

2 Kings 12 6 Meaning

2 Kings 12:6 reveals a critical moment in the reign of King Jehoash (Joash), indicating that after a significant period—twenty-three years since his ascension to the throne—the priests entrusted with the task had failed to repair the damages within the Temple of the Lord. Despite the king's initial zealous command to restore the sacred structure, the negligence or mismanagement of those responsible led to a prolonged state of disrepair. This verse underscores a fundamental breakdown in the administration of temple affairs and a significant lapse in priestly duty.

2 Kings 12 6 Context

The reign of King Jehoash (also called Joash in some translations) began after the tumultuous and idolatrous rule of his grandmother, Athaliah. He ascended to the throne at the young age of seven, rescued and raised by the faithful high priest Jehoiada (2 Ki 11). Chapter 12 opens with a positive note on Joash's piety, highlighting that "he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest" (2 Ki 12:2). His first significant act regarding religious affairs was to command the priests to collect money for the extensive repair of the Temple, which had suffered significant damage and desecration during Athaliah's reign when her sons plundered sacred articles and broke down parts of God's house (2 Chr 24:7). The instruction was for the priests to take the dedicated money and voluntary contributions from the people directly for this purpose (2 Ki 12:4-5). Verse 6 serves as a stark turning point, revealing that despite the king's initial command and a substantial period of time (sixteen years after the initial order), the temple repairs had not progressed. This delay highlights a failure in the established system and a lapse in responsibility by the very individuals tasked with this sacred duty, prompting Jehoash to take direct intervention, altering the collection and expenditure method (2 Ki 12:7-8). The neglect shown in this verse signals a failure not of royal intent but of priestly execution.

2 Kings 12 6 Word analysis

• But by the twenty-third year (וּבַשָּׁנָה הָעֶשְׂרִים וְשָׁלֹשׁ - ūvašānâ hā'eśrîm wəšālōš):
  • Significance: This phrase highlights a significant passage of time. Jehoash began his reign at age seven, so his 23rd year on the throne means he was 30 years old. Sixteen years had elapsed since he initially commanded the priests to make the repairs (2 Ki 12:4-5).
  • Emphasis: The prolonged delay suggests a lack of urgency, oversight, or perhaps an inherent flaw in the initial process for managing the funds and repairs. It serves as a marker of considerable time wasted due to inaction.
• King Jehoash (לַמֶּלֶךְ יוֹאָשׁ - lammelek Yô'āš):
  • Context: Refers to Joash, the young king who initially displayed zeal for God's house, guided by Jehoiada.
  • Implication: Despite the king's righteous intentions and specific command, the work remained undone, demonstrating that royal decree alone does not guarantee execution without proper accountability.
• the priests (הַכֹּהֲנִים - hakko'hănîm):
  • Identity: These were the Levites designated for priestly service, custodians of the Temple, and recipients of the funds.
  • Role: Their failure here is a direct indictment of their stewardship and dedication to their assigned sacred duties. They were directly responsible for overseeing the repairs.
• had not repaired (לֹא חִזְּקוּ - lō' ḥizzĕqū):
  • Meaning: ḥizzĕqū comes from the root חזק (ḥazaq), meaning "to strengthen," "make firm," "repair," or "reinforce." The negative particle lō' (not) creates "had not strengthened/repaired."
  • Impact: This indicates not merely a lack of progress but a complete failure to address the structural issues. The strong negative emphasizes their non-compliance and dereliction of duty.
• the temple’s damage (אֶת־בֶּדֶק הַבָּיִת - 'et-bedeq habbayit):
  • Meaning: bedeq (בֶּדֶק) refers to "breach," "fissure," "damage," or "ruin." habbayit (הַבָּיִת) means "the house," specifically referring to the Temple in Jerusalem.
  • Scope: This refers to the specific decay and desecration of the sacred building, much of which likely stemmed from the period of Athaliah's reign when her sons raided the Temple. The physical state of the temple reflected spiritual neglect.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "But by the twenty-third year... the priests": This grouping highlights the passage of a significant amount of time coupled with the failure of the specifically responsible party. It underscores the severity of the priests' prolonged negligence and the inefficiency of the initial system.
• "the priests had not repaired": This direct statement forms the crux of the verse. It plainly asserts the unfulfilled responsibility and points to a significant institutional failure. The failure lay not with a lack of funds or royal intent, but with those directly charged with action.
• "had not repaired the temple’s damage": This emphasizes that the core objective—restoring God's dwelling—remained unattained. The physical disrepair of the Temple served as a visible manifestation of a deeper spiritual problem: a lack of diligence and accountability among God's appointed servants.

2 Kings 12 6 Bonus section

The administrative failure highlighted in 2 Kings 12:6 underscores a common challenge in governance, even in matters concerning God: the critical need for transparent processes and strict accountability. The king's initial approach, allowing the priests to directly manage all collected funds for repairs without a robust system of checks and balances, proved to be ineffective. This failure was not due to a lack of resources, as money was being collected, but due to its apparent misdirection or hoarding by the priests who likely prioritized their own needs or simply lacked the will for proper disbursement for its intended purpose. The outcome necessitated a more structured and publicly transparent financial management system, as seen in the subsequent verses (2 Ki 12:9-16), where funds were publicly collected, recorded, and then directly paid out to the workers by royal officials, bypassing the immediate financial control of the priests for the repairs. This narrative segment thus offers a timeless lesson on the dangers of unmonitored delegation and the importance of adapting strategies when initial approaches fail to achieve the desired spiritual and practical outcomes. It suggests that effective ministry often requires sound administrative practices, even when dealing with sacred tasks.

2 Kings 12 6 Commentary

2 Kings 12:6 serves as a pivot point in the account of Joash's temple repair efforts, revealing a significant lapse in duty by the priests. Initially, the king had set up a system where funds for repair would be directly managed by them, reflecting his trust in the religious establishment. However, after sixteen years—a substantial portion of Joash's relatively long reign—the promised repairs remained undone. This highlights not a deficiency in the king's initial zeal, but a profound breakdown in the accountability and stewardship of the priests. Their failure demonstrates how even with clear instructions and dedicated resources, human negligence, corruption, or perhaps misplaced priorities can derail righteous endeavors. The verse implicitly criticizes religious leadership that allows its direct responsibilities to languish, jeopardizing the spiritual health and functional capacity of God's sanctuary. This situation compelled Joash to rethink the operational model for the Temple's upkeep, indicating that the king needed to re-assert direct oversight to ensure God's house was indeed restored.

• Example: A leader initiates a spiritual program, delegating responsibilities, but must periodically check in and ensure actions are truly being taken, not just agreed upon.
• Example: Trusting in a system alone is insufficient; active oversight is vital to prevent complacency or abuse of authority.