2 Kings 13 12

2 Kings 13:12 kjv

And the rest of the acts of Joash, and all that he did, and his might wherewith he fought against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

2 Kings 13:12 nkjv

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?

2 Kings 13:12 niv

As for the other events of the reign of Jehoash, all he did and his achievements, including his war against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel?

2 Kings 13:12 esv

Now the rest of the acts of Joash and all that he did, and the 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?

2 Kings 13:12 nlt

The rest of the events in Jehoash's reign and everything he did, including the extent of his power and his war with King Amaziah of Judah, are recorded in The Book of the History of the Kings of Israel.

2 Kings 13 verses

2 Kings 13 12 Meaning

This verse serves as a concise, formulaic reference within the Book of 2 Kings, directing the reader to additional, more detailed accounts of King Joash's reign. It specifically highlights his significant military prowess and the decisive conflict he waged against Amaziah, king of Judah, implying that the fuller scope of these events, along with other achievements of Joash, were documented in external historical records of the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

2 Kings 13 12 Context

2 Kings chapter 13 focuses on the reigns of Jehoahaz and Joash (also called Jehoash), kings of Israel, the northern kingdom. This period is marked by severe oppression from Aram (Syria) under Hazael, as a consequence of Israel's continued idolatry. Despite this, God, in His mercy and faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham, sends relief, notably through Joash. The preceding verses in chapter 13 record Joash's reign and, crucially, his interaction with the dying prophet Elisha (2 Ki 13:14-19), where Joash's lack of full faith limited the extent of Israel's victory over Aram. Verse 12 is part of the concluding formula for Joash's reign (2 Ki 13:10-13), a standard literary device employed by the author of Kings to summarize a king's rule and direct readers to more extensive royal records. The specific mention of Joash's fight against Amaziah of Judah is particularly significant, as it details a major conflict between the two divided kingdoms, elaborated further in 2 Kings 14 and 2 Chronicles 25. This interaction also highlights the ongoing tension and complex relationship between Judah and Israel after the division of the kingdom.

2 Kings 13 12 Word analysis

• Now the rest of the acts (וְיֶתֶר דִּבְרֵי - wə·yeṯer diḇrê):
  • וְיֶתֶר (wə·yeṯer): "And the remainder," "and the rest of." This common phrase indicates that the biblical account in Kings is selective, not exhaustive. It implicitly confirms the existence of more comprehensive state records.
  • דִּבְרֵי (diḇrê): Plural of dāḇār (דָּבָר), which means "word," "matter," "affair," "deed," or "event." Here, it signifies "affairs" or "deeds," referring to the actions and events of the king's reign. The author focuses on a select few points and directs readers to others for deeper information. This structure reinforces the theological agenda of the Book of Kings, which is not merely historical narrative but a theological assessment of each king's adherence to God's covenant.
• Joash (יֹאָשׁ - yōʾāš): King of Israel. He is also called Jehoash. This is a common name in this period; it is vital to distinguish him from Joash (Jehoash) king of Judah, who reigned earlier (2 Ki 12). This King Joash of Israel reigned 16 years, did "what was evil in the sight of the Lord" (2 Ki 13:11), yet God used him to deliver Israel partially from Aramean oppression due to His covenant faithfulness (2 Ki 13:23-25).
• and all that he did (וְכָל־אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה - wə·ḵāl-ʾăšer ʿāśâ): This generalizes the scope, encompassing every aspect of his reign not explicitly detailed. It speaks to the integrity of ancient record-keeping.
• and his might (וּגְבוּרָתוֹ - uḡ·ḇu·rā·ṯō):
  • וּגְבוּרָתוֹ (uḡ·ḇu·rā·ṯō): From gĕbûrâ (גְּבוּרָה), meaning "strength," "power," "might," or "valor." It specifically emphasizes military or physical strength, often highlighting significant accomplishments in warfare. This implies Joash had notable success in battle, a contrast to the preceding weakness of Israel under Jehoahaz.
• with which he fought against Amaziah king of Judah (אֲשֶׁר נִלְחַם עִם אֲמַצְיָהוּ מֶלֶךְ יְהוּדָה - ʾăšer nil·ḥam ʿim ʾămaṣyāhū melek yehûḏâ): This clause specifies a particularly significant event from Joash's "might." It refers to the future conflict fully detailed in 2 Kings 14 and 2 Chronicles 25. This interaction shows the continuing strife between the northern and southern kingdoms and emphasizes a major point in the intertwined history of Israel and Judah.
• are they not written (הֲלֹא־הֵם כְּתוּבִים - hălō-hêm kəṯûḇîm): This rhetorical question affirms that the records definitely exist and are available for consultation. It serves as a signpost to the ancient reader and a testament to the methodical nature of Israelite historiography.
• in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel (עַל־סֵפֶר דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים לְמַלְכֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - ʿal-sēfer diḇrê hay·yāmîm ləmalḵê yiśrāʾēl):
  • סֵפֶר (sēfer): "Book" or "scroll."
  • דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים (diḇrê hay·yāmîm): Literally "the words of the days," signifying "the annals," "records of the times," or "chronicles." This refers to official royal annals or state records maintained by the kings of Israel. This is a primary source for the author of Kings.
  • לְמַלְכֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (ləmalḵê yiśrāʾēl): "Of the kings of Israel." This specifies the records belong to the Northern Kingdom. It's crucial to note this is not the canonical Books of Chronicles (1 & 2 Chronicles), which were composed later and offer a different perspective (primarily on the Southern Kingdom of Judah, from a post-exilic priestly viewpoint). This external source, while no longer extant, served as an authoritative record for the biblical author, lending credibility to the historical narrative.

2 Kings 13 12 Bonus section

• The consistent use of this "rest of the acts" formula throughout 1 & 2 Kings, pointing to both "the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel" and "the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah," indicates that both northern and southern kingdoms maintained separate official annals.
• The fact that these source books are lost to us today underscores the providential preservation of the canonical Bible. The canonical Kings narrative provides the essential spiritual and historical lessons necessary for faith, even without the complete secular archives.
• The primary purpose of the Book of Kings is not just historical chronicle but a theological assessment. It asks whether kings fulfilled the covenant requirements, particularly concerning exclusive worship of Yahweh and adherence to His commands. Events like Joash's fight against Amaziah, while significant historically, are integrated into a larger narrative that judges each king's reign primarily by their loyalty to God, which is why only select details are highlighted.
• Ancient scribal traditions in Israel and the broader Ancient Near East placed a high value on official records, documenting everything from military campaigns to building projects, trade agreements, and daily court activities. The author of Kings would have had access to such comprehensive royal archives.

2 Kings 13 12 Commentary

2 Kings 13:12 is a classic example of the historiographical method employed in the Books of Kings. Far from being a mere narrative, Kings acts as an evaluative history, interpreting the reigns of Israelite and Judean monarchs through the lens of their faithfulness to the Mosaic covenant. This verse's primary function is to serve as a citation, confirming that the summary presented in Kings is based on more extensive governmental records, known as the "book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel." This demonstrates the author's reliance on and knowledge of external sources, lending historical gravitas to the biblical narrative, even as its theological purpose takes precedence over a mere listing of events.

The specific mention of Joash's fight against Amaziah of Judah anticipates and directs attention to a pivotal inter-kingdom conflict described later in 2 Kings 14. This selective highlight underscores its perceived importance in the ancient records. While we no longer possess these original "chronicles of the kings of Israel," the biblical author's consistent citation of them affirms the meticulous record-keeping of ancient Near Eastern kingdoms and strengthens the idea that the biblical account is anchored in verifiable history. It assures the reader that details not included in the main narrative for theological conciseness were indeed recorded elsewhere. The inclusion of these formulaic phrases throughout Kings is a testament to the methodical, documented approach to Israel's royal history.