Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

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; 2 Chronicles 24:23.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

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.

Geneva Study Bible

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.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

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.

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. {2 Chronicles 24:17, &c.}

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible

2 Kings 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, 2 Chronicles 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.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy 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 "1 Kings 15:18".

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

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, (1 Kings 15:18,) and Ahaz and Hezekiah after him, (2 Kings 16:8; 2 Kings 18:15,) did the like foolish thing, to the great damage of the kingdom.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Joram, &c. These are accused of plundering the temple, 2 Paralipomenon xxiv. 7. But they might make some presents, through ostentation. How many rob the poor, while they erect magnificent altars to the God of the poor! (Calmet)

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

hallowed = set apart. Hebrew. kodesh. See note on Exodus 3:5.

treasures = treasuries

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(18) The hallowed things that . . . Jehoram, and Ahaziah . . . had dedicated—Although 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 Jerusalem—i.e., withdrew his forces. Thenius asserts that the present expedition of Hazael is distinct from that recorded in 2 Chronicles 24:23, seq., which he admits to be historical. But it is not said here that Hazael went in person against Jerusalem. (Comp, 2 Kings 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.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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.

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.

18:15,16; 1 Kings 15:18; 2 Chronicles 16:2

went away

Heb. went up.

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 12:4 - the money;  2 Kings 15:19 - Menahem;  2 Kings 16:8 - the silver;  1 Chronicles 18:11 - dedicated;  2 Chronicles 24:23 - the host;  2 Chronicles 24:27 - burdens;  Joel 3:5 - ye