2 Kings 12:2
in 2 Kings 12And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days he was instructed by Jehoiada the priest.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Jehoash did that which was right in the eyes of Jehovah all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
KJV
And Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.
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This verse in 2 Kings 12
Commentary
7 notes on this verseAnd Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all his days,.... Worshipping the only true God, and ruling and walking according to the law of God: wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him; and so long as he observed his instructions, and as long as that priest lived, he reigned well; for to that period "all his days must be limited"; for after his death he was seduced by the princes of Judah to idolatry, and lived scandalously, and died ignominiously; see 2Ch 24:2.
This site's exposition
His mother’s name was Zibiah
on 2 Kings 12:1-3
Joash begins a forty-year reign, the same span the text gives David and Solomon. The verdict carries its own limit: he did right “all the days he was instructed by Jehoiada the priest.” The high places still stand, and “the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there.”
This site's exposition
all the days he was instructed
John Gill limited all the days to the lifetime of Jehoiada, citing 2 Chronicles 24:2. Adam Clarke traced what followed from 2 Chronicles 24:17 and 18: after the priest died, Joash left the worship of God for idols. Clarke thought him a party to the murder of Zechariah.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Note, It is a great mercy to young people, and especially to young princes, and all young men of consequence, to be under good direction, and to have those about them that will instruct them to do that which is right in the sight of the Lord; and they then do wisely and well for themselves when they are willing to be counselled and ruled by such.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
Jehoash did - right in the sight of the Lord - While Jehoiada the priest, who was a pious, holy man, lived, Jehoash walked uprightly; but it appears from 2Ch 24:17, 2Ch 24:18, that he departed from the worship of the true God after the death of this eminent high priest, lapsed into idolatry, and seems to have had a share in the murder of Zechariah, who testified against his transgressions, and those of the princes of Judah. See above, 2Ki 11:20-21 (note). O how few of the few who begin to live to God continue unto the end!
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord--so far as related to his outward actions and the policy of his government. But it is evident from the sequel of his history that the rectitude of his administration was owing more to the salutary influence of his preserver and tutor, Jehoiada, than to the honest and sincere dictates of his own mind.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
All his days ... - i. e., so long as Jehoiada was his adviser” (compare 2Ch 24:15-22). Jehoida was, practically speaking, regent during the minority of Jehoash, i. e., 10 or 12 years. An increase of power to the priestly order was the natural consequence. Jehoiada bore the title of “high priest” 2Ki 12:10, which had been dropped since the time of Eleazar Jos 20:6, and the Levitical order from this time became more mixed up with public affairs and possessed greater influence than previously. Jehoiada’s successors traced their office to him rather than to Aaron Jer 29:26.
The words behind it
11 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיַּ֨עַשׂ | vaiyaas | and he did | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| יְהוֹאָ֧שׁ | yehoash | Jehoash | H3060 → | 17 times |
| הַיָּשָׁ֛ר | haiyashar | the right | H3477 → | 119 times |
| בְּעֵינֵ֥י | beeinei | in [the] eyes of | H5869 → | 887 times |
| יְהוָ֖ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| כָּל־ | kol- | all | H3605 → | 5413 times |
| יָמָ֑יו | yamav | days his | H3117 → | 2304 times |
| אֲשֶׁ֣ר | ʾasher | which | H834 → | 5497 times |
| הוֹרָ֔הוּ | horahu | he instructed him | H3384 → | 80 times |
| יְהוֹיָדָ֖ע | yehoyada' | Jehoiada | H3077 → | 51 times |
| הַכֹּהֵֽן׃ | hakohen | the priest | H3548 → | 750 times |
וַיַּ֨עַשׂand he did
vaiyaasH6213 →2628 times
יְהוֹאָ֧שׁJehoash
yehoashH3060 →17 times
הַיָּשָׁ֛רthe right
haiyasharH3477 →119 times
בְּעֵינֵ֥יin [the] eyes of
beeineiH5869 →887 times
יְהוָ֖הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
כָּל־all
kol-H3605 →5413 times
יָמָ֑יוdays his
yamavH3117 →2304 times
אֲשֶׁ֣רwhich
ʾasherH834 →5497 times
הוֹרָ֔הוּhe instructed him
horahuH3384 →80 times
יְהוֹיָדָ֖עJehoiada
yehoyada'H3077 →51 times
הַכֹּהֵֽן׃the priest
hakohenH3548 →750 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
2 Chronicles 25:2And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly.
it leads to
- Isaiah 29:13
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- James 4:8
Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
- 2 Chronicles 25:14
When Amaziah returned from the slaughter of the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the Seirites, set them up as his own gods, bowed before them, and burned sacrifices to them.
- Acts 8:21
You have no part or share in our ministry, because your heart is not right before God.
- 2 Chronicles 24:2
And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.
- Isaiah 29:13
Through
2 Chronicles 24:2And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.
it leads to
- 2 Chronicles 25:2
And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 2 Chronicles 26:4–5
And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father Amaziah had done.
- 2 Chronicles 25:2
Through
2 Kings 14:3And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not as his father David had done. He did everything as his father Joash had done.
it leads to
- 2 Chronicles 25:2–3
And he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, but not wholeheartedly.
- 2 Chronicles 25:2–3
Where this verse is studied
On this page
About 2 Kings
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.