The Repair of the Temple

2 Kings 12

Joash reigns in Judah under the guidance of the priest Jehoiada and arranges for temple funds to be used to repair the house of the Lord, a work eventually accomplished faithfully by the workmen. When Hazael king of Syria threatens Jerusalem, Joash sends him the temple and palace treasures to turn him away, and Joash is later killed in a conspiracy by his own servants.

About these editions

The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.

Thomson 1808Septuagint

Brenton 1851Septuagint

Greek · BrentonSeptuagint

KJV 1769Masoretic

JPS 1917Masoretic

Thomson—

BrentonJoas was seven years old when he began to reign.

GreekΥἱὸς ἐπτὰ ἐτῶν Ἰωὰς ἐν τῷ βασιλεύειν αὐτόν.

KJVSeven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign.

JPSJehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.

ThomsonJOAS was seven years old when he began to reign. He commenced his reign in the seventh year of Jehu and reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Sabia of Bersabee.

BrentonJoas began to reign in the seventh year of Ju, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem: and his mother's name was Sabia of Bersabee.

GreekἘν ἔτει ἑβδόμῳ τῷ Ἰοὺ ἐβασίλευσεν Ἰωὰς, καὶ τεσσαράκοντα ἔτη ἐβασίλευσεν ἐν Ἱερουσαλὴμ, καὶ ὄνομα τῆς μητρὸς αὐτοῦ Σαβιὰ ἐκ τῆς Βηρσαβεέ.

KJVIn the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba.

JPSIn the seventh year of Jehu began Jehoash to reign; and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Zibiah of Beer-sheba.

ThomsonAnd Joas did what was right in the sight of the Lord, all the time Jodae the priest, instructed him.

BrentonAnd Joas did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the days that Jodae the priest instructed him.

GreekΚαὶ ἐποίησεν Ἰωὰς τὸ εὐθὲς ἐνώπιον Κυρίου πάσας τὰς ἡμέρας ἃς ἐφώτισεν αὐτὸν Ἰωδαὲ ὁ ἱερεύς.

KJVAnd Jehoash did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.

JPSAnd Jehoash did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.

ThomsonBut none of the high places were removed. There the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

BrentonOnly there were not any of the high places removed, and the people still sacrificed there, and burned incense on the high places.

GreekΠλὴν τῶν ὑψηλῶν οὐ μετεστάθησαν, καὶ ἐκεῖ ἔτι ὁ λαὸς ἐθυσίαζε, καὶ ἐθυμίων ἐν τοῖς ὑψηλοῖς.

KJVBut the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places.

JPSHowbeit the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and offered in the high places.

ThomsonThough Joas said to the priests, With regard to all the money arising from things consecrated, the income of the house of the Lord, the money of estimation at which every man is rated, and all the money which may come into any man’s heart to bring into the house of the Lord,

BrentonAnd Joas said to the priests, As for all the money of the holy things that is brought into the house of the Lord, the money of valuation, as each man brings the money of valuation, all the money which any man may feel disposed to bring into the house of the Lord,

GreekΚαὶ εἶπεν Ἰωὰς πρὸς τοὺς ἱερεῖς, πᾶν τὸ ἀργύριον τῶν ἁγίων τὸ εἰσοδιαζόμενον ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ Κυρίου, ἀργύριον συντιμήσεως, ἀνὴρ ἀργύριον λαβὼν συντιμήσεως, πᾶν ἀργύριον ὃ ἐὰν ἀναβῇ ἐπὶ καρδίαν ἀνδρὸς ἐνεγκεῖν ἐν οἴκῳ Κυρίου,

KJVAnd Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the LORD, even the money of every one that passeth the account, the money that every man is set at, and all the money that cometh into any man’s heart to bring into the house of the LORD,

JPSAnd Jehoash said to the priests: ‘All the money of the hallowed things that is brought into the house of the LORD, in current money, the money of the persons for whom each man is rated, all the money that cometh into any man’s heart to bring into the house of the LORD,

Thomsonlet the priests take for themselves; but they must bear, every one from what he selleth, the expense of the repairs of the house wherever a repair is found necessary;

Brentonlet the priests take it to themselves, every man from the proceeds of his sale: and they shall repair the breaches of the house in all places wheresoever a breach shall be found.

Greekλαβέτωσαν ἑαυτοῖς οἱ ἱερεῖς, ἀνὴρ ἀπὸ τῆς πράσεως αὐτοῦ, καὶ αὐτοὶ κρατήσουσι τὸ βεδὲκ τοῦ οἴκου εἰς πάντα οὗ ἐὰν εὑρεθῇ ἐκεῖ βεδέκ.

KJVLet the priests take it to them, every man of his acquaintance: and let them repair the breaches of the house, wheresoever any breach shall be found.

JPSlet the priests take it to them, every man from him that bestoweth it upon him; and they shall repair the breaches of the house, wheresoever any breach shall be found.’

Thomsonyet in the three and twentieth year of king Joas it was found that the priests had not made the repairs of the house.

BrentonAnd it came to pass in the twenty-third year of king Joas the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house.

GreekΚαὶ ἐγενήθη ἐν τῷ εἰκοστῷ καὶ τρίτῳ ἔτει τῷ βασιλεῖ Ἰωὰς οὐκ ἐκραταίωσαν οἱ ἱερεῖς τὸ βεδέκ τοῦ οἴκου.

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

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

ThomsonWherefore Joas the king sent for Jodae the priest and the other priests, and said to them, Why have you not made the repairs of the house? Now therefore you must not take the money arising from your sales; for you shall give it for repairing the house.

BrentonAnd king Joas called Jodae the priest, and the other priests, and said to them, Why have ye not repaired the breaches of the house? now then receive no more money from your sales, for ye shall give it to repair the breaches of the house.

GreekΚαὶ ἐκάλεσεν Ἰωὰς ὁ βασιλεὺς Ἰωδαὲ τὸν ἱερέα καὶ τοὺς ἱερεῖς, καὶ εἶπε πρὸς αὐτούς, τί ὅτι οὐκ ἐκραταιοῦτε τὸ βεδὲκ τοῦ οἴκου; καὶ νῦν μὴ λάβητε ἀργύριον ἀπὸ τῶν πράσεων ὑμῶν, ὅτι εἰς τὸ βεδὲκ τοῦ οἴκου δώσετε αὐτό.

KJVThen king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and the other priests, and said unto them, Why repair ye not the breaches of the house? now therefore receive no more money of your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house.

JPSThen king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and for the other priests, and said unto them: ‘Why repair ye not the breaches of the house? now therefore take no longer money from them that bestow it upon you, but deliver it for the breaches of the house.’

ThomsonSo the priests agreed not to receive any money from the people, on condition that they should not bear the expense of the repairs of the house.

BrentonAnd the priests consented to receive no more money of the people, and not to repair the breaches of the house.

GreekΚαὶ συνεφώνησαν οἱ ἱερεῖς τοῦ μὴ λαβεῖν ἀργύριον παρὰ τοῦ λαοῦ, καὶ τοῦ μὴ ἐνισχῦσαι τὸ βεδὲκ τοῦ οἴκου.

KJVAnd the priests consented to receive no more money of the people, neither to repair the breaches of the house.

JPSAnd the priests consented that they should take no longer money from the people, neither repair the breaches of the house.

ThomsonThen Jodae the priest took a chest and bored a hole in the lid of it, and placed it before the Ammazeibi in the house of the superintendent of the house of the Lord; and the priests who kept the weights put therein all the money which was found in the house of the Lord.

BrentonAnd Jodae the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it by the altar in the house of a man belonging to the house of the Lord, and the priests that kept the door put therein all the money that was found in the house of the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ ἔλαβεν Ἰωδαὲ ὁ ἱερεὺς κιβωτὸν μίαν, καὶ ἔτρησε τρώγλην ἐπὶ τῇς σανίδος αὐτῆς, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτὴν παρὰ ἁμμαζειβὶ ἐν τῷ οἴκῳ ἀδρος οἴκου Κυρίου· και ἔδωκας οἱ ἱερεῖς οἱ ἱεπεῖς φυλάσσοντες τὸν σταθμὸν πᾶν τὸ ἀργύριον τὸ εὑρεθὲν ἐν οἴκῳ Κυρίου·

KJVBut Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one cometh into the house of the LORD: and the priests that kept the door put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD.

JPSAnd Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side as one cometh into the house of the LORD; and the priests that kept the threshold put therein all the money that was brought into the house of the LORD.

ThomsonAnd when they saw that there was much money in the chest, the king’s secretary went with the chief priest, and tied up and numbered the money found in the house of the Lord,

BrentonAnd it came to pass, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king's scribe and the high priest went up, and they tied up and counted the money that was found in the house of the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο ὡς εἶδον ὅτι πολὺ τὸ ἀργύριον ἐν τῇ κιβωτῷ, καὶ ἀνέβη ὁ γραμματεὺς τοῦ βασιλέως καὶ ὁ ἱερεὺς ὁ μέγας, καὶ ἔσθιγξαν καὶ ἠρίθμησαν τὸ ἀργύριον τὸ εὑρεθὲν ἐν οἴκῳ Κυρίου.

KJVAnd it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king’s scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags, and told the money that was found in the house of the LORD.

JPSAnd it was so, when they saw that there was much money in the chest, that the king’s scribe and the high priest came up, and they put up in bags and counted the money that was found in the house of the LORD.

Thomsonand delivered the money when ready into the hands of them who did the works, the overseers of the house of the Lord; and they dealt it out to the carpenters

BrentonAnd they gave the money that had been collected into the hands of them that wrought the works, the overseers of the house of the Lord; and they gave it out to the carpenters and to the builders that wrought in the house of the Lord.

GreekΚαὶ ἔδωκαν τὸ ἀργύριον τὸ ἑτοιμασθὲν ἐπὶ χεῖρας ποιούντων τὰ ἔργα τῶν ἐπισκοπῶν οἴκου· Κυρίου, καὶ ἐξέδοσαν τοῖς τέκτοσι τῶν ξύλων, καὶ τοῖς οἱκοδόμοις τοῖς ποιοῦσιν ἐν οἴκῳ Κυρίου,

KJVAnd they gave the money, being told, into the hands of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the LORD: and they laid it out to the carpenters and builders, that wrought upon the house of the LORD,

JPSAnd they gave the money that was weighed out into the hands of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the LORD; and they paid it out to the carpenters and the builders, that wrought upon the house of the LORD,

Thomsonand masons who wrought in the house of the Lord; and to them who built the wall, and to stonecutters, to purchase wood and hewn stone sufficient for the repairs of the house; and to defray all the expenses of the house.

BrentonAnd to the masons, and to the hewers of stone, to purchase timber and hewn stone to repair the breaches of the house of the Lord, for all that was spent on the house of the Lord to repair it.

Greekκαὶ τοῖς τειχισταῖς, καὶ τοῖς λατόμοις τῶν λίθων τοῦ κτήσασθαι ξύλα καὶ λίθους λατομητοὺς τοῦ κατασχεῖν τὸ βεδὲκ οἴκου Κυρίου, εἰς πάντα ὅσα ἐξωδιάσθη ἐπὶ τὸν οἶκον τοῦ κραταιῶσαι.

KJVAnd to masons, and hewers of stone, and to buy timber and hewed stone to repair the breaches of the house of the LORD, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it.

JPSand to the masons and the hewers of stone, and for buying timber and hewn stone to repair the breaches of the house of the LORD, and for all that was laid out for the house to repair it.

ThomsonBut there were not to be made for the house of the Lord silver doors, nails, goblets, nor any vessels of gold or silver out of the money brought into the house of the Lord;

BrentonOnly there were not to be made for the house of the Lord silver plates, studs, bowls, or trumpets, any vessel of gold or vessel of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of the Lord:

GreekΠλὴν οὐ ποιηθήσονται οἴκῳ Κυρίου θύραι ἀργυραῖ, ἧλοι, φιάλαι, καὶ σάλπιγγες, πᾶν σκεῦος χρυσοῦν, καὶ σκεῦος ἀργυροῦν, ἐκ τοῦ ἀργυρίου τοῦ εἰσενεχθέντος ἐν οἴκῳ Κυρίου,

KJVHowbeit there were not made for the house of the LORD bowls of silver, snuffers, basons, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of the LORD:

JPSBut there were not made for the house of the LORD cups of silver, snuffers, basins, trumpets, any vessels of gold, or vessels of silver, of the money that was brought into the house of the LORD;

Thomsonfor they were to give it to them who did the work; and with it they were to keep in repair the house of the Lord.

Brentonfor they were to give it to the workmen, and they repaired therewith the house of the Lord.

Greekὅτι τοῖς ποιοῦσι τὰ ἔργα δώσουσιν αὐτό· καὶ ἐκραταίωσαν ἐν αὐτῷ τὸν οἶκον Κυρίου.

KJVBut they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of the LORD.

JPSfor they gave that to them that did the work, and repaired therewith the house of the LORD.

ThomsonNow they did not call the men to account, into whose hands they delivered the money to deal it out to the workmen, for they acted faithfully.

BrentonAlso they took no account of the men into whose hands they gave the money to give to the workmen, for they acted faithfully.

GreekΚαὶ οὐκ ἐξελογίζοντο τοὺς ἄνδρας οἷς ἐδίδουν τὸ ἀργύριον ἐπὶ χεῖρας αὐτῶν δοῦναι τοῖς ποιοῦσι τὰ ἔργα, ὅτι ἐν πίστει αὐτῶν ποιοῦσιν.

KJVMoreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to be bestowed on workmen: for they dealt faithfully.

JPSMoreover they reckoned not with the men, into whose hand they delivered the money to give to them that did the work; for they dealt faithfully.

ThomsonThe money for sin offerings, and the money for trespass offerings which was brought into the house of the Lord, was for the priests.

BrentonMoney for a sin-offering, and money for a trespass-offering, whatever happened to be brought into the house of the Lord, went to the priests.

GreekἈργύριον περὶ ἁμαρτίας, καὶ ἀργύριον περὶ πλημμελείας, ὅ, τι εἰσηνέχθη ἐν οἴκῳ Κυρίου, τοῖς ἱερεῦσιν ἐγένετο.

KJVThe trespass money and sin money was not brought into the house of the LORD: it was the priests’.

JPSThe forfeit money, and the sin money, was not brought into the house of the LORD; it was the priests.

ThomsonAt that time Azael king of Syria went up and fought against Geth and took it. And when Azael set his face to come up against Jerusalem,

BrentonThen went up Azael king of Syria, and fought against Geth, and took it: and Azael set his face to go against Jerusalem.

GreekΤότε ἀνέβη Ἀζαὴλ βασιλεὺς Συρίας, καὶ ἐπολέμησεν ἐπὶ Γὲθ, καὶ προκατελάβετο αὐτήν· καὶ ἔταξεν Ἀζαὴλ τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἀναβῆναι ἐπὶ Ἱερουσαλήμ.

KJVThen Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.

JPSThen Hazael king of Aram went up, and fought against Gath, and took it; and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.

ThomsonJoas king of Juda, took all the dedicated things which Josaphat and Joram and Ochozias, his forefathers the kings of Juda had dedicated, together with his own dedications, and all the gold which was found in the treasures of the house of the Lord, and the king’s house, and sent them to Azael king of Syria, and he went up from Jerusalem.

BrentonAnd Joas king of Juda took all the holy things which Josaphat, and Joram, Ochozias, his fathers, and kings of Juda had consecrated, and what he had himself dedicated, and all the gold that was found in the treasures of the Lord's house and the king's house, and he sent them to Azael king of Syria; and he went up from Jerusalem.

GreekΚαὶ ἔλαβεν Ἰωὰς βασιλεὺς Ἰούδα πάντα τὰ ἅγια ὅσα ἡγίασεν Ἰωσαφὰτ καὶ Ἰωρὰμ καὶ Ὀχοζίας οἱ πατέρες αὐτοῦ καὶ βασιλεῖς Ἰούδα, καὶ τὰ ἅγια αὐτοῦ, καὶ πᾶν τὸ χρυσίον τὸ εὑρεθὲν ἐν θησαυροῖς οἴκου Κυρίου καὶ οἴκου τοῦ βασιλέως, καὶ ἀπέστειλεν τῷ Ἀζαὴλ βασιλεῖ Συρίας, καὶ ἀνέβη ἀπὸ Ἱερουσαλήμ.

KJVAnd 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.

JPSAnd Jehoash king 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 of the king’s house, and sent it to Hazael king of Aram; and he went away from Jerusalem.

ThomsonNow all the acts of Joas and all that he did, behold are they not written in the journal of the kings of Juda?

BrentonAnd the rest of the acts of Joas, and all that he did, behold, are not these things written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Juda?

GreekΚαὶ τὰ λοιπὰ τῶν λόγων Ἰωὰς καὶ πάντα ὅσα ἐποίησεν, οὐκ ἰδοὺ ταῦτα γεγραμμένα ἐπὶ βιβλίῳ λόγων τῶν ἡμερῶν τοῖς βασιλεῦσιν Ἰούδα;

KJVAnd 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?

JPSNow 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?

ThomsonWhen his servants arose and having formed a conspiracy smote Joas at the house of Mello which is in Sela,

BrentonAnd his servants rose up and made a conspiracy, and smote Joas in the house of Mallo that is in Sela.

GreekΚαὶ ἀνέστησαν οἱ δοῦλοι αὐτοῦ καὶ ἔδησαν πάντα σύνδεσμον, καὶ ἐπάταξαν τὸν Ἰωὰς ἐν οἴκῳ Μαλλὼ τῷ ἐν Σελά.

KJVAnd his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla.

JPSAnd his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and smote Joash at Beth-millo, on the way that goeth down to Silla.

Thomson(Now Jezirchar son of Jemuath and Jezebuth son of Somer his servants smote him) so that he died, he was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Amessias his son reigned in his stead.

BrentonAnd Jezirchar the son of Jemuath, and Jezabuth Somer's son, his servants, smote him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Amessias his son reigned in his stead.

GreekΚαὶ Ἰεζιρχὰρ υἱὸς Ἱεμουὰθ, καὶ Ἰεζεβοὺθ ὁ υἱὸς αὐτοῦ Σωμὴρ, οἱ δοῦλοι αὐτοῦ, ἐπάταξαν αὐτὸν καὶ ἀπέθανε, καὶ ἔθαψαν αὐτὸν μετὰ τῶν πατέρων αὐτοῦ ἑν πόλει Δαυίδ· καὶ ἐβασίλευσεν Ἀμεσσείας υἱὸς αὐτοῦ ἀντʼ αὐτοῦ.

KJVFor Jozachar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, smote him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David: and Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.

JPSFor Jozacar the son of Shimeath, and Jehozabad the son of Shomer, his servants, smote him, and he died; and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David; and Amaziah his son reigned in his stead.