2 Kings 12:20
“And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla.”
This verse is found in the Old Testament, specifically in the book of 2 Kings. It describes a significant event in the life of King Joash of Judah. To gain a better understanding, let’s explore the historical context and the broader narrative.
King Joash, also known as Jehoash, was the king of Judah and reigned for forty years (835-796 BC). He ascended to the throne at a young age, guided by the priest Jehoiada, who played a crucial role in preserving his life and protecting his right to rule.
During Joash’s reign, he initiated a restoration project for the temple of the Lord. The temple had fallen into disrepair, and Joash commanded that funds be collected to repair and restore it. However, the priests were slow in executing this task, which frustrated Joash.
In 2 Kings 12:19, the verse preceding the one you mentioned, it states, “And 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?” This indicates that there were other actions and events in Joash’s life that are not explicitly mentioned in this particular verse.
Now, let’s focus on 2 Kings 12:20: “And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla.” This verse reveals a tragic turn of events in Joash’s life.
Some of his servants formed a conspiracy against him and assassinated him within the house of Millo, which was a prominent building in Jerusalem.
The reasons behind this conspiracy are not explicitly stated in this verse. However, based on historical context, it is believed that the conspiracy against Joash may have arisen due to his apostasy from the worship of the Lord.
After the death of his godly mentor, Jehoiada, Joash began to turn away from the Lord and engage in idolatry. This departure from the worship of the true God likely contributed to the dissatisfaction and rebellion among his servants.
It is important to note that the Bible does not provide an explicit moral or spiritual lesson within this particular verse. However, Joash’s tragic end serves as a reminder of the consequences of straying from the Lord’s commands and the potential for discord and rebellion when leaders abandon their commitment to God.
Overall, 2 Kings 12:20 depicts a pivotal event in the life of Joash, the assassination by his own servants, highlighting the consequences of deviating from God’s ways and the dangers of turning away from the worship of the Lord.
