The money from the guilt offerings and sin offeringsIn the context of ancient Israel, guilt offerings and sin offerings were part of the sacrificial system established in the Mosaic Law (Leviticus 5-7). These offerings were made to atone for specific sins and unintentional transgressions. The guilt offering, or "asham," was typically required when someone had committed a sin against the holy things of the LORD or had wronged another person. The sin offering, or "chatat," was for purification from sin and was necessary for maintaining a right relationship with God. These offerings were integral to the spiritual and communal life of Israel, emphasizing the seriousness of sin and the need for atonement.
was not brought into the house of the LORD;
The house of the LORD refers to the temple in Jerusalem, which was the central place of worship for the Israelites. It was where sacrifices were offered, and it symbolized God's presence among His people. The fact that the money from these offerings was not brought into the temple indicates a specific allocation of resources. This practice highlights the distinct roles and responsibilities within the temple service and the importance of maintaining the temple's operations and the priesthood's sustenance.
it belonged to the priests.
The priests, descendants of Aaron, were responsible for performing the sacrifices and maintaining the temple rituals. According to the Law, they were entitled to certain portions of the offerings as their livelihood (Leviticus 6:26, 7:7). This provision ensured that the priests could dedicate themselves fully to their sacred duties without the distraction of seeking other means of support. This system underscores the principle of providing for those who serve in spiritual leadership, a concept echoed in the New Testament (1 Corinthians 9:13-14). The allocation of these offerings to the priests also reflects the broader biblical theme of God's provision for His servants.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
Jehoash (Joash)King of Judah who initiated repairs to the temple.
2.
PriestsReligious leaders responsible for temple duties and receiving offerings.
3.
Temple of the LORDThe central place of worship in Jerusalem, requiring maintenance and repair.
4.
Guilt Offerings and Sin OfferingsSpecific sacrifices prescribed in the Law of Moses for atonement and purification.
5.
House of the LORDAnother term for the temple, emphasizing its sacred purpose.
Teaching Points
Understanding OfferingsThe guilt and sin offerings were distinct from other contributions, emphasizing the need for atonement and reconciliation with God. This highlights the importance of understanding the purpose behind our giving and worship.
Role of the PriestsThe priests were entrusted with specific offerings, indicating a division of responsibilities within the community of faith. This teaches us about the importance of stewardship and trust in leadership roles.
Temple MaintenanceThe passage underscores the necessity of maintaining places of worship, reflecting our responsibility to care for the physical spaces where we gather to honor God.
Heart of WorshipWhile the offerings were not used for temple repairs, they were crucial for the spiritual life of the community. This reminds us that our worship should be heartfelt and not merely transactional.
Community SupportThe passage illustrates the collective effort required to sustain religious practices and institutions, encouraging us to contribute to our faith communities actively.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of 2 Kings 12:16?
2.How does 2 Kings 12:16 emphasize integrity in handling church finances today?
3.What lessons on honesty can we learn from 2 Kings 12:16?
4.How does 2 Kings 12:16 connect with Proverbs 11:1 on fair dealings?
5.How can church leaders ensure transparency as seen in 2 Kings 12:16?
6.What personal steps can you take to promote financial integrity in your community?
7.Why were the guilt and sin offerings not brought into the house of the LORD in 2 Kings 12:16?
8.What does 2 Kings 12:16 reveal about the handling of offerings in ancient Israel?
9.How does 2 Kings 12:16 reflect the priorities of temple maintenance over ritual offerings?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from 2 Kings 12?
11.Why doesn't 2 Kings 16 emphasize divine judgment on Ahaz's actions as clearly as other Old Testament passages condemn idolatry?
12.In Deuteronomy 12:30-31, how can the warning against adopting pagan rites be reconciled with other passages (e.g., 2 Kings 16:10-15) where Israelite leaders incorporated foreign practices?
13.Does Solomon's sacrifice at high places (1 Kings 3:2-3) conflict with scriptural bans on worship outside the central sanctuary?
14.What is the Bible's perspective on incense?What Does 2 Kings 12:16 Mean
The money• Earlier in the chapter King Joash directed that “all the money brought into the house of the LORD” be used to repair the temple (2 Kings 12:4–5).
• Here, the focus narrows to a specific pool of funds—cash redeemed from certain sacrifices rather than coins freely given.
•Exodus 30:13–16 shows that monetary equivalents for offerings were common, so the verse assumes the people were paying in silver instead of livestock.
• By naming “the money,” Scripture reminds us that even currency tied to worship must follow God’s ordering, not human improvisation (cf.Acts 5:1–4 for the danger of mishandling dedicated funds).
from the guilt offerings and sin offerings•Leviticus 5:14–19 and 4:1–12 outline these sacrifices:
– Guilt offerings covered specific acts that violated God’s holy things.
– Sin offerings addressed unintentional sins and purified the guilty.
• Each of these sacrifices had a dual purpose: reconciliation with God and provision for His servants.
• By pointing to these two offerings here, the writer stresses that not every temple‐related gift was earmarked for building projects; some had a distinct destination set by the Law (Leviticus 7:7).
was not brought into the house of the LORD• Unlike the renovation money delivered to “the house of the LORD” (2 Kings 12:9–12;2 Chronicles 24:8–12), this category never crossed the threshold into the central treasury.
• The phrase underscores financial accountability: Joash’s administrators separated funds immediately so no one could “borrow” from the priests’ share.
• Clear lines guard against confusion and temptation, reflecting Paul’s later call to “take pains to do what is right, not only before the Lord but also before men” (2 Corinthians 8:20–21).
it belonged to the priests• God provided for the priesthood through portions of certain offerings (Leviticus 6:26;Numbers 18:8–19).
• By stating “it belonged,” the text affirms legal ownership, not a mere allowance; withholding it would have been theft against the ordained ministers (Malachi 3:8–10).
• This allocation freed priests to focus on teaching and mediating, a principle echoed in1 Corinthians 9:13–14, where Paul cites temple service to defend pastoral support.
• Practically, this arrangement kept construction funds and livelihood funds separate, modeling sound stewardship for any ministry budget.
summary2 Kings 12:16 clarifies that money originating from guilt and sin offerings followed a God-mandated route straight to the priests, bypassing the temple treasury. By distinguishing these funds from repair money, the verse safeguards priestly provision, upholds the integrity of Joash’s renovation project, and demonstrates God’s orderly care for both His dwelling and His servants.
(16)
The.--The definite article should be omitted.
Trespass money and sin money.--See Lev. V. 15-18;Numbers 5:8;Leviticus 6:26-29.
Was not brought.--Was not wont to be brought i.e., put into the chest for the restoration fund.
It was the priests'.--Literallyto the priests they (these moneys)used to fall, or continued to accrue. The general sense is that the priests were not deprived of their lawful revenues by the new arrangement. They received their ancient dues from the trespass and sin offerings. The change initiated by Jehoash consisted in this, that henceforth gifts intended for the sanctuary itself were kept apart from the gifts intended for the priesthood.
Verse 16.- The trespass money. When a man had injured another, he was bound by the Law to make compensation to the injured party at the valuation of the priest, with the addition of one-fifth more than the value (
Leviticus 6:2-6;
Numbers 5:6-8). The compensation was, primarily, to be made to the man himself; secondarily, if he were dead, to his nearest kinsman; finally, if he had left no kinsman, to the priest.
And sin money. According to the Law, the priest was entitled to no money with a sin offering; but it seems to have become customary to make the priest who offered it a voluntary gift, to compensate him for his trouble. Such free gifts the priest was by the Law (
Numbers 5:10) entitled to receive.
Was not brought into the house of the Lord -
i.e. it was not deposited in the chest, or applied to the repairs, but -
it was the priests'.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
The moneyכֶּ֤סֶף(ke·sep̄)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3701:Silver, moneyfrom the guilt offeringsאָשָׁם֙(’ā·šām)Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 817:Guilt, a fault, a sin-offeringand sin offeringsחַטָּא֔וֹת(ḥaṭ·ṭā·’ō·wṯ)Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 2399:A crime, its penaltywas notלֹ֥א(lō)Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808:Not, nobroughtיוּבָ֖א(yū·ḇā)Verb - Hofal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935:To come in, come, go in, gointo the houseבֵּ֣ית(bêṯ)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004:A houseof the LORD;יְהוָ֑ה(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israelit belonged toיִהְיֽוּ׃(yih·yū)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 1961:To fall out, come to pass, become, bethe priests.לַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים(lak·kō·hă·nîm)Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3548:Priest
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OT History: 2 Kings 12:16 The money for the trespass offerings (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg) 
