2 Kings 12:20
New International Version
His officials conspired against him and assassinated him at Beth Millo, on the road down to Silla.

New Living Translation
Joash’s officers plotted against him and assassinated him at Beth-millo on the road to Silla.

English Standard Version
His servants arose and made a conspiracy and struck down Joash in the house of Millo, on the way that goes down to Silla.

Berean Standard Bible
And the servants of Joash rose up and formed a conspiracy and killed him at Beth-millo, on the road down to Silla.

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

New King James Version
And his servants arose and formed a conspiracy, and killed Joash in the house of the Millo, which goes down to Silla.

New American Standard Bible
And his servants rose up and formed a conspiracy; and they struck and killed Joash at the house of Millo as he was going down to Silla.

NASB 1995
His servants arose and made a conspiracy and struck down Joash at the house of Millo as he was going down to Silla.

NASB 1977
And his servants arose and made a conspiracy, and struck down Joash at the house of Millo as he was going down to Silla.

Legacy Standard Bible
And his servants arose and made a conspiracy and struck down Joash at the house of Millo as he was going down to Silla.

Amplified Bible
His servants arose and formed a conspiracy [against him] and struck down Joash [in revenge] at the house of Millo, [on the way] that goes down to Silla.

Christian Standard Bible
Joash’s servants conspired against him and attacked him at Beth-millo on the road that goes down to Silla.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Joash’s servants conspired against him and killed him at Beth-millo on the road that goes down to Silla.

American Standard Version
And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and smote Joash at the house of Millo, on the way that goeth down to Silla.

English Revised Version
And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and smote Joash at the house of Millo, on the way that goeth down to Silla.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
His own officials plotted against him and killed him at Beth Millo on the road that goes down to Silla.

International Standard Version
His servants rose up in rebellion, formed a conspiracy, and assassinated Joash in the palace at the terrace ramparts while he was on his way down to Silla.

Majority Standard Bible
And the servants of Joash rose up and formed a conspiracy and killed him at Beth-millo, on the road down to Silla.

NET Bible
His servants conspired against him and murdered Joash at Beth-Millo, on the road that goes down to Silla.

New Heart English Bible
His servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and struck Joash at the house of Millo, on the way that goes down to Silla.

Webster's Bible Translation
And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and slew Joash in the house of Millo, which goeth down to Silla.

World English Bible
His servants arose and made a conspiracy, and struck Joash at the house of Millo, on the way that goes down to Silla.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And his servants rise, and make a conspiracy, and strike Joash in the house of Millo, that is going down to Silla.

Young's Literal Translation
And his servants rise, and make a conspiracy, and smite Joash in the house of Millo, that is going down to Silla:

Smith's Literal Translation
And his servants will arise and conspire a conspiracy, and strike Joash in the house of the fortress going down to Silla.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And his servants arose, and conspired among themselves, and slew Joas in the house of Mello in the descent of Sella.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then his servants rose up and conspired among themselves. And they struck down Jehoash, at the house of Millo, on the descent of Silla.

New American Bible
Certain of his officials entered into a conspiracy and struck Joash down at Beth-millo.

New Revised Standard Version
His servants arose, devised a conspiracy, and killed Joash in the house of Millo, on the way that goes down to Silla.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the servants of Joash arose and made a conspiracy and slew Joash in the house of Millo, as he was going down to Silla.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Servants of Yoash arose and they provoked a rebellion and they killed Yoash in the house of Milo when he went down to Sala.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy, and smote Joash at Beth-millo, on the way that goeth down to Silla.

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

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Death of Joash
19As for the rest of the acts of Joash, along with all his accomplishments, are they not written in the Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah? 20And the servants of Joash rose up and formed a conspiracy and killed him at Beth-millo, on the road down to Silla. 21His servants Jozabad son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer struck him down, and he died. And they buried him with his fathers in the City of David, and his son Amaziah reigned in his place.…

Cross References
2 Chronicles 24:25-26
And when the Arameans had withdrawn, they left Joash severely wounded. His own servants conspired against him for shedding the blood of the son of Jehoiada the priest, and they killed him on his bed. So he died and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings. / Those who conspired against Joash were Zabad son of Shimeath the Ammonitess and Jehozabad son of Shimrith the Moabitess.

2 Kings 14:5
As soon as the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, Amaziah executed the servants who had murdered his father the king.

2 Kings 21:23
Then the servants of Amon conspired against him and killed the king in his palace.

2 Kings 15:10
Then Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah, struck him down and killed him in front of the people, and reigned in his place.

2 Kings 15:25
Then his officer, Pekah son of Remaliah, conspired against him along with Argob, Arieh, and fifty men of Gilead. And at the citadel of the king’s palace in Samaria, Pekah struck down and killed Pekahiah and reigned in his place.

2 Kings 15:30
Then Hoshea son of Elah led a conspiracy against Pekah son of Remaliah. In the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah, Hoshea attacked Pekah, killed him, and reigned in his place.

2 Kings 9:24
Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow pierced his heart, and he slumped down in his chariot.

2 Kings 23:29-30
During Josiah’s reign, Pharaoh Neco king of Egypt marched up to help the king of Assyria at the Euphrates River. King Josiah went out to confront him, but Neco faced him and killed him at Megiddo. / From Megiddo his servants carried his body in a chariot, brought him to Jerusalem, and buried him in his own tomb. Then the people of the land took Jehoahaz son of Josiah, anointed him, and made him king in place of his father.

2 Samuel 4:5-7
Now Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out and arrived at the house of Ish-bosheth in the heat of the day, while the king was taking his midday nap. / They entered the interior of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah slipped away. / They had entered the house while Ish-bosheth was lying on his bed, and having stabbed and killed him, they beheaded him, took his head, and traveled all night by way of the Arabah.

2 Samuel 3:27
When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel.

2 Samuel 20:10
Amasa was not on guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach and spilled out his intestines on the ground. And Joab did not need to strike him again, for Amasa was dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri.

1 Kings 2:28-34
When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah but not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar. / It was reported to King Solomon: “Joab has fled to the tent of the LORD and is now beside the altar.” So Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down!” / And Benaiah entered the tent of the LORD and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!’” But Joab replied, “No, I will die here.” So Benaiah relayed the message to the king, saying, “This is how Joab answered me.” ...

Matthew 23:35
And so upon you will come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.

Acts 7:52
Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers—

Hebrews 11:37
They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they were put to death by the sword. They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, oppressed, and mistreated.


Treasury of Scripture

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

his servants

2 Kings 14:5
And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father.

2 Chronicles 24:24,25
For the army of the Syrians came with a small company of men, and the LORD delivered a very great host into their hand, because they had forsaken the LORD God of their fathers. So they executed judgment against Joash…

2 Chronicles 25:27
Now after the time that Amaziah did turn away from following the LORD they made a conspiracy against him in Jerusalem; and he fled to Lachish: but they sent to Lachish after him, and slew him there.

the house of Millor.

Judges 9:6
And all the men of Shechem gathered together, and all the house of Millo, and went, and made Abimelech king, by the plain of the pillar that was in Shechem.

2 Samuel 5:9
So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.

1 Kings 11:27
And this was the cause that he lifted up his hand against the king: Solomon built Millo, and repaired the breaches of the city of David his father.

Jump to Previous
Assassinated Beth Beth-Millo Conspiracy Conspired Death Descent Design Goes House Joash Jo'ash Millo Officials Rise Rose Secret Servants Slew Smite Smote Struck Way
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Assassinated Beth Beth-Millo Conspiracy Conspired Death Descent Design Goes House Joash Jo'ash Millo Officials Rise Rose Secret Servants Slew Smite Smote Struck Way
2 Kings 12
1. Jehoash reigns well all the days of Jehoiada
4. He gives order for the repair of the temple
17. Hazael is diverted from Jerusalem by a present of the hallowed treasures
19. Jehoash being slain, Amaziah succeeds him














So his servants conspired against him
The phrase "his servants conspired" indicates a betrayal from within, a theme recurrent in the narratives of the kings of Israel and Judah. The Hebrew root for "conspired" is "קָשַׁר" (qashar), meaning to bind or tie together, often used in the context of forming a secret plan. This highlights the treachery and deceit that can arise even among those closest to a leader. Historically, such conspiracies were not uncommon in ancient Near Eastern monarchies, where power struggles and political intrigue were prevalent. This serves as a reminder of the fallen nature of humanity and the need for divine wisdom and protection in leadership.

and killed Joash
The act of killing Joash, the king of Judah, marks a tragic end to his reign. Joash, also known as Jehoash, began his rule with promise, having been saved from the massacre of the royal family by his aunt Jehosheba and raised under the guidance of the priest Jehoiada. However, after Jehoiada's death, Joash's reign deteriorated as he turned away from God. The Hebrew word for "killed" is "הָרַג" (harag), which conveys a sense of violent death. This reflects the severe consequences of turning away from God's commandments and the instability that can ensue when a leader forsakes divine guidance.

at Beth-millo
Beth-millo is a location whose exact identification remains uncertain, though it is believed to be a part of the fortifications of Jerusalem. The name "Millo" is derived from the Hebrew "מִלּוֹא" (millo), meaning "fill" or "rampart," suggesting a place of strategic importance. This setting underscores the vulnerability of Joash, who, despite being in a fortified area, could not escape the consequences of his actions. It serves as a metaphor for the false security that earthly power and defenses can provide when one is not aligned with God's will.

on the road that goes down to Silla
The mention of "the road that goes down to Silla" provides a geographical context, though the exact location of Silla is not definitively known. The road signifies a path or journey, often used metaphorically in Scripture to represent one's spiritual journey or life choices. The descent to Silla can symbolize Joash's spiritual decline and the downward trajectory of his reign. It is a poignant reminder of the importance of staying on the path of righteousness and the dangers of deviating from God's ways.

(20) His servants.--His immediate attendants. (Comp. 2Kings 8:15.)

Arose--i.e., against him.

In the house of Millo.--Or, at Beth-Millo. The precise locality cannot be determined. Thenius supposes that the sorely wounded (?) king had retired for greater safety into "the castle palace." Ewald says the king was murdered while engaged in the fortress. For "the Millo," see 2Samuel 5:9; 1Kings 9:15. The chronicler relates that Jehoash was murdered in his bed.

Which goeth down to Silla.--These words convey no meaning to us, the name Silla being otherwise unknown. The text is probably corrupt, for Silla is almost exactly like Millo in Hebrew writing. (The Vatican LXX. omits "which goeth down.")

Verse 20. - And his servants arose, and made a conspiracy. By "his servants" officers of his household are probably intended, attendants whose position would give them ready access to his person. And slew Joash in the house of Millo. Joash had probably transferred his residence to "the house of Mille." - the great fortress built by David (2 Samuel 5:9) and Solomon (1 Kings 9:15, 24) in Jerusalem - for greater security during the siege; and, being there prostrated by sickness, could not remove from it when the siege was over. Which goeth down to Silla. No commentator has succeeded in explaining this passage. There is no other mention of Silla; and it is difficult to understand how a fortress could be said to "go down" to any place. Our Revisers' conjecture - "on the way that goeth down to Silla" - may be accepted as a possible explanation; but it implies that a word (בַּדֶּרֶך) has dropped out of the text.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And the servants [of Joash]
עֲבָדָ֖יו (‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5650: Slave, servant

rose up
וַיָּקֻ֥מוּ (way·yā·qu·mū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand

and formed
וַיִּקְשְׁרֽוּ־ (way·yiq·šə·rū-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7194: To tie, gird, confine, compact, in love, league

a conspiracy
קָ֑שֶׁר (qā·šer)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7195: An, alliance

and killed
וַיַּכּוּ֙ (way·yak·kū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5221: To strike

[him]
יוֹאָ֔שׁ (yō·w·’āš)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3101: Joash

at Beth-millo,
מִלֹּ֖א (mil·lō)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4407: Millo -- a rampart, the citadel

on the road down
הַיּוֹרֵ֥ד (hay·yō·w·rêḏ)
Article | Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

to Silla.
סִלָּֽא׃ (sil·lā)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5538: Silla -- a place in Jerusalem


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OT History: 2 Kings 12:20 His servants arose and made a conspiracy (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
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