7 Then king H4428 Jehoash H3060 called H7121 for Jehoiada H3077 the priest, H3548 and the other priests, H3548 and said H559 unto them, Why repair H2388 ye not the breaches H919 of the house? H1004 now therefore receive H3947 no more money H3701 of your acquaintance, H4378 but deliver H5414 it for the breaches H919 of the house. H1004
And he gathered together H6908 the priests H3548 and the Levites, H3881 and said H559 to them, Go out H3318 unto the cities H5892 of Judah, H3063 and gather H6908 of all Israel H3478 money H3701 to repair H2388 the house H1004 of your God H430 from H1767 year H8141 to year, H8141 and see that ye hasten H4116 the matter. H1697 Howbeit the Levites H3881 hastened H4116 it not. And the king H4428 called H7121 for Jehoiada H3077 the chief, H7218 and said H559 unto him, Why hast thou not required H1875 of the Levites H3881 to bring in H935 out of Judah H3063 and out of Jerusalem H3389 the collection, H4864 according to the commandment of Moses H4872 the servant H5650 of the LORD, H3068 and of the congregation H6951 of Israel, H3478 for the tabernacle H168 of witness? H5715 For the sons H1121 of Athaliah, H6271 that wicked H4849 woman, had broken up H6555 the house H1004 of God; H430 and also all the dedicated things H6944 of the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 did they bestow H6213 upon Baalim. H1168 And at the king's H4428 commandment H559 they made H6213 a H259 chest, H727 and set H5414 it without H2351 at the gate H8179 of the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068 And they made H5414 a proclamation H6963 through Judah H3063 and Jerusalem, H3389 to bring in H935 to the LORD H3068 the collection H4864 that Moses H4872 the servant H5650 of God H430 laid upon Israel H3478 in the wilderness. H4057 And all the princes H8269 and all the people H5971 rejoiced, H8055 and brought in, H935 and cast H7993 into the chest, H727 until they had made an end. H3615 Now it came to pass, that at what time H6256 the chest H727 was brought H935 unto the king's H4428 office H6486 by the hand H3027 of the Levites, H3881 and when they saw H7200 that there was much H7227 money, H3701 the king's H4428 scribe H5608 and the high H7218 priest's H3548 officer H6496 came H935 and emptied H6168 the chest, H727 and took H5375 it, and carried H7725 it to his place H4725 again. H7725 Thus they did H6213 day H3117 by day, H3117 and gathered H622 money H3701 in abundance. H7230 And the king H4428 and Jehoiada H3077 gave H5414 it to such as did H6213 the work H4399 of the service H5656 of the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and hired H7936 masons H2672 and carpenters H2796 to repair H2318 the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and also such as wrought H2796 iron H1270 and brass H5178 to mend H2388 the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068 So the workmen H4399 H6213 wrought, H6213 and the work H4399 was H5927 perfected H724 by them, H3027 and they set H5975 the house H1004 of God H430 in his state, H4971 and strengthened H553 it. And when they had finished H3615 it, they brought H935 the rest H7605 of the money H3701 before H6440 the king H4428 and Jehoiada, H3077 whereof were made H6213 vessels H3627 for the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 even vessels H3627 to minister, H8335 and to offer H5927 withal, and spoons, H3709 and vessels H3627 of gold H2091 and silver. H3701 And they offered H5927 burnt offerings H5930 in the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 continually H8548 all the days H3117 of Jehoiada. H3077
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on 2 Kings 12
Commentary on 2 Kings 12 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 12
2Ki 12:1-18. Jehoash Reigns Well while Jehoiada Lived.
2. 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.
3. But the high places were not taken away—The popular fondness for the private and disorderly rites performed in the groves and recesses of hills was so inveterate that even the most powerful monarchs had been unable to accomplish their suppression; no wonder that in the early reign of a young king, and after the gross irregularities that had been allowed during the maladministration of Athaliah, the difficulty of putting an end to the superstitions associated with "the high places" was greatly increased.
4. Jehoash said to the priests, &c.—There is here given an account of the measures which the young king took for repairing the temple by the levying of taxes: 1. "The money of every one that passeth the account," namely, half a shekel, as "an offering to the Lord" (Ex 30:13). 2. "The money that every man is set at," that is, the redemption price of every one who had devoted himself or any thing belonging to him to the Lord, and the amount of which was estimated according to certain rules (Le 27:1-8). 3. Free will or voluntary offerings made to the sanctuary. The first two were paid annually (see 2Ch 24:5).
7-10. Why repair ye not the breaches of the house?—This mode of collection not proving so productive as was expected (the dilatoriness of the priests was the chief cause of the failure), a new arrangement was proposed. A chest was placed by the high priest at the entrance into the temple, into which the money given by the people for the repairs of the temple was to be put by the Levites who kept the door. The object of this chest was to make a separation between the money to be raised for the building from the other moneys destined for the general use of the priests, in the hope that the people would be more liberal in their contributions when it was known that their offerings would be devoted to the special purpose of making the necessary repairs. The duty of attending to this work was no longer to devolve on the priests, but to be undertaken by the king.
11, 12. they gave the money, being told, into the hands of them that did the work—The king sent his secretary along with an agent of the high priest to count the money in the chest from time to time (2Ch 24:11), and deliver the amount to the overseers of the building, who paid the workmen and purchased all necessary materials. The custom of putting sums of certain amount in bags, which are labelled and sealed by a proper officer, is a common way of using the currency in Turkey and other Eastern countries.
13-16. Howbeit there were not made … bowls, &c.—When the repairs of the temple had been completed, the surplus was appropriated to the purchase of the temple furniture. The integrity of the overseers of the work being undoubted, no account was exacted of the way in which they applied the money given to them, while other moneys levied at the temple were left to the disposal of the priests as the law directed (Le 5:16; Nu 5:8).
17, 18. Then Hazael … fought against Gath—(See on 2Ch 24:23).
2Ki 12:19-21. He Is Slain.
20. his servants arose … and slew Joash in the house of Millo—(See on 2Ch 24:25).