And the priests consented to receive no more money of the people— i.e; to put an end to the local collections ordered in 2 Kings 12:5 — neither to repair the breaches of the house ; i.e. neither to be responsible severally for laying out the money which they collected in repairs. read more
2 Kings 12:6-8. In the three and twentieth year of Jehoash, the priests had not repaired, &c. They were both dilatory and careless in collecting the money, 2 Chronicles 24:5; and did not bring in what they had gathered to begin the work, whereupon the king revoked his former order, and intrusted other men, as it here follows, with this work. Thus are things seldom done well that are committed to the care of many. Now therefore receive no more money, &c. Jehoash ordered two things,... read more
True worship restored in Judah (12:1-21)Under the influence of Jehoiada, Joash encouraged the worship of Yahweh (12:1-3). But his project for repairing the temple (damaged by Athaliah and her followers; 2 Chronicles 24:7) was hindered by the priests. They lacked enthusiasm and were inefficient, and possibly dishonest, in handling the finances (4-8). Joash therefore separated the funds for the priests’ personal use from the funds for the temple repairs, and placed the latter under the... read more
consented = acquiesced. Hebrew. 'oth , a rare word, occurring only here and Genesis 34:15 , Genesis 34:22 , Genesis 34:23 . read more
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... read more
Jehoash’s restoration of the temple 12:4-16This was the first such project the writer recorded in Kings. Later, Hezekiah and Josiah also repaired the temple. Until now, temple expenses came out of the royal treasury, but Jehoash moved this obligation into the private sector. [Note: Jones, 2:490.] Jehoash’s original plan was to use part of the money that the people contributed for the maintenance of the priesthood to pay for the restoration (cf. Exodus 30:11-16; Leviticus 27; Numbers 30).... read more
Joash repairs the Temple2. All his days] According to 2 Chronicles 24:17.; Joash took to evil courses after the death of Jehoiada. 3. The high places, etc.] The worship at the ’high places’ was first abolished by Hezekiah, and then, after its renewal by Manasseh, by Josiah.4. The money.. is set at] RV ’the money of the persons for whom each man is rated.’ The money devoted to the repair of the Temple was that received for (a) the supply of vessels dedicated to the Temple services; (b) the... read more
(4-16) The restoration of the Temple. read more
(7) Now therefore receive no more money.—The account of the whole transaction is not very clear, and commentators disagree upon the question of the degree of blame attaching to the priests for their neglect. It is evident, however, that the king now took the control of the funds and the work out of their hands. Probably the revenues of the sanctuary had been in a very languishing condition during the late reigns; and the priesthood had used whatever offerings they received for their own... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 12:7-16
The temple repairs-a good purpose accomplished. When so many years had elapsed without anything being done, Joash called the priests to account, and ordered them to take no more of the money of the people for themselves, but to repair the breaches of the house. A new start was made, and this time success was attained. We may ascribe the success to— I. PRUDENT ARRANGEMENTS . Wise, business-like arrangements have much to do with the success of any undertaking. Those now entered into... read more