2 Kings 12:4 - Exposition

And Jehoash said to the priests. The initiative of Joash is strongly marked, alike in Kings and Chronicles ( 2 Chronicles 24:4 ). The general weakness of his character, and want of vigor and decision, make it the more surprising that he should in this particular matter have shown himself capable of taking his own line and adhering to it ( 2 Kings 12:7 ). He has scarcely received from historians the credit that is due to him for his persistent and successful efforts to accomplish an object which was for the honor of religion, and which was yet not pressed forward by the priesthood. Certainly he was no mere puppet of the priestly order. All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the Lord ; rather, all the money of the holy gifts that is brought into the house of the Lord ; i.e. all that ye receive from the people in the way of money. This money accrued from three sources, which the king proceeded to enumerate. First, even the money of every one that passeth the account; i.e. the census money—the aggregate of the half-shekels received from the males of above twenty years old, whenever a census was taken ( Exodus 30:12-16 ). The rendering, "current money," preferred by Thenius, Bahr, and our Revisers, is shown by Keil to be untenable. Secondly, the money that every man is set at ; i.e. the redemption money, derived in part from the payments made for redeeming the firstborn ( Numbers 18:15 , Numbers 18:16 ); in part from the sums which the priests exacted from such as had vowed themselves (Le 27:2-8), or those belonging to them, to God.

And [thirdly] all the money that cometh into any man's heart to bring into the house of the Lord ; i.e. all the free-will offerings that should be made in money by any of the Israelites.