2 Kings 12 Temple funding

seekeroftruth

Well-Known Member
2 Kings 12:1 [a]In the seventh year of Jehu, Joash(b) became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba. 2 Joash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 3 The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

4 Joash said to the priests, “Collect all the money that is brought as sacred offerings to the temple of the Lord—the money collected in the census, the money received from personal vows and the money brought voluntarily to the temple. 5 Let every priest receive the money from one of the treasurers, then use it to repair whatever damage is found in the temple.”

6 But by the twenty-third year of King Joash the priests still had not repaired the temple. 7 Therefore King Joash summoned Jehoiada the priest and the other priests and asked them, “Why aren’t you repairing the damage done to the temple? Take no more money from your treasurers, but hand it over for repairing the temple.” 8 The priests agreed that they would not collect any more money from the people and that they would not repair the temple themselves.​

a. 2 Kings 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-21 is numbered 12:2-22.
b. 2 Kings 12:1 Hebrew Jehoash, a variant of Joash; also in verses 2, 4, 6, 7 and 18

The way I read this.... the priests were doing all the repair work themselves and it was running up the costs and taking way too long. I was a bookkeeper so this stuff is really interesting to me.

This is from the blueletterbible.org site.

All the money of the dedicated gifts: There was a regular income coming into the temple from several different sources. King Jehoash wanted to put that money towards a particular purpose.

This money was received in three ways:
- Each man's census money: This was the half shekel each Israelite older than the age of twenty had to pay every year (Exodus 20:13).[It's actually supposed to be Exodus 30:12 for this item. Exodus 20:13 just says though shalt not murder.... so I have linked the correct verse here]
- Each man's assessment money: "That is, literally, 'each man the money of his souls of his estimating.' This was a kind of property tax based on the personal assessment of each individual (Leviticus 27:2)." (Dilday)
- All the money that a man purposes in his heart to bring into the house of the LORD: These were freely given offerings over and above the required donations.

"All these sources had ever been in some measure open, but instead of repairing the dilapidations in the Lord's house, the priests and the Levites had converted the income to their own use." (Clarke) King Joash, working through the priests, corrected this problem.​

Let them repair the damages of the temple: It was natural for Joash to have a high regard for the condition of the temple, because it was his home as a young boy.

The temple needed restoration because it was vandalized by Athaliah and her sons (2 Chronicles 24:7).

So..... the priests were scoffing up all the money the people were bringing to the temple. Great.... no wonder stuff wasn't getting done. The point is... the Temple needed restoration, the kid king wanted it done, and the Priest [head guy at the Temple who was keeping an eye on the kid king] knew it needed to be done.

:coffee:
 
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