2 Kings 12:5

5 Let every priest receive it from his constituency, and let it be used to repair any damage found in the temple.”

2 Kings 12:5 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 12:5

Let the priests take it to them, every man of his acquaintance,
&c.] Of those that were most known by them; for the priests had cities assigned them in several parts of the land, and they that dwelt with them in them, or in the parts adjacent to them, were best known by them; and they were sent into all the cities, some to one and some to another, where they were most acquainted, to collect money, both what was due by law, and what the people should freely give, see ( 2 Chronicles 24:5 )

and let them repair the breaches of the house, wheresoever any breach
shall be found:
that is, of the temple, which, according to the Jewish chronology ^F9, had been built but one hundred and fifty five years; and being built very strong, would have needed no considerable repairs as yet, but that it had been broken up and misused by Athaliah and her sons, ( 2 Chronicles 24:7 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F9 Seder Olam Rabba, c. 18.

2 Kings 12:5 In-Context

3 Nevertheless, the high places were not removed; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there.

4 Then Joash said to the priests, “Collect all the money brought as sacred gifts into the house of the LORD—the census money, the money from vows, and the money brought voluntarily into the house of the LORD.

5 Let every priest receive it from his constituency, and let it be used to repair any damage found in the temple.”

6 By the twenty-third year of the reign of Joash, however, the priests had not yet repaired the damage to the temple.

7 So King Joash called Jehoiada and the other priests and said, “Why have you not repaired the damage to the temple? Now, therefore, take no more money from your constituency, but hand it over for the repair of the temple.”