2 Chronicles 24:6

And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, [according to the commandment] of Moses the servant of the LORD, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?

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}?

the king summoned Y'hoyada the chief and said to him, "Why haven't you demanded that the L'vi'im bring in from Y'hudah and Yerushalayim the tax prescribed by Moshe the servant of ADONAI and by the community of Isra'el, for the tent of the testimony?"

So the king called Jehoiada the high priest and said, โ€œWhy have you not required the Levites to bring from Judah and Jerusalem the tax imposed by Moses the servant of the LORD and by the assembly of Israel for the Tent of the Testimony?โ€

And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the tax of Moses the servant of Jehovah, and of the assembly of Israel, for the tent of the testimony?

Commentary

Context of 2 Chronicles 24:6

This verse is set during the reign of King Joash (also known as Jehoash) of Judah, a period marked by initial faithfulness under the guidance of the high priest Jehoiada. Joash became king at the tender age of seven, having been hidden by Jehoiada from the murderous schemes of his grandmother Athaliah (2 Chronicles 22:10-12). With Jehoiada's strong influence, Joash began his reign by doing "that which was right in the sight of the LORD" (2 Chronicles 24:2).

A key initiative of Joash's early reign was the repair and restoration of the Temple, which had fallen into disrepair and even desecration during Athaliah's idolatrous rule (2 Chronicles 24:7). Joash had commanded the Levites to collect funds for this purpose (2 Chronicles 24:5), but by verse 6, a significant delay has occurred. King Joash confronts Jehoiada, the very priest who had protected and guided him, about the failure to implement this crucial collection for the Lord's house.

Key Themes in 2 Chronicles 24:6

  • Accountability in Leadership: King Joash, despite his youth, demonstrates an awareness of his royal responsibility to oversee the spiritual and physical well-being of the nation. He holds Jehoiada, the chief priest, accountable for the delay in collecting the necessary funds, highlighting that even righteous leaders must be diligent in their duties.
  • Adherence to God's Law: The collection was not an arbitrary tax but was "according to the commandment of Moses the servant of the LORD." This emphasizes the importance of obeying God's established laws and ordinances, which provided for the upkeep of the Tabernacle and later the Temple. This specific commandment likely refers to the half-shekel offering for the service of the tabernacle (Exodus 30:13-16) or similar contributions for sacred purposes.
  • Stewardship of God's House: The verse underscores the divine expectation for the people and their leaders to maintain the place of worship. The Temple was central to Israel's identity and worship, and its restoration was a sign of renewed commitment to God.
  • The "Tabernacle of Witness": The Temple is referred to as the "tabernacle of witness," a term originally applied to the wilderness Tabernacle (Numbers 17:7, 18:2). This highlights its function as a place where God's presence dwelt among His people and where His covenant and laws were preserved, serving as a constant testimony to His relationship with Israel.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "tabernacle of witness" (Hebrew: ืžึดืฉึฐืื›ึทึผืŸ ื”ึธืขึตื“ื•ึผืช, mishkan ha'edut) is significant. While primarily used for the wilderness Tabernacle, its application to the Temple here underscores the continuity of its spiritual function. It was the physical embodiment of God's covenant presence (the Ark of the Covenant, containing the tablets of the law, was often called the "testimony" or "witness") and a place where God met with His people. The Temple in Jerusalem, therefore, continued to be a place of divine testimony and encounter.

The "collection" (Hebrew: ืžึทืฉึฐื‚ืึตืช, mas'et) refers to an offering or tribute. In this context, it specifically means the required contributions for the upkeep of the Temple, stemming from the Mosaic Law. It was a regular, commanded offering, not merely a voluntary donation.

Practical Application of 2 Chronicles 24:6

This verse offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Diligence in God's Work: Just as Joash pressed for the collection, we are called to be diligent in our spiritual responsibilities and in supporting the work of God's kingdom. Procrastination can hinder divine purposes.
  • Obedience to Scripture: The emphasis on the "commandment of Moses" reminds us of the enduring importance of adhering to God's Word. Our actions, whether in giving or serving, should be rooted in biblical principles.
  • Stewardship of Resources: The need for financial contributions for the Temple's upkeep illustrates the principle of stewardship. Believers are called to use their resources to support the Church and its mission, recognizing that all we have comes from God.
  • The Church as a "Witness": While we no longer have a physical Temple, the Church today serves as God's dwelling place among His people and is called to be a "witness" to the world of His truth and love. Maintaining the health and mission of the Church is a collective responsibility, ensuring it can effectively proclaim the gospel and minister to others, as seen in Acts 1:8.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 30:12

    When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when [thou] numberest them.

  • Exodus 30:16

    And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the LORD, to make an atonement for your souls.

  • Numbers 1:50

    But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that [belong] to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.

  • Numbers 17:7

    And Moses laid up the rods before the LORD in the tabernacle of witness.

  • Numbers 17:8

    ยถ And it came to pass, that on the morrow Moses went into the tabernacle of witness; and, behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds.

  • Acts 7:44

    Our fathers had the tabernacle of witness in the wilderness, as he had appointed, speaking unto Moses, that he should make it according to the fashion that he had seen.

  • 2 Samuel 24:3

    And Joab said unto the king, Now the LORD thy God add unto the people, how many soever they be, an hundredfold, and that the eyes of my lord the king may see [it]: but why doth my lord the king delight in this thing?
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