2 Kings 12:11

And they gave the money, being told, into the hands of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of the LORD: and they laid it out to the carpenters and builders, that wrought upon the house of the LORD,

And they gave {H5414} the money {H3701}, being told {H8505}, into the hands {H3027} of them that did {H6213} the work {H4399}, that had the oversight {H6485}{H6485} of the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068}: and they laid it out {H3318} to the carpenters {H2796}{H6086} and builders {H1129}, that wrought {H6213} upon the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068},

Then they would give the weighed-out money to those supervising the work in the house of ADONAI, who would use it to pay the carpenters and construction-workers doing the work in the house of ADONAI,

Then they would put the counted money into the hands of those who supervised the work on the house of the LORD, who in turn would pay those doing the work—the carpenters, builders,

And they gave the money that was weighed out into the hands of them that did the work, that had the oversight of the house of Jehovah: and they paid it out to the carpenters and the builders, that wrought upon the house of Jehovah,

Commentary

Context

Second Kings chapter 12 details King Joash's (also known as Jehoash) initiative to repair the House of the LORD, which had fallen into disrepair during the reigns of his predecessors, particularly under the influence of Athaliah. Joash, guided by the priest Jehoiada, established a system for collecting dedicated money from the people. Verses 9 and 10 describe the collection of these funds into a chest and their subsequent counting by the king's scribe and the high priest. Verse 11 then describes the critical next step: the direct distribution of these counted funds to the workers responsible for the temple's restoration.

Key Themes

  • Stewardship and Accountability: The phrase "being told" emphasizes that the money was carefully counted and accounted for before being handed over. This highlights a system of integrity and biblical accountability in handling sacred funds. The leaders were entrusted with significant resources and were expected to manage them responsibly.
  • Restoration and Reverence for God's House: The ultimate purpose of this meticulous process was the repair and restoration of the "house of the LORD." This signifies a renewed commitment to the proper worship of God and the physical upkeep of His dwelling place, reflecting a deep reverence for His presence among His people.
  • Efficient and Direct Application of Resources: The money was given directly "into the hands of them that did the work," specifically "carpenters and builders." This direct allocation ensured that the funds were immediately put to their intended use, facilitating the efficient progress of the temple repairs.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "being told" (Hebrew: *mispar*) simply means "being numbered" or "counted." It underscores the precision and transparency of the financial management. The individuals who "had the oversight" (Hebrew: *paqad*) were appointed overseers, implying a position of trust and responsibility in managing the labor and resources for the temple's restoration.

Practical Application

This verse offers timeless principles for handling resources dedicated to God's work. It teaches the importance of:

  • Financial Transparency: Just as the money was "told" or counted, modern ministries and churches are called to operate with clear financial practices and accountability to their donors and members.
  • Faithful Stewardship: Those entrusted with managing funds and projects for God's kingdom must do so with integrity and diligence, ensuring resources are used for their intended purpose.
  • Valuing Skilled Labor: The direct payment to "carpenters and builders" affirms the value of skilled craftsmanship and hard work in serving God and maintaining His physical structures.
  • Community Involvement: The repair of the temple was a community effort, from the people's donations to the workers' labor, reminding us that God's work often thrives through collective contribution and support. The focus on rebuilding and restoration remains a vital part of faith.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 34:9 (2 votes)

    And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the doors had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin; and they returned to Jerusalem.

  • 2 Chronicles 34:11 (2 votes)

    Even to the artificers and builders gave they [it], to buy hewn stone, and timber for couplings, and to floor the houses which the kings of Judah had destroyed.

  • 2 Chronicles 24:11 (2 votes)

    Now it came to pass, that at what time the chest was brought unto the king's office by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that [there was] much money, the king's scribe and the high priest's officer came and emptied the chest, and took it, and carried it to his place again. Thus they did day by day, and gathered money in abundance.

  • 2 Chronicles 24:12 (2 votes)

    And the king and Jehoiada gave it to such as did the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and hired masons and carpenters to repair the house of the LORD, and also such as wrought iron and brass to mend the house of the LORD.

  • 2 Kings 22:5 (2 votes)

    And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD: and let them give it to the doers of the work which [is] in the house of the LORD, to repair the breaches of the house,

  • 2 Kings 22:6 (2 votes)

    Unto carpenters, and builders, and masons, and to buy timber and hewn stone to repair the house.