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2 Kings 12:4

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¶ And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the LORD, [even] the money of every one that passeth [the account], the money that every man is set at, [and] all the money that cometh into any man's heart to bring into the house of the LORD,

And Jehoash {H3060} said {H559} to the priests {H3548}, All the money {H3701} of the dedicated things {H6944} that is brought {H935} into the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068}, even the money {H3701} of every one {H376} that passeth {H5674} the account, the money {H3701} that every man {H5315} is set at {H6187}, and all the money {H3701} that cometh {H5927} into any man's {H376} heart {H3820} to bring {H935} into the house {H1004} of the LORD {H3068},

Y'ho'ash said to the cohanim, "All the funds for sacred purposes which are brought to the house of ADONAI - the half-shekel tax, the taxes on persons in a man's household, and all the offerings anyone voluntarily brings to the house of ADONAI -

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.

And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the hallowed things that is brought into the house of Jehovah, in current money, the money of the persons for whom each man is rated, and all the money that it cometh into any man’s heart to bring into the house of Jehovah,

Commentary

In 2 Kings 12:4, King Jehoash (also known as Joash) addresses the priests concerning the various types of money and offerings being brought into the House of the LORD, the Temple in Jerusalem. This verse sets the stage for his subsequent instructions regarding the Temple's much-needed repairs.

Context

King Jehoash ascended to the throne at a very young age, having been hidden from the destructive reign of his grandmother, Athaliah (2 Kings 11:21). Under Athaliah's influence, the Temple had fallen into disrepair and even desecration. As Jehoash matured and ruled righteously under the guidance of the priest Jehoiada, his heart was set on restoring the Temple to its proper glory and function. This verse highlights his initial inventory of the funds available, categorizing them before detailing how they should be used for the sacred structure's upkeep.

Key Themes

  • Temple Reverence and Maintenance: Jehoash's concern underscores the importance of the physical dwelling place of God. Maintaining the Temple was a spiritual act, reflecting the nation's devotion and respect for God's presence among them.
  • Categories of Offerings: The verse meticulously lists distinct types of financial contributions:
    • "the money of the dedicated things": These were items or funds consecrated to God, often as a vow or special gift.
    • "the money of every one that passeth [the account]": This likely refers to the half-shekel temple tax, a fixed redemption money required of every male Israelite counted in a census.
    • "the money that every man is set at": This refers to votive offerings, where individuals vowed themselves or their property to the Lord and then redeemed it with money, valued according to Levitical law.
    • "all the money that cometh into any man's heart to bring": These were purely freewill offerings, given voluntarily out of personal generosity and devotion.
  • Stewardship and Accountability: While not explicitly stated in this verse, the broader narrative of 2 Kings 12 shows Jehoash's initiative was driven by a concern for the proper stewardship of these funds. The priests had been collecting the money but not effectively using it for repairs, leading to the king's direct intervention in verse 7.

Practical Application

This passage reminds believers today of the importance of supporting places of worship and spiritual ministries. It highlights that generosity comes in various forms—from mandatory contributions (like tithes, though distinct from these ancient taxes) to voluntary offerings and specific dedications. Furthermore, it underscores the need for clear accountability and faithful stewardship of resources within religious organizations, ensuring that funds are used for their intended purposes to advance God's work and maintain His "house" (whether a physical building or the community of believers, the Church, as described in 1 Timothy 3:15).

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 (May 20, 2025) 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 Kings 22:4 (7 votes)

    Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people:

  • Exodus 35:5 (5 votes)

    Take ye from among you an offering unto the LORD: whosoever [is] of a willing heart, let him bring it, an offering of the LORD; gold, and silver, and brass,

  • Exodus 35:29 (4 votes)

    The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses.

  • Exodus 30:12 (4 votes)

    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 (4 votes)

    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.

  • 1 Chronicles 29:3 (4 votes)

    Moreover, because I have set my affection to the house of my God, I have of mine own proper good, of gold and silver, [which] I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house,

  • 1 Chronicles 29:9 (4 votes)

    Then the people rejoiced, for that they offered willingly, because with perfect heart they offered willingly to the LORD: and David the king also rejoiced with great joy.