2 Chronicles 24:5
So he gathered the priests and Levites and said, "Go out to the cities of Judah and collect the money due annually from all Israel, to repair the house of your God. Do it quickly." The Levites, however, did not make haste.
So he gathered the priests and Levites
This phrase highlights the leadership role of King Joash in mobilizing the religious leaders of Israel. The Hebrew root for "gathered" (קָבַץ, qavats) implies a purposeful assembly, indicating Joash's intent to unify the spiritual leaders for a significant task. The priests and Levites were central to the religious life of Israel, responsible for temple worship and rituals. Historically, their involvement underscores the importance of the temple as the heart of Israel's spiritual identity.

and said, 'Go out to the cities of Judah
The directive to "Go out" (יָצָא, yatsa) signifies an active mission beyond the temple precincts, emphasizing the need for outreach and engagement with the broader community. The "cities of Judah" were the tribal lands surrounding Jerusalem, representing the heartland of the Southern Kingdom. This phrase reflects the geographical and spiritual centrality of Judah in the narrative of Israel, as well as the king's desire to involve the entire community in the temple's restoration.

and collect the required tax from all Israel
The "required tax" (מַס, mas) refers to a levy instituted for the maintenance of the temple, a practice rooted in the Mosaic Law where the community supported the tabernacle and later the temple. "All Israel" indicates a collective responsibility, transcending tribal divisions, and pointing to a unified national identity under God. This phrase underscores the principle of communal stewardship and the shared duty of maintaining the house of worship.

to repair the house of your God
The "house of your God" (בֵּית אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, beit Eloheichem) is a reverent reference to the temple, the dwelling place of God's presence among His people. The Hebrew word for "repair" (חָזַק, chazaq) implies strengthening or fortifying, suggesting not just physical restoration but also spiritual renewal. This phrase highlights the temple's role as a symbol of divine covenant and the need for its upkeep as a reflection of Israel's faithfulness.

as needed year after year
This phrase indicates the ongoing nature of the temple's maintenance, suggesting a perpetual commitment to God's house. The repetition "year after year" (שָׁנָה בְּשָׁנָה, shanah b'shanah) emphasizes the regularity and consistency required in worship and service. It serves as a reminder of the enduring nature of God's covenant and the continuous devotion expected from His people.

See that you do this quickly
The urgency in "do this quickly" (מַהֵר, maher) reflects the king's earnestness in prioritizing the temple's restoration. This command underscores the importance of prompt obedience in spiritual matters, highlighting the need for immediate action in fulfilling God's work. It serves as an exhortation to believers to respond swiftly to God's call and to prioritize His kingdom.

But the Levites did not act quickly
This concluding phrase reveals a contrast between the king's command and the Levites' response. The Hebrew root for "did not act quickly" (מָהַר, mahar) suggests a delay or hesitation, which can be seen as a failure to prioritize God's work. This serves as a cautionary note about the dangers of complacency and the importance of aligning one's actions with divine directives. It challenges believers to examine their own responsiveness to God's call and to strive for diligence in their spiritual duties.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Joash (Jehoash)
The king of Judah who initiated the repair of the temple. He was a young king who sought to restore the worship of Yahweh.

2. Priests and Levites
Religious leaders responsible for temple duties and the collection of offerings. They were tasked with gathering the tax for temple repairs.

3. Cities of Judah
The region where the tribes of Judah resided, and from where the tax was to be collected.

4. The House of God (Temple)
The central place of worship for the Israelites, which had fallen into disrepair and needed restoration.

5. Tax Collection
The specific task given to the Levites to fund the temple repairs, highlighting the communal responsibility for maintaining worship practices.
Teaching Points
Responsibility in Leadership
Joash's initiative to repair the temple demonstrates the importance of leaders taking responsibility for spiritual and communal well-being.

Promptness in Obedience
The Levites' delay serves as a cautionary tale about the consequences of procrastination in fulfilling God-given duties.

Communal Worship Support
The collection of the temple tax underscores the collective responsibility of the community to support and maintain places of worship.

Spiritual Restoration
Just as the physical temple required repair, believers are called to continually restore and renew their spiritual lives.

Accountability in Service
The Levites' failure to act quickly highlights the need for accountability among those serving in ministry roles.
Bible Study Questions
1. What can we learn from Joash's leadership in prioritizing the repair of the temple, and how can we apply this to our own roles in the church today?

2. How does the delay of the Levites in collecting the tax reflect on their commitment, and what does this teach us about the importance of promptness in our spiritual duties?

3. In what ways can we, as a church community, ensure that our places of worship are maintained and supported?

4. How does the concept of communal responsibility for the temple in 2 Chronicles 24:5 relate to the New Testament teachings on supporting the church?

5. Reflect on a time when you delayed in fulfilling a responsibility. What were the consequences, and how can you apply the lessons from this passage to improve your response in the future?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Exodus 30:11-16
This passage outlines the original command for a census tax, which was to be used for the service of the tent of meeting, drawing a parallel to the temple tax in 2 Chronicles 24:5.

1 Kings 12:4-5
This passage discusses the burdensome taxes imposed by Solomon, providing context for the people's potential reluctance to pay additional taxes.

Nehemiah 10:32-33
This passage describes a similar commitment to temple maintenance, showing continuity in the importance of supporting the house of God.
A Good Intention Well Carried OutT. Whitelaw 2 Chronicles 24:4-11
Church RenovationW. Clarkson 2 Chronicles 24:4-14
Indifferences RebukedA. Maclaren, D.D.2 Chronicles 24:4-14
Joash Repairing the TempleMonday Club Sermons2 Chronicles 24:4-14
Repairing the TempleF. W. P. Greenwood, D.D.2 Chronicles 24:4-14
The Temple RepairedH. H. French.2 Chronicles 24:4-14
The Temple RepairedW. Landrum, D. D.2 Chronicles 24:4-14
People
Amaziah, Aram, Athaliah, David, Jehoiada, Jehozabad, Joash, Levites, Shimeath, Shimrith, Syrians, Zabad, Zechariah, Zibiah
Places
Beersheba, Damascus, Jerusalem
Topics
Act, Annually, Cities, Collect, Condition, Convened, Didn't, Due, Gather, Gathered, Gathereth, Getting, Haste, Hasted, Hasten, Hastened, Howbeit, However, Hurry, Judah, Levites, Loss, Matter, Money, Priests, Quickly, Repair, Slow, Strengthen, Sufficiently, Temple, Towns
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Chronicles 24:5

     5802   care
     5885   indifference
     7467   temple, Solomon's
     7912   collections
     8783   neglect

2 Chronicles 24:1-14

     7245   Judah, kingdom of

2 Chronicles 24:4-12

     5577   taxation

2 Chronicles 24:4-13

     5508   ruins

Library
The King's Farewell
'Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. 28. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. 29. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, 30. And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Joash
'And Joash did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest.... 17. Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king hearkened unto them.'--2 CHRON. xxiv. 2, 17. Here we have the tragedy of a soul. Joash begins life well and for the greater part of it remains faithful to his conscience and to his duty, and then, when outward circumstances change, he casts all behind him, forgets the past and commits moral
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Glad Givers and Faithful Workers
'And it came to pass after this, that Joash was minded to repair the house of the Lord. 5. And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that ye hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites hastened it not. 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
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Channel of Power.
A Word that Sticks and Stings. I suppose everyone here can think of three or four persons whom he loves or regards highly, who are not christians. Can you? Perhaps in your own home circle, or in the circle of your close friends. They may be nice people, cultured, lovable, delightful companions, fond of music and good books, and all that; but this is true of them, that they do not trust and confess Jesus as a personal Savior. Can you think of such persons in your own circle? I am going to wait a
S.D. Gordon—Quiet Talks on Power

The Prophet Joel.
PRELIMINARY REMARKS. The position which has been assigned to Joel in the collection of the Minor Prophets, furnishes an external argument for the determination of the time at which Joel wrote. There cannot be any doubt that the Collectors were guided by a consideration of the chronology. The circumstance, that they placed the prophecies of Joel just between the two prophets who, according to the inscriptions and contents of their prophecies, belonged to the time of Jeroboam and Uzziah, is
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Conclusion
"Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth" (Rev. 19:6). In our Foreword to the Second Edition we acknowledge the need for preserving the balance of Truth. Two things are beyond dispute: God is Sovereign, man is responsible. In this book we have sought to expound the former; in our other works we have frequently pressed the latter. That there is real danger of over-emphasising the one and ignoring the other, we readily admit; yea, history furnishes numerous examples of cases of each. To emphasise
Arthur W. Pink—The Sovereignty of God

The Old Testament Canon from Its Beginning to Its Close.
The first important part of the Old Testament put together as a whole was the Pentateuch, or rather, the five books of Moses and Joshua. This was preceded by smaller documents, which one or more redactors embodied in it. The earliest things committed to writing were probably the ten words proceeding from Moses himself, afterwards enlarged into the ten commandments which exist at present in two recensions (Exod. xx., Deut. v.) It is true that we have the oldest form of the decalogue from the Jehovist
Samuel Davidson—The Canon of the Bible

Chronicles
The comparative indifference with which Chronicles is regarded in modern times by all but professional scholars seems to have been shared by the ancient Jewish church. Though written by the same hand as wrote Ezra-Nehemiah, and forming, together with these books, a continuous history of Judah, it is placed after them in the Hebrew Bible, of which it forms the concluding book; and this no doubt points to the fact that it attained canonical distinction later than they. Nor is this unnatural. The book
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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