2 Chronicles 34:9
So they went to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the house of God, which the Levites at the doors had collected from the people of Manasseh and Ephraim, from all the remnant of Israel, Judah, and Benjamin, and from the people of Jerusalem.
So they went to Hilkiah the high priest
Hilkiah was the high priest during the reign of King Josiah, a time of significant religious reform in Judah. The high priest held a crucial role in maintaining the spiritual integrity of the nation, overseeing temple worship, and ensuring adherence to the Law. Hilkiah's discovery of the Book of the Law later in this chapter is pivotal, leading to a national revival. His position underscores the importance of spiritual leadership in guiding the people back to covenant faithfulness.

and gave him the money that had been brought into the house of God
The money mentioned here was collected for the purpose of repairing the temple, which had fallen into disrepair during the reigns of previous kings who had led the nation into idolatry. This act of giving reflects a communal effort to restore proper worship and reverence for God. The temple, as the central place of worship, symbolized God's presence among His people, and its restoration was a physical manifestation of spiritual renewal.

which the Levites who guarded the doors had collected
The Levites were members of the tribe of Levi, set apart for religious duties. Those who guarded the doors were responsible for the security and sanctity of the temple, ensuring that only those who were ceremonially clean could enter. Their role in collecting money highlights their trusted position and the organized effort to gather resources for the temple's restoration. This also reflects the broader Levitical responsibility for the care and maintenance of the temple.

from the people of Manasseh and Ephraim, from all the remnant of Israel
Manasseh and Ephraim were tribes of the northern kingdom of Israel, which had been conquered by Assyria. The mention of a remnant indicates that some Israelites remained in the land or had returned. This collection from the remnant signifies a unifying effort among the tribes, despite the political division between Israel and Judah. It points to a hope for reunification and collective worship of Yahweh.

from all Judah and Benjamin
Judah and Benjamin were the two tribes that made up the southern kingdom of Judah. Their inclusion in the collection effort shows the commitment of the southern kingdom to the temple's restoration. This reflects the centrality of the temple in Jerusalem as the heart of religious life for the people of Judah and their dedication to returning to the worship of the one true God.

and from the people of Jerusalem
Jerusalem, as the capital city and the location of the temple, was the spiritual and political center of Judah. The involvement of its inhabitants in the collection effort underscores the city's significance in the religious reforms initiated by King Josiah. The people of Jerusalem played a crucial role in supporting the king's efforts to restore the temple and renew the covenant with God, setting an example for the rest of the nation.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Hilkiah the High Priest
Hilkiah was the high priest during the reign of King Josiah. He played a crucial role in the religious reforms by rediscovering the Book of the Law in the temple.

2. The Levites
The Levites were members of the tribe of Levi, set apart for religious duties. In this context, they were responsible for collecting money for temple repairs.

3. Manasseh and Ephraim
These were two of the tribes of Israel. Their mention indicates the widespread participation in the temple restoration project.

4. Judah and Benjamin
These tribes formed the southern kingdom of Judah. Their involvement highlights the unity among the Israelites in supporting the temple.

5. The House of God (Temple)
The temple in Jerusalem was the central place of worship for the Israelites. It was in need of repair, prompting the collection of funds.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Stewardship
The collection of money for temple repairs underscores the responsibility of God's people to steward resources for His work. We are called to support the church and its mission today.

Unity in Worship
The involvement of various tribes highlights the unity among God's people. In our churches, we should strive for unity in purpose and action, working together for God's glory.

Revival through God's Word
The rediscovery of the Book of the Law led to spiritual revival. Personal and communal revival often begins with a return to Scripture, emphasizing the need for regular Bible study and application.

Role of Leadership in Spiritual Renewal
Hilkiah's role as high priest was pivotal in the reforms. Spiritual leaders today have a responsibility to guide their congregations back to biblical truths.

Generosity as Worship
The act of giving for temple repairs was an expression of worship. Our generosity should reflect our devotion to God and His purposes.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the role of the Levites in collecting funds for the temple repairs inform our understanding of stewardship in the church today?

2. In what ways can we promote unity within our church community, similar to the collective effort seen among the tribes of Israel?

3. How can rediscovering and applying God's Word lead to personal and communal revival in our lives?

4. What responsibilities do spiritual leaders have in guiding their congregations toward biblical truth and renewal?

5. How can we view our financial giving as an act of worship, and what practical steps can we take to align our generosity with God's purposes?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Kings 22
This chapter provides a parallel account of King Josiah's reforms and the discovery of the Book of the Law, emphasizing the importance of returning to God's Word.

Deuteronomy 31:9-13
These verses describe the reading of the Law to the people, which is significant in understanding the impact of rediscovering the Book of the Law during Josiah's reign.

Nehemiah 10:32-39
These passages discuss the commitment of the Israelites to support the temple, similar to the collection of funds in 2 Chronicles 34:9.
The Repairing of the Temple by JosiahT. Whitelaw 2 Chronicles 34:8-13
People
Abdon, Ahikam, Asaiah, Azaliah, Benjamin, David, Hasrah, Hilkiah, Huldah, Israelites, Jahath, Joah, Joahaz, Job, Josiah, Kohath, Kohathites, Levites, Maaseiah, Manasseh, Merari, Meshullam, Micah, Naphtali, Obadiah, Shallum, Shaphan, Simeon, Tikvath, Zechariah
Places
Jerusalem, Second Quarter
Topics
Benjamin, Chief, Collected, Delivered, Door, Doorkeepers, Doors, Entire, Ephraim, E'phraim, Gathered, Got, Hilkiah, Hilki'ah, Hilkijah, Inhabitants, Jerusalem, Judah, Keepers, Keeping, Kept, Levites, Manasseh, Manas'seh, Money, Priest, Prisoners, Remnant, Returned, Temple, Threshold
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Chronicles 34:9

     7145   remnant
     7560   Samaritans, the

2 Chronicles 34:1-9

     7266   tribes of Israel

2 Chronicles 34:1-13

     7245   Judah, kingdom of

2 Chronicles 34:3-13

     8466   reformation

2 Chronicles 34:8-11

     4366   stones
     5603   wages
     7467   temple, Solomon's

2 Chronicles 34:8-13

     5508   ruins

2 Chronicles 34:9-11

     5415   money, uses of
     7402   offerings

Library
Josiah
'Josiah was eight years old when he began to reign, and he reigned in Jerusalem one and thirty years. 2. And he did that which was right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of David his father, and declined neither to the right hand, nor to the left. 3. For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he began to seek after the God of David his father: and in the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from the high places, and the groves, and the carved images,
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Josiah and the Newly Found Law
'And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the Lord, Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the Lord given by Moses. 15. And Hilkiah answered and said to Shaphan the scribe, I have found the book of the law in the house of the Lord. And Hilkiah delivered the book to Shaphan. 16 And Shaphan carried the book to the king, and brought the king word back again, saying, All that was committed to thy servants, they do it. 17. And they have gathered together the money
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The History Books
[Illustration: (drop cap T) Assyrian idol-god] Thus little by little the Book of God grew, and the people He had chosen to be its guardians took their place among the nations. A small place it was from one point of view! A narrow strip of land, but unique in its position as one of the highways of the world, on which a few tribes were banded together. All around great empires watched them with eager eyes; the powerful kings of Assyria, Egypt, and Babylonia, the learned Greeks, and, in later times,
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making

Josiah, a Pattern for the Ignorant.
"Because thine heart was tender, and thou hast humbled thyself before the Lord, when thou heardest what I spake against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, that they should become a desolation and a curse, and hast rent thy clothes, and wept before Me; I also have heard thee, saith the Lord. Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place."--2 Kings
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VIII

Covenanting Performed in Former Ages with Approbation from Above.
That the Lord gave special token of his approbation of the exercise of Covenanting, it belongs to this place to show. His approval of the duty was seen when he unfolded the promises of the Everlasting Covenant to his people, while they endeavoured to perform it; and his approval thereof is continually seen in his fulfilment to them of these promises. The special manifestations of his regard, made to them while attending to the service before him, belonged to one or other, or both, of those exhibitions
John Cunningham—The Ordinance of Covenanting

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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