Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 12
It would not be clear to Joash immediately that the priests were not carrying out the repairs to the temple (God’s house in Jerusalem). He expected the repairs to take several years, and he had arranged an annual tax for that purpose (2 Chronicles 24:5). In addition, many of the repairs would be to inner parts of the temple. Only the priests entered those places; the king never saw them.
When the true situation became clear to Joash, several years had passed. So, the damage would have become worse, and more serious repairs were necessary – and perhaps, now urgent. Joash called Jehoiada and the other leaders of the priests to discuss the matter. Joash wanted to make a new arrangement that separated the money for the repairs from money for other purposes. In that way, the money that he collected for repairs would go for that purpose only.
Joash persuaded the priests that this new arrangement was right and proper. Until now, the people in Judah had not actually paid the tax that he had arranged for the repairs (2 Chronicles 24:5-6). Now however, they would come to the temple to pay the tax (12:9-10). The priests agreed that the money for the repairs would not go to them. Instead, it would go to the workmen who actually carried out the repairs. This money would also pay for the stone, wood and other materials that the workmen needed. So, the priests agreed not to carry out the repairs themselves, and not to take any of the money for that purpose.
Next part: A better way to collect money (2 Kings 12:9-12)
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