2 kings 12:7 - Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and for the other priests, and said to them, “Why don’t you repair the damage to the house? Now therefore take no more money from your treasurers, but deliver it for repair of the damage to the house.”
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What does "2 kings 12:7" mean?
This verse (2 Kings 12:7) highlights King Jehoash's concern about the dilapidated state of the Temple (the "house of the Lord") and his attempt to rectify the situation. Let's break down its meaning:
"Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and for the other priests...": This sets the scene. King Jehoash is taking action. He's summoning the leading priest, Jehoiada, and other priests, indicating he's addressing a religious matter directly with those in charge. Jehoiada had been instrumental in saving Jehoash's life as a baby and placing him on the throne, so their relationship was significant.
"...and said to them, “Why don’t you repair the damage to the house?": This is the core of the verse. Jehoash is questioning the priests' inaction. He sees that the Temple is in disrepair, and he's asking why they haven't done anything to fix it. This implies that the Temple has fallen into a state of neglect.
"Now therefore take no more money from your treasurers, but deliver it for repair of the damage to the house.”: This is the king's direct order. He's changing the system. Previously, the priests were likely collecting money from the people for Temple upkeep but were not using it properly for repairs. Jehoash is instructing them to stop using the existing system of fundraising and to use the money already collected ("from your treasurers") solely for the repair of the Temple.
In essence, the verse reveals the following:
The Temple was in disrepair: This suggests a decline in religious practices and priorities.
The priests were not prioritizing repairs: They were either negligent, mismanaging funds, or possibly even profiting from the Temple's coffers.
King Jehoash was concerned: He recognized the importance of the Temple and wanted it restored.
Jehoash took direct action: He intervened, demanding accountability from the priests and ordering them to use the money collected specifically for repairs. He changed the established method of collecting and handling funds, revealing a distrust in the priests' management.
Significance:
This verse demonstrates a king's attempt to reform religious practices and restore the Temple to its former glory. It highlights the potential for corruption and negligence even within religious institutions and the importance of leadership in addressing such issues. It also suggests a possible power struggle between the king and the priesthood, as Jehoash is essentially bypassing their authority in handling the Temple funds. This passage sets the stage for the subsequent verses, which describe how the Temple repairs were eventually carried out (or not carried out) and the impact of Jehoash's intervention.
2 kings 12:7 - Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and for the other priests, and said to them, “Why don’t you repair the damage to the house? Now therefore take no more money from your treasurers, but deliver it for repair of the damage to the house.”
What does "2 kings 12:7" mean?
This verse (2 Kings 12:7) highlights King Jehoash's concern about the dilapidated state of the Temple (the "house of the Lord") and his attempt to rectify the situation. Let's break down its meaning:
"Then king Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest, and for the other priests...": This sets the scene. King Jehoash is taking action. He's summoning the leading priest, Jehoiada, and other priests, indicating he's addressing a religious matter directly with those in charge. Jehoiada had been instrumental in saving Jehoash's life as a baby and placing him on the throne, so their relationship was significant.
"...and said to them, “Why don’t you repair the damage to the house?": This is the core of the verse. Jehoash is questioning the priests' inaction. He sees that the Temple is in disrepair, and he's asking why they haven't done anything to fix it. This implies that the Temple has fallen into a state of neglect.
"Now therefore take no more money from your treasurers, but deliver it for repair of the damage to the house.”: This is the king's direct order. He's changing the system. Previously, the priests were likely collecting money from the people for Temple upkeep but were not using it properly for repairs. Jehoash is instructing them to stop using the existing system of fundraising and to use the money already collected ("from your treasurers") solely for the repair of the Temple.
In essence, the verse reveals the following:
The Temple was in disrepair: This suggests a decline in religious practices and priorities.
The priests were not prioritizing repairs: They were either negligent, mismanaging funds, or possibly even profiting from the Temple's coffers.
King Jehoash was concerned: He recognized the importance of the Temple and wanted it restored.
Jehoash took direct action: He intervened, demanding accountability from the priests and ordering them to use the money collected specifically for repairs. He changed the established method of collecting and handling funds, revealing a distrust in the priests' management.
Significance:
This verse demonstrates a king's attempt to reform religious practices and restore the Temple to its former glory. It highlights the potential for corruption and negligence even within religious institutions and the importance of leadership in addressing such issues. It also suggests a possible power struggle between the king and the priesthood, as Jehoash is essentially bypassing their authority in handling the Temple funds. This passage sets the stage for the subsequent verses, which describe how the Temple repairs were eventually carried out (or not carried out) and the impact of Jehoash's intervention.