Joash Repairs the Temple
Joash’s reign begins with a long rule in Jerusalem, and his early life is framed by Jehoiada’s influence. Under that guidance he does what is right, builds a household, and appears settled in covenant order.
J1oash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba. 2And Joash did what was right in the eyes of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3Jehoiada took for him two wives, and he had sons and daughters.
Joash sets his heart on repairing the temple and orders the priests and Levites to gather the required money. When they move too slowly, he presses Jehoiada and recalls how Athaliah’s house had violated and stripped the sanctuary.
4Some time later, Joash set his heart on repairing the house of the LORD. 5So 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.” 6The Levites, however, did not make haste. So the king called Jehoiada the high priest and said, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring from Judah and Jerusalem the tax imposed by Moses the servant of the LORD and by the assembly of Israel for the Tent of the Testimony?” 7For the sons of that wicked woman Athaliah had broken into the house of God and had even used the sacred objects of the house of the LORD for the Baals.
A chest is placed at the temple gate, the people respond with joy, and money is gathered in abundance. The funds are carefully administered, the temple is restored and strengthened, and the remaining money provides new articles for its service.
8At the king’s command a chest was made and placed outside, at the gate of the house of the LORD. 9And a proclamation was issued in Judah and Jerusalem that they were to bring to the LORD the tax imposed by Moses the servant of God on Israel in the wilderness. 10All the officers and all the people rejoiced and brought their contributions, and they dropped them in the chest until it was full. 11Whenever the chest was brought by the Levites to the king’s overseers and they saw that there was a large amount of money, the royal scribe and the officer of the high priest would come and empty the chest and carry it back to its place. They did this daily and gathered the money in abundance. 12Then the king and Jehoiada would give the money to those who supervised the labor on the house of the LORD to hire stonecutters and carpenters to restore the house of the LORD, as well as workers in iron and bronze to repair the house of the LORD. 13So the workmen labored, and in their hands the repair work progressed. They restored the house of God according to its specifications, and they reinforced it. 14When they were finished, they brought the rest of the money to the king and Jehoiada, and with it were made articles for the house of the LORD — utensils for the service and for the burnt offerings, dishes, and other objects of gold and silver.