But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of the LORD.
The verse belongs to the reign of Joash in Judah during the nearly three hundred years from Joram of Israel to Hoshea, when Israel was ended by Assyria and carried into captivity, a period that includes the sixty-year ministry and death of Elisha and the prophesying of Hosea, Jonah, Amos, Joel, Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and Nahum, when Judah prospered under righteous faithful rulers and brought calamity on itself and its people when rulers turned from God to gross idolatry. It belongs to the closing sketch of the beginning of the reign of Joash in Judah under the good priest Jehoiada, together with Joash's submission to Hazael and his death. Joash, also called Jehoash, was about thirty years of age after many years under the guidance of Jehoiada the high priest, his early inclinations were toward the religious interests of the kingdom, and his determination to repair the house of the Lord went beyond any suggestion of even his aged and pious uncle, fulfilling the resolve not to forsake the house of God.
The verse is part of the account titled the temple repaired, when the temple had been stripped of its ornaments, decorations, and wealth to furnish the house of Baal. The money collected for the house of the Lord under the young King Joash, also called Jehoash, was given to the workmen, who used it to repair the house of the Lord. The same is taught that the money collected for the temple was used to pay the workers and repair the Lord's house. The collected money was used first to pay the workers and repair the temple, rather than to make silver or gold vessels and other furnishings, so repairing received first attention.
The collection was the half-shekel contribution commanded through Moses for the service of the sanctuary, a duty that had been neglected. The money was handed directly to the workmen, and the account is an example of raising the needed funds before carrying out the work, rather than borrowing to finance it. The work was done two centuries before Josiah in the same way, with the Levites collecting the money from the people for the repair. The overseers and workers were so honest that no account was required of the money put into their hands for expenses, and that faithfulness in material things, together with the liberality of the people in giving, is evidence of thorough repentance and earnest return to Jehovah and true service to God.
The verse belongs to the reign of Joash in Judah during the nearly three hundred years from Joram of Israel to Hoshea, when Israel was ended by Assyria and carried into captivity, a period that includes the sixty-year ministry and death of Elisha and the prophesying of Hosea, Jonah, Amos, Joel, Isaiah, Micah, Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and Nahum, when Judah prospered under righteous faithful rulers and brought calamity on itself and its people when rulers turned from God to gross idolatry. It belongs to the closing sketch of the beginning of the reign of Joash in Judah under the good priest Jehoiada, together with Joash's submission to Hazael and his death. Joash, also called Jehoash, was about thirty years of age after many years under the guidance of Jehoiada the high priest, his early inclinations were toward the religious interests of the kingdom, and his determination to repair the house of the Lord went beyond any suggestion of even his aged and pious uncle, fulfilling the resolve not to forsake the house of God.
The verse is part of the account titled the temple repaired, when the temple had been stripped of its ornaments, decorations, and wealth to furnish the house of Baal. The money collected for the house of the Lord under the young King Joash, also called Jehoash, was given to the workmen, who used it to repair the house of the Lord. The same is taught that the money collected for the temple was used to pay the workers and repair the Lord's house. The collected money was used first to pay the workers and repair the temple, rather than to make silver or gold vessels and other furnishings, so repairing received first attention.
The collection was the half-shekel contribution commanded through Moses for the service of the sanctuary, a duty that had been neglected. The money was handed directly to the workmen, and the account is an example of raising the needed funds before carrying out the work, rather than borrowing to finance it. The work was done two centuries before Josiah in the same way, with the Levites collecting the money from the people for the repair. The overseers and workers were so honest that no account was required of the money put into their hands for expenses, and that faithfulness in material things, together with the liberality of the people in giving, is evidence of thorough repentance and earnest return to Jehovah and true service to God.