2 Chronicles 24 5

2 Chronicles 24:5 kjv

And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that ye hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites hastened it not.

2 Chronicles 24:5 nkjv

Then he gathered the priests and the Levites, and said to them, "Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather from all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that you do it quickly." However the Levites did not do it quickly.

2 Chronicles 24:5 niv

He called together the priests and Levites and said to them, "Go to the towns of Judah and collect the money due annually from all Israel, to repair the temple of your God. Do it now." But the Levites did not act at once.

2 Chronicles 24:5 esv

And he gathered the priests and the Levites and said to them, "Go out to the cities of Judah and gather from all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that you act quickly." But the Levites did not act quickly.

2 Chronicles 24:5 nlt

He summoned the priests and Levites and gave them these instructions: "Go to all the towns of Judah and collect the required annual offerings, so that we can repair the Temple of your God. Do not delay!" But the Levites did not act immediately.

2 Chronicles 24 verses

2 Chronicles 24 5 Meaning

King Joash issued a direct command to the priests and Levites, tasking them with collecting funds from all cities of Judah and the wider nation of Israel. The purpose was to gather money annually for the continuous repair and upkeep of the Lord’s Temple. The king stressed the urgency of this undertaking, instructing them to hasten the process. However, despite the clear royal decree and the critical need for the Temple's restoration, the Levites failed to act promptly or with the required zeal, causing significant delay in the vital work.

2 Chronicles 24 5 Context

2 Chronicles 24 details the reign of King Joash of Judah, a reign that began under the positive influence of Jehoiada the priest (2 Chr 24:1-3). After the pagan infiltration during Queen Athaliah's rule, the Temple of the Lord had fallen into severe disrepair, its sacred articles even being used for Baal worship. Joash, moved by the state of God's house, initiated its restoration, reflecting a commitment to traditional worship. Verse 5 is Joash’s first strategy for raising funds, emphasizing the urgency of the repair work and the designated role of the priests and Levites in facilitating it. This instruction sets the stage for a period of initial religious revival under Joash, even as it foreshadows the Levites’ negligence and the king’s subsequent shift in methods (2 Chr 24:6-14). Later in the chapter, following Jehoiada’s death, Joash himself tragically departs from the Lord, highlighting the fragility of even seemingly righteous endeavors without consistent commitment to God.

2 Chronicles 24 5 Word analysis

• And he gathered together: Hebrew "וַיִּקְבֹּץ" (vayyiqbotz), from "קָבַץ" (qabats), meaning to collect, assemble, gather. This indicates a deliberate, formal convocation by the king, underscoring the importance and official nature of the command he was about to issue.
• the priests and the Levites: These were specific, divinely ordained classes of religious functionaries. The priests (כֹּהֲנִים, kohanim), direct descendants of Aaron, were responsible for altar sacrifices and managing the most sacred aspects of the Temple. The Levites (לְוִיִּם, Levi'im), from the tribe of Levi but not of Aaron’s lineage, served in various supportive roles, including guarding, teaching, music, and the care of the Temple treasury. King Joash entrusted this task to them because Temple oversight and resource management naturally fell within their purview.
• Go out unto the cities of Judah: A command for widespread action, not just within Jerusalem. It signifies that the responsibility and financial burden for the Temple's restoration were to be distributed throughout the kingdom.
• and gather of all Israel money: "Israel" here refers to the wider nation, suggesting an ambition to involve even remnants from the northern kingdom, or at least a national, inclusive effort from all the tribes of Judah, considering all those who identify as Israel. The term "money" (כֶּסֶף, kesef) implies silver currency, which was the standard medium for transactions.
• to repair: Hebrew "לְחַזֵּק" (leḥazzeq), from "חָזַק" (ḥazaq), meaning to strengthen, reinforce, repair. This denotes that the Temple's damage was not superficial but structural, requiring significant rebuilding and fortification to restore its integrity and function as the "house of your God."
• the house of your God: "בֵּית־אֱלֹהֵיכֶם" (beit Eloheykhem). This phrase is significant as it emphasizes that the Temple belonged to the priests' and Levites' God, their professional deity, highlighting their special and personal responsibility for its upkeep. It contrasts with pagan shrines and places the focus squarely on the unique relationship of Yahweh with His people.
• from year to year: Hebrew "מִשָּׁנָה בְּשָׁנָה" (mishshanah beshanah). This phrase can be interpreted in two main ways: either implying a recurring annual collection or an ongoing process that would extend over multiple years. In context, it strongly suggests a commitment to regular, sustained financial support for the Temple’s maintenance, beyond just the initial major repair.
• and see that ye hasten the matter: Hebrew "וְאַתֶּם תְּמַהֲרוּ" (ve'atem temaharū). This is a strong imperative, meaning "you yourselves, make haste!" or "you must quickly attend to this." It underscores Joash's desire for urgency, perhaps recognizing the long-standing neglect and the desecration the Temple had suffered.
• Howbeit the Levites hastened it not: Hebrew "וְלֹא הִמְהֲרוּ" (velō himharū). This pivotal clause reveals the immediate failure in executing the king's command. It shows negligence, perhaps due to indifference, mismanagement, or personal gain, which would directly contradict the very essence of their consecrated service and King Joash's explicit instruction. This direct opposition between command and action becomes a narrative point leading to Joash's eventual direct involvement in fundraising (2 Chr 24:8).

2 Chronicles 24 5 Bonus section

The Levites' delay here foreshadows a recurring problem in Israel's history—the spiritual complacency and disobedience of those who should be leading God's people (e.g., as seen in Malachi's critique of the priesthood). The specific phrasing "the house of your God" emphasizes the personal, covenantal relationship the Levites and priests had with Yahweh, highlighting the egregious nature of their dereliction. This instance of non-compliance led King Joash to bypass the established religious hierarchy for a more direct, popular collection method (2 Chr 24:8-11), showing that God’s work will not be ultimately thwarted by human negligence, though it might take different paths to achieve its purpose.

2 Chronicles 24 5 Commentary

2 Chronicles 24:5 lays bare a fundamental tension in service: divine commission and human responsibility. King Joash, inspired by a genuine desire for God’s house to be honored, delegates a crucial task—fundraising for temple repair—to those divinely appointed for such work: the priests and Levites. His command is clear, urgent, and well-intentioned. The directive to gather funds "from year to year" implies a vision for sustained, diligent care of the sacred space. However, the disappointing reality is that the Levites, who were specifically charged with diligence and proper administration of God's house, "hastened it not." This inaction is a powerful statement about spiritual apathy or lack of commitment. It teaches that even those entrusted with sacred duties can neglect their calling, hindering the work of God. True dedication involves not only receiving the command but executing it promptly and faithfully, reflecting zeal for the Lord’s honor.