2 Chronicles 34 9

2 Chronicles 34:9 kjv

And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the doors had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin; and they returned to Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 34:9 nkjv

When they came to Hilkiah the high priest, they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites who kept the doors had gathered from the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, from all the remnant of Israel, from all Judah and Benjamin, and which they had brought back to Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 34:9 niv

They went to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the temple of God, which the Levites who were the gatekeepers had collected from the people of Manasseh, Ephraim and the entire remnant of Israel and from all the people of Judah and Benjamin and the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 34:9 esv

They came to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the house of God, which the Levites, the keepers of the threshold, had collected from Manasseh and Ephraim and from all the remnant of Israel and from all Judah and Benjamin and from the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 34:9 nlt

They gave Hilkiah the high priest the money that had been collected by the Levites who served as gatekeepers at the Temple of God. The gifts were brought by people from Manasseh, Ephraim, and from all the remnant of Israel, as well as from all Judah, Benjamin, and the people of Jerusalem.

2 Chronicles 34 verses

2 Chronicles 34 9 Meaning

This verse details the successful collection and transfer of funds intended for the repair and restoration of the Temple in Jerusalem during the reign of King Josiah. It specifically highlights that the collected money was handed over to Hilkiah, the high priest, after being diligently gathered by the Levites who served as door keepers from the unified contributions of people from both the northern tribes (Manasseh, Ephraim, and the remnant of Israel) and the southern tribes (Judah and Benjamin). It signifies a nationwide effort and renewed commitment to God's house under Josiah's righteous leadership.

2 Chronicles 34 9 Context

The book of 2 Chronicles, written primarily for the returning exiles, emphasizes God's faithfulness, the importance of true worship centered in Jerusalem, and the significance of the Davidic covenant. Chapter 34 focuses on the righteous reign of King Josiah, one of Judah's last godly kings. Josiah began his reforms at a young age, actively purging idolatry from Judah and extending his influence into the territories of the former northern kingdom. Verse 9 occurs within the account of these widespread religious reforms, specifically during the repair of the Temple, which had fallen into disrepair and been defiled under previous apostate kings like Manasseh and Amon. The collection of funds mentioned here is a practical expression of a spiritual awakening and a return to covenant loyalty among the people. It predates the pivotal discovery of the Book of the Law by Hilkiah, which further propelled Josiah's radical reforms.

2 Chronicles 34 9 Word analysis

• And they came: Implies the successful execution of the task delegated earlier in verse 8, showing obedience and completion of the work.
• Hilkiah the high priest: (Hebrew: חִלְקִיָּהוּ, Ḥilqiyyahu, meaning "My portion is Yahweh"). The chief religious authority, signifying that the funds were handled by the designated priestly leadership. His name connects him directly to God, underscoring the sacred nature of his role and the money. Hilkiah played a critical role in Josiah's reform, including the later discovery of the Book of the Law (2 Chr 34:14).
• delivered: Hebrew: וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ (wayyittĕnû), "and they gave." Conveys the act of transfer, emphasizing transparency and proper protocol in handling large sums of communal money.
• the money: Represents the communal offerings, highlighting tangible resources dedicated to God's house. Its collection indicates a reawakened devotion.
• that was brought into the house of God: Hebrew: בֵּית הָאֱלֹהִים (bêyth hā’Ĕlōhîm), "the house of God." Refers specifically to the Temple in Jerusalem. This reinforces the sanctity and designated purpose of the funds—for the repair of God's dwelling place.
• which the Levites: The tribe consecrated for temple service and support. Their involvement underscores their divinely appointed role in managing sacred finances and duties (Num 3:6-8).
• that kept the doors: Specific Levitical role (Hebrew: שֹׁמְרֵי הַסַּף, shomerei hassaph, "keepers of the threshold"). These gatekeepers often managed the incoming offerings and were responsible for the treasury (1 Chr 9:19-27). This points to an organized, well-managed system for collecting and safeguarding the contributions.
• had gathered: Indicates an active and sustained collection effort, not just passive receiving.
• of the hand of: Hebrew: מִיַּד (mîyyaḏ), literally "from the hand of," implying contributions directly from the people.
• Manasseh and Ephraim: Key northern Israelite tribes, symbolizing a restoration reaching beyond the immediate territory of Judah. Their participation indicates the widespread impact of Josiah's reforms, even in areas long separated from the Davidic monarchy and the Jerusalem temple. It demonstrates a return to a unified religious identity for some within the remnant.
• and of all the remnant of Israel: Refers to the Israelites who remained in the northern kingdom territories after the Assyrian deportations (722 BCE) and had not gone into exile. Their inclusion emphasizes a spiritual revival across a broad segment of the historical nation of Israel.
• and of all Judah and Benjamin: The two tribes constituting the Southern Kingdom, Judah, under Josiah's direct rule. Their collective contribution reflects their central role in the reform efforts and active participation in the rebuilding of the Temple.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "And they came to Hilkiah the high priest, and delivered the money": This phrase highlights the systematic and accountable nature of the work. The collected funds were not disbursed by the collectors themselves but were entrusted to the highest spiritual authority for proper management, indicating order and integrity.
• "that was brought into the house of God, which the Levites that kept the doors had gathered": This clarifies the source and method of collection. It was not a tax, but offerings freely given and managed by the dedicated servants of the Temple, specifically those whose duties included safeguarding its thresholds and potentially its treasury. This speaks to the integrity of the process and the voluntary nature of the contributions.
• "of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah and Benjamin": This sweeping geographic and demographic list underscores the wide-ranging success of Josiah's religious reforms and the revival. It signals a remarkable unity across the historical divisions of Israel, with contributions coming from both the north and south. This national participation reinforces the idea that the desire for proper worship had stirred the hearts of many, leading to a unified effort for the house of the Lord.

2 Chronicles 34 9 Bonus section

The systematic collection of money and its careful transfer to Hilkiah emphasizes good financial stewardship in sacred matters, a recurring theme in the biblical narrative for managing communal funds dedicated to God's work (e.g., Tabernacle construction, temple upkeep, supporting ministry). The fact that offerings came from "Manasseh and Ephraim, and all the remnant of Israel" is a strong polemic against the continued separate worship centers of the northern kingdom, emphasizing a reunification of true worship at the legitimate sanctuary in Jerusalem under a Davidic king. This broad participation foreshadows the prophetic vision of a reunited Israel turning to God. This phase of financial collection sets the stage for the pivotal discovery of the Book of the Law, demonstrating that the people's hearts were already being prepared for deeper spiritual truth.

2 Chronicles 34 9 Commentary

2 Chronicles 34:9 is a practical demonstration of King Josiah's widespread religious reform. It reveals an organized, accountable system for collecting and handling offerings for the Temple repair, with the high priest and designated Levites overseeing the process. The verse importantly highlights the broad scope of this revival, drawing contributions from the fragmented northern tribes (Manasseh, Ephraim, and the "remnant of Israel") alongside Judah and Benjamin. This national unity in supporting the Temple's restoration speaks volumes about the deep spiritual impact of Josiah's leadership and the people's renewed commitment to Yahweh. It demonstrates that genuine spiritual renewal often translates into tangible actions and responsible stewardship concerning God's house and work.