2 Kings 12 16

2 Kings 12:16 kjv

The trespass money and sin money was not brought into the house of the LORD: it was the priests'.

2 Kings 12:16 nkjv

The money from the trespass offerings and the money from the sin offerings was not brought into the house of the LORD. It belonged to the priests.

2 Kings 12:16 niv

The money from the guilt offerings and sin offerings was not brought into the temple of the LORD; it belonged to the priests.

2 Kings 12:16 esv

The money from the guilt offerings and the money from the sin offerings was not brought into the house of the LORD; it belonged to the priests.

2 Kings 12:16 nlt

However, the money that was contributed for guilt offerings and sin offerings was not brought into the LORD's Temple. It was given to the priests for their own use.

2 Kings 12 verses

2 Kings 12 16 Meaning

This verse clarifies that the funds generated from specific offerings—the trespass offerings and the sin offerings—were not allocated for the ongoing Temple repair project. Instead, these monies were, by divine decree and established law, designated solely for the sustenance and livelihood of the priests who served in the House of the LORD. It establishes a clear distinction between funds intended for Temple infrastructure and those reserved for priestly support.

2 Kings 12 16 Context

The verse is situated within the narrative of King Jehoash (Joash) of Judah's reign. The chapter primarily details his commendable initiative to repair the dilapidated Temple of the LORD in Jerusalem. Having ascended the throne at a young age, Jehoash showed zeal for maintaining the central place of worship. Initially, he commanded the priests to use funds collected for Temple upkeep directly. However, when this system proved ineffective (2 Kgs 12:6-8), Jehoash reformed the process. He instituted a system where a chest was placed by the altar to receive voluntary contributions from the people for the Temple repair (2 Kgs 12:9-12). This collected money was then directly managed by the king's scribe and the high priest and distributed to the workmen, bypassing the usual priestly revenue streams for general Temple repair. 2 Kings 12:16, therefore, serves as an important clarification within this context, stipulating which funds were not to be diverted for the repairs, ensuring adherence to the existing Mosaic Law regarding priestly support.

2 Kings 12 16 Word analysis

• The money (הַכֶּסֶף - hak-ke′sep̄): Literally "the silver." In ancient Israel, silver was the standard form of currency and a store of value. The definite article "the" points to a specific and recognized category of funds.
• from the trespass offerings (מָעוֹף הָאָשָׁם - māʿôf hā-ʾāšām):
  • מָעוֹף (ma'of): Meaning "from" or "of" a particular source of income.
  • אָשָׁם (ʾāšām): Refers to the "guilt offering" or "trespass offering," detailed in Mosaic Law (e.g., Lev 5:14-6:7). These were sacrifices and often included monetary compensation or restitution for sins involving defilement of holy things or injury to others' property, with specific parts allocated to the priests as their portion.
• and the money (וְכֶסֶף - wə-ke′sep̄): Connects the two specific categories of funds that are excluded.
• from the sin offerings (הַחַטָּאָה - ha-khaṭṭāʾāh):
  • חַטָּאָה (khaṭṭāʾāh): Refers to the "sin offering" or "purification offering" (Leviticus 4). These sacrifices atoned for unintentional sins and ritual impurity. Designated portions of these offerings (like the flesh of certain sin offerings or their monetary equivalents in some cases) were given to the priests for their sustenance.
• was not brought (לֹא יוּבָא - lōʾ yūḇāʾ): A strong negative statement emphasizing exclusion. It signifies that these funds were intentionally withheld from the general Temple repair treasury and management.
• into the house of the LORD (בֵית יְהוָה - ḇêṯ YHWH): Refers to the Temple in Jerusalem, representing the central sanctuary and its administrative functions.
• it belonged to the priests (לַכֹּהֲנִים הָיוּ לָהֶם - lak-kōhanîm hāyû lāhem):
  • לַכֹּהֲנִים (lak-kōhanîm): "To the priests." Specifically, the hereditary Aaronite priesthood responsible for sacrificial duties.
  • הָיוּ לָהֶם (hāyû lāhem): "they were for them," or "it was theirs." This is an emphatic affirmation of their legitimate ownership and rightful possession according to divine mandate, highlighting their designated support.

• "The money from the trespass offerings and the money from the sin offerings": This phrase precisely identifies the sacred funds reserved exclusively for priestly livelihood. It underscores the careful differentiation of revenue streams within the Temple's financial administration as per the Mosaic Law.
• "was not brought into the house of the LORD": This statement highlights the integrity of Jehoash's Temple repair system. Despite the urgent need for funds, the king and administrators did not illegally appropriate or divert monies specifically set aside for priestly support. This indicates faithful adherence to divine instructions for Temple financing.
• "it belonged to the priests": This clearly articulates the theological and practical basis for the exclusion. The priests were God's ministers, and their support from these specific offerings ensured they could dedicate themselves wholly to their service without secular employment, echoing the Lord's provision for His dedicated servants.

2 Kings 12 16 Bonus section

• This verse subtly conveys a sense of renewed religious integrity during Jehoash's reign. Unlike previous periods where Temple funds or priestly duties might have been neglected or improperly handled, here we see an emphasis on distinguishing sacred monies according to their original divine intent.
• The distinction made highlights the various categories of offerings and their specific purposes within the Temple cult. Not all funds were interchangeable; some were for upkeep, others for the priests' daily sustenance, and some for general worship expenses.
• This adherence to prescribed priestly rights implicitly validates the continued validity and importance of the Mosaic covenant's stipulations regarding the support of those consecrated for holy service.
• The practice described here foreshadows the broader biblical principle found later in the New Testament, that those who minister and teach God's Word should be honorably supported by the community they serve (e.g., 1 Cor 9:13-14).

2 Kings 12 16 Commentary

2 Kings 12:16 is a critical aside in the account of King Jehoash's Temple restoration, demonstrating the meticulousness and adherence to established divine law in the administration of the sanctuary's finances. While King Jehoash diligently amassed funds for the physical repairs of the Temple (2 Kgs 12:4-14), this verse clarifies that the monies derived from sin offerings and trespass offerings were strictly exempt from these building expenditures. This was not a deficiency or oversight, but a principled compliance with the Mosaic Law (e.g., Leviticus 6-7, Numbers 18), which designated these specific priestly portions as the livelihood of the Lord's servants. The verse thus underscores the proper separation of funds, honoring God's design for the support of His priesthood even during an extraordinary fundraising initiative for the sacred edifice itself. It portrays a system striving for rectitude and respecting the different divine mandates concerning sacred finances.