2 Kings 22:4 kjv
Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may sum the silver which is brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the door have gathered of the people:
2 Kings 22:4 nkjv
"Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money which has been brought into the house of the LORD, which the doorkeepers have gathered from the people.
2 Kings 22:4 niv
"Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him get ready the money that has been brought into the temple of the LORD, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people.
2 Kings 22:4 esv
"Go up to Hilkiah the high priest, that he may count the money that has been brought into the house of the LORD, which the keepers of the threshold have collected from the people.
2 Kings 22:4 nlt
"Go to Hilkiah the high priest and have him count the money the gatekeepers have collected from the people at the LORD's Temple.
2 Kings 22 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ex 30:11-16 | "The rich shall not pay more, and the poor shall not pay less, than half a shekel... for a contribution to the Lord." | Contributions for Tabernacle work. |
| Lev 27:30 | "Every tithe of the land, whether of the seed of the land or of the fruit of the trees, is the Lord’s; it is holy..." | Sanctity of offerings to God. |
| 1 Ki 8:1-13 | "Then Solomon assembled the elders of Israel... for bringing up the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of the city..." | Dedication of the Temple by Solomon. |
| 2 Ki 12:4-15 | "Joash said to the priests, “All the money... that is brought into the house of the Lord..." | Similar temple repair efforts under Joash. |
| 1 Chr 9:17-27 | "The gatekeepers were Shelemiah, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their relatives, assigned to their divisions..." | Levites as doorkeepers/gatekeepers. |
| 1 Chr 23:24-32 | "Their duty was to assist the sons of Aaron... attend to all the service of the house of God." | Levites' general duties, including temple service. |
| 2 Chr 24:4-14 | "After this, Joash decided to restore the house of the Lord... and the king and Jehoiada made a chest..." | Detail on temple repair under Joash. |
| 2 Chr 34:8-11 | "Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house... to repair the house..." | Josiah's immediate action after purging. |
| Ezr 7:1-6 | "Ezra went up from Babylonia. He was a scribe skilled in the Law of Moses..." | Role of a priest-scribe like Hilkiah. |
| Neh 10:32-33 | "We also lay upon ourselves the obligation to charge ourselves yearly with the third part of a shekel..." | Covenant to support temple services. |
| Neh 13:4-9 | "Before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the storerooms of the house of our God..." | Proper management of temple storehouses. |
| Isa 2:2 | "It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established..." | The importance and future of the House of the Lord. |
| Jer 7:11 | "Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes?" | Critique of profanation in the Temple. |
| Ez 44:9-11 | "No foreigner... is to enter my sanctuary... the Levites who went far from me..." | Regulations concerning temple access and roles. |
| Mal 3:10 | "Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house..." | Encouragement for faithful giving. |
| Mt 21:12-13 | "And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple..." | Cleansing of the temple by Christ, echoing integrity. |
| Jn 2:13-16 | "And he found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves..." | Christ's zeal for the purity of the House of God. |
| Acts 4:32-35 | "There was not a needy person among them, for all who owned lands or houses sold them..." | Early Church communal giving for common good. |
| 1 Cor 9:13-14 | "Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple?" | Principle of supporting those who serve God. |
| Heb 9:11-12 | "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come..." | Christ as the ultimate High Priest. |
2 Kings 22 verses
2 Kings 22 4 Meaning
2 Kings 22:4 describes King Josiah's directive to Hilkiah the high priest, initiating a project to assess the monetary offerings collected for the maintenance of the Temple of the Lord. The verse details that the funds to be counted were those brought into the temple, which the doorkeepers, likely Levites, had meticulously gathered from the people. This act signifies Josiah's righteous intent to restore the sacred structure, establish financial accountability, and renew proper worship practices that had deteriorated during the reigns of his predecessors. It sets the stage for the rediscovery of the Law and the subsequent nationwide reform.
2 Kings 22 4 Context
This verse appears early in King Josiah's reign, specifically in his eighteenth year (2 Ki 22:3), after he had already begun a personal and national commitment to follow the Lord, marked by actions of purifying Judah and Jerusalem from idolatry (2 Chr 34:3-7). By this point, Josiah is 26 years old, demonstrating maturity and firm leadership. The "House of the Lord" (the Temple built by Solomon) had suffered neglect and possibly desecration under his idolatrous predecessors, Manasseh and Amon. Josiah's initiative to repair the temple signifies a foundational step in his broader religious reforms, aiming to restore proper worship and the covenant relationship with God. The immediate objective of counting the money is not merely accounting, but enabling the practical repair work on a physical structure that symbolizes the spiritual state of the nation. This systematic approach, involving the high priest and specific temple officials, indicates an ordered and serious intention to restore integrity and godliness.
2 Kings 22 4 Word analysis
- Go up (עֲלֵה - ‘aleh): The imperative verb "go up" (from עָלָה, alah, meaning to ascend or go up) indicates a directive from the king to Hilkiah. It reflects the geographical reality that the Temple was located on Mount Moriah, an elevated position, symbolizing also reverence and going to a sacred place for an important task. It suggests an active, direct engagement.
- Hilkiah the high priest (חִלְקִיָּהוּ הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדוֹל - Hilqiyahu ha-kohen ha-gadol): "Hilkiah" means "My portion is Yah" or "Yahweh is my portion," which is a fitting name for a high priest, especially one involved in a spiritual renewal. The title "high priest" (ha-kohen ha-gadol) denotes his supreme spiritual authority and responsibility over the cultic practices and administration of the Temple. His pivotal role in Josiah's reform continues with his discovery of the Book of the Law (2 Ki 22:8).
- that he may sum up (תָּמוּךְ - tammokh, from the root סכם - sakam): This verb means to "count," "reckon," or "verify the amount." It emphasizes meticulous financial accountability and oversight. This was not a vague instruction but a command for a precise inventory of the funds. It reflects a desire for order and honesty in temple administration, a contrast to periods of neglect and corruption.
- the money (הַכֶּסֶף - hakkesef): Literally "the silver." In ancient Near Eastern economies, silver served as the primary form of currency. This refers to the specific metallic donations offered for temple purposes. Its specific mention indicates it's distinct from other forms of offerings (like grain or livestock).
- which is brought into (הַמּוּבָא בֵּית - hammûvā beit): This emphasizes that these funds were specifically dedicated and deposited within the sacred confines of the Temple structure ("the house of"). It denotes consecrated offerings for specific, holy use.
- the house of the Lord (יְהוָה - YHWH): "House of Yahweh," referring to Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. This term underscores the sacred purpose of the funds and the project. It represents the dwelling place of God's presence among His people, the center of their national worship and covenant relationship.
- which the doorkeepers have gathered (אֲשֶׁר קִבְּצוּ הַשֹּׁמְרֵי הַסַּף - asher qibbetsû hashshōmerê hassaph): "Doorkeepers" (literally "keepers of the threshold") were a specific Levitical guild responsible for guarding the temple entrances, managing offerings, and maintaining order (1 Chr 26:1-19). Their role in "gathering" the money highlights their function in receiving public contributions and implies a system of collection was already in place, even if possibly poorly managed before Josiah's reforms. The passive voice for "brought into" and then active for "gathered" underlines the active role of the doorkeepers in collecting.
- from the people (מֵאֵת הָעָם - mē'ēt hā‘ām): This clarifies the source of the funds: the voluntary contributions from the general Israelite population. It implies communal responsibility and participation in supporting the Temple, despite years of apostasy. Their willingness to contribute signals a potential openness to Josiah's reforms even before the Law was found.
2 Kings 22 4 Bonus section
The careful detailing of financial management for the Temple prefigures New Testament principles of integrity in handling God-given resources and funds (e.g., in the early church as seen in Acts 4-6). This specific task entrusted to the High Priest, Hilkiah, highlights the dual spiritual and administrative responsibilities held by the priesthood in ancient Israel. It subtly underscores Josiah's belief in the functional importance of the Temple despite generations of defilement; he clearly saw it as God's designated sanctuary, deserving of meticulous care and resources. This event of preparing for the repair of the temple building symbolically prepared the nation for the subsequent spiritual repairs, particularly the discovery of the Book of the Law, which revealed the depth of their covenantal disobedience and ignited true repentance.
2 Kings 22 4 Commentary
2 Kings 22:4 portrays Josiah as a proactive and responsible king who understood that genuine spiritual renewal must encompass both administrative integrity and devotional purity. His command to Hilkiah to assess the collected money for the temple repairs was a vital practical step in restoring the neglected "House of the Lord." This instruction underscores several critical principles: the importance of accountability for sacred funds, the diligent involvement of spiritual leadership (the high priest), and the crucial role of collective contributions from the people to maintain the infrastructure of worship. It's a testament to Josiah's foresight that he began with the material condition of the temple, setting the stage for the later spiritual discovery and revival. This systematic approach—from purging idolatry, to assessing resources, to initiating repairs—demonstrates that true reform begins with sincere intent, requires administrative oversight, and relies on the participation of God's people.