Bible Strands
2 Kings 12:8
So the priests agreed that they would not receive money from the people and that they would not repair the temple themselves.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — King Joash addresses Jehoiada and the priests after commanding them to stop private fundraising and redirect those resources to the temple's restoration. This moment follows his direct order in 2 Kings 12:7 and precedes the introduction of a new collection chest in 2 Kings 12:9.
The words — וַיֵּאֹתוּ (wa-yēʾōṯū) translates literally as "and they agreed," while כֶּסֶף (keseḵ) means "money" or "silver." The priests formally consented to Joash's directive to halt their personal collection of funds from the people.
The thread — The theme of dedicated temple funds resurfaces in 2 Chronicles 24:4-14 and Nehemiah 10:32-33, where similar collection systems are established for sanctuary maintenance. The practice of designated sacred collections also appears in Exodus 35:24 and Malachi 3:8.
Why it lands — The text requires readers to recognize that institutional accountability must replace private religious fundraising. It demands a clear separation between clerical authority and the financial obligations of the congregation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the priests consented to receive no more money of the people, neither to repair the breaches of the house.