2 Chronicles 24:5
New International Version
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.

New Living Translation
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.

English Standard Version
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.

Berean Standard Bible
So he gathered the priests and Levites and said, “Go out to the cities of Judah and collect the money due annually from all Israel, to repair the house of your God. Do it quickly.” The Levites, however, did not make haste.

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
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.

New American Standard Bible
He gathered the priests and Levites and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah and collect money from all Israel to repair the house of your God annually, and you shall do the work quickly.” But the Levites did not act quickly.

NASB 1995
He gathered the priests and Levites and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah and collect money from all Israel to repair the house of your God annually, and you shall do the matter quickly.” But the Levites did not act quickly.

NASB 1977
And he gathered the priests and Levites, and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah, and collect money from all Israel to repair the house of your God annually, and you shall do the matter quickly.” But the Levites did not act quickly.

Legacy Standard Bible
And he gathered the priests and Levites and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah and gather money from all Israel to repair the house of your God annually, and you shall do the matter quickly.” But the Levites did not act quickly.

Amplified Bible
He gathered the priests and the Levites and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah and collect money from all Israel to repair the house of your God from year to year; and see that you do it quickly.” But the Levites did not act quickly.

Christian Standard Bible
So he gathered the priests and Levites and said, “Go out to the cities of Judah and collect silver from all Israel to repair the temple of your God as needed year by year, and do it quickly.” However, the Levites did not hurry.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So he gathered the priests and Levites and said, “Go out to the cities of Judah and collect money from all Israel to repair the temple of your God as needed year by year, and do it quickly.” However, the Levites did not hurry.

American Standard Version
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.

Contemporary English Version
He called together the priests and Levites and said, "Go everywhere in Judah and collect the annual tax from the people. I want this done at once--we need that money to repair the temple." But the Levites were in no hurry to follow the king's orders.

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He gathered the priests and the Levites and said to them, "Go to the cities of Judah, and collect money throughout Israel to repair the temple of your God every year. Do it immediately!" But the Levites didn't do it immediately.

Good News Translation
He ordered the priests and the Levites to go to the cities of Judah and collect from all the people enough money to make the annual repairs on the Temple. He told them to act promptly, but the Levites delayed,

International Standard Version
so he assembled the priests and descendants of Levi and ordered them, "Go throughout the cities of Judah and take up a collection from all of Israel for the annual upkeep of the Temple of your God. And make sure that you act quickly." But the descendants of Levi did not act quickly,

Majority Standard Bible
So he gathered the priests and Levites and said, “Go out to the cities of Judah and collect the money due annually from all Israel, to repair the house of your God. Do it quickly.” The Levites, however, did not make haste.

NET Bible
He assembled the priests and Levites and ordered them, "Go out to the cities of Judah and collect the annual quota of silver from all Israel for repairs on the temple of your God. Be quick about it!" But the Levites delayed.

New Heart English Bible
He gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, "Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather money to repair the house of your God from all Israel from year to year. See that you expedite this matter." However the Levites did not do it right away.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he convened 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 ye hasten the matter. But the Levites hastened it not.

World English Bible
He gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather money to repair the house of your God from all Israel from year to year. See that you expedite this matter.” However the Levites didn’t do it right away.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and he gathers the priests and the Levites, and says to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather money from all Israel to strengthen the house of your God sufficiently year by year, and you, hurry to the matter”; and the Levites have not hurried.

Young's Literal Translation
and he gathereth the priests and the Levites, and saith to them, 'Go out to the cities of Judah, and gather from all Israel money to strengthen the house of your God sufficiently year by year, and ye, ye do haste to the matter;' and the Levites have not hasted.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will gather together the priests and the Levites, and say to them, Go ye forth to the cities of Judah and gather together from all Israel silver to strengthen the house of your God as often as year by year, and ye shall hasten to the word. And the Levites hastened not.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he assembled the priests, and the Levites, and said to them: Go out to the cities of Juda, and gather of all Israel money to repair the temple of your God, from year to year: and do this with speed: but the Levites were negligent.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he gathered together the priests and Levites, and he said to them: “Go out to the cities of Judah, and collect from all of Israel money to repair the surfaces of the temple of your God, throughout each year. And do this promptly.” But the Levites acted negligently.

New American Bible
He gathered together the priests and Levites and said to them: “Go out to all the cities of Judah and gather money from all Israel that you may repair the house of your God over the years. You must hurry this project.” But the Levites did not.

New Revised Standard Version
He assembled the priests and the Levites and said to them, “Go out to the cities of Judah and gather money from all Israel to repair the house of your God, year by year; and see that you act quickly.” But the Levites did not act quickly.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Jehoiadah the priest gathered together the priests and the Levites and said to them, Go out to the cities of Judah and gather from all the cities of Israel silver and gold to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that you hasten the matter.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Yawida gathered the Priests and the Levites and said to them: “Go out to the cities of the house of Yehuda and gather from all the cities of Israel silver and gold, and repair the house of your God according to every year by year, and be urgent to finish.”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
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.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he gathered the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out into the cities of Juda, and collect money of all Israel to repair the house of the Lord from year to year, and make haste to speak of it. But the Levites hasted not.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joash Repairs the Temple
4Some time later, Joash set his heart on repairing the house of the LORD. 5So he gathered the priests and Levites and said, “Go out to the cities of Judah and collect the money due annually from all Israel, to repair the house of your God. Do it quickly.” The Levites, however, did not make haste. 6So the king called Jehoiada the high priest and said, “Why have you not required the Levites to bring from Judah and Jerusalem the tax imposed by Moses the servant of the LORD and by the assembly of Israel for the Tent of the Testimony?”…

Cross References
2 Kings 12:4-5
Then Joash said to the priests, “Collect all the money brought as sacred gifts into the house of the LORD—the census money, the money from vows, and the money brought voluntarily into the house of the LORD. / Let every priest receive it from his constituency, and let it be used to repair any damage found in the temple.”

Exodus 30:12-16
“When you take a census of the Israelites to number them, each man must pay the LORD a ransom for his life when he is counted. Then no plague will come upon them when they are numbered. / Everyone who crosses over to those counted must pay a half shekel, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. This half shekel is an offering to the LORD. / Everyone twenty years of age or older who crosses over must give this offering to the LORD. ...

Nehemiah 10:32-33
We also place ourselves under the obligation to contribute a third of a shekel yearly for the service of the house of our God: / for the showbread, for the regular grain offerings and burnt offerings, for the Sabbath offerings, for the New Moons and appointed feasts, for the holy offerings, for the sin offerings to make atonement for Israel, and for all the duties of the house of our God.

2 Kings 22:3-7
Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, King Josiah sent the scribe, Shaphan son of Azaliah, the son of Meshullam, to the house of the LORD, saying, / “Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him count the money that has been brought into the house of the LORD, which the doorkeepers have collected from the people. / And let them deliver it into the hands of the supervisors of those doing the work on the house of the LORD, who in turn are to give it to the workmen repairing the damages to the house of the LORD— ...

1 Kings 12:4
“Your father put a heavy yoke on us. But now you must lighten the burden of your father’s service and the heavy yoke he put on us, and we will serve you.”

2 Chronicles 29:3-5
In the first month of the first year of his reign, Hezekiah opened and repaired the doors of the house of the LORD. / Then he brought in the priests and Levites and gathered them in the square on the east side. / “Listen to me, O Levites,” he said. “Consecrate yourselves now and consecrate the house of the LORD, the God of your fathers. Remove from the Holy Place every impurity.

2 Chronicles 34:8-11
Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, in order to cleanse the land and the temple, Josiah sent Shaphan son of Azaliah, Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah son of Joahaz, the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God. / So they went to Hilkiah the high priest and gave him the money that had been brought into the house of God, which the Levites who guarded the doors had collected from the people of Manasseh and Ephraim, from all the remnant of Israel, from all Judah and Benjamin, and from the people of Jerusalem. / They put it into the hands of those supervising the work in the house of the LORD, who in turn gave it to the workmen restoring and repairing the house of the LORD. ...

1 Chronicles 29:3-9
Moreover, because of my delight in the house of my God, I now give for it my personal treasures of gold and silver, over and above all that I have provided for this holy temple: / three thousand talents of gold (the gold of Ophir) and seven thousand talents of refined silver, to overlay the walls of the buildings, / for the gold work and the silver work, and for all the work to be done by the craftsmen. Now who is willing to consecrate himself to the LORD today?” ...

Exodus 25:1-8
Then the LORD said to Moses, / “Tell the Israelites to bring Me an offering. You are to receive My offering from every man whose heart compels him. / This is the offering you are to accept from them: gold, silver, and bronze; ...

Leviticus 27:2-8
“Speak to the Israelites and say to them, ‘When someone makes a special vow to the LORD involving the value of persons, / if the valuation concerns a male from twenty to sixty years of age, then your valuation shall be fifty shekels of silver, according to the sanctuary shekel. / Or if it is a female, then your valuation shall be thirty shekels. ...

Matthew 17:24-27
After they had arrived in Capernaum, the collectors of the two-drachma tax came to Peter and asked, “Does your Teacher pay the two drachmas?” / “Yes,” he answered. When Peter entered the house, Jesus preempted him. “What do you think, Simon?” He asked. “From whom do the kings of the earth collect customs and taxes: from their own sons, or from others?” / “From others,” Peter answered. “Then the sons are exempt,” Jesus said to him. ...

Mark 12:41-44
As Jesus was sitting opposite the treasury, He watched the crowd putting money into it. And many rich people put in large amounts. / Then one poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amounted to a small fraction of a denarius. / Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more than all the others into the treasury. ...

Luke 21:1-4
Then Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, / and He saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. / “Truly I tell you,” He said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. ...

Acts 4:34-37
There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales, / and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need. / Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (meaning Son of Encouragement), ...

Acts 11:29-30
So the disciples, each according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. / This they did, sending their gifts to the elders with Barnabas and Saul.


Treasury of Scripture

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

gather of all Israel

2 Chronicles 29:3
He in the first year of his reign, in the first month, opened the doors of the house of the LORD, and repaired them.

2 Chronicles 34:8,9
Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land, and the house, he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah, and Maaseiah the governor of the city, and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder, to repair the house of the LORD his God…

2 Kings 12:4,5
And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the LORD, even the money of every one that passeth the account, the money that every man is set at, and all the money that cometh into any man's heart to bring into the house of the LORD, …

Howbeit

2 Kings 12:6,7
But it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house…

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Cities Collect Convened Gather Gathered Hasten Hastened House Howbeit However Hurry Israel Judah Levites Matter Money Priests Repair Together
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Cities Collect Convened Gather Gathered Hasten Hastened House Howbeit However Hurry Israel Judah Levites Matter Money Priests Repair Together
2 Chronicles 24
1. Joash reigns well all the days of Jehoiada
4. He gives order for the repair of the temple
15. Jehoiada's death and honorable burial
17. Joash, falling into idolatry, slays Zechariah the son of Jehoiada
23. Joash is spoiled by the Syrians, and slain by Zabad and Jehozabad
27. Amaziah succeeds him














So he gathered the priests and Levites
This phrase highlights the leadership role of King Joash in mobilizing the religious leaders of Israel. The Hebrew root for "gathered" (קָבַץ, qavats) implies a purposeful assembly, indicating Joash's intent to unify the spiritual leaders for a significant task. The priests and Levites were central to the religious life of Israel, responsible for temple worship and rituals. Historically, their involvement underscores the importance of the temple as the heart of Israel's spiritual identity.

and said, 'Go out to the cities of Judah
The directive to "Go out" (יָצָא, yatsa) signifies an active mission beyond the temple precincts, emphasizing the need for outreach and engagement with the broader community. The "cities of Judah" were the tribal lands surrounding Jerusalem, representing the heartland of the Southern Kingdom. This phrase reflects the geographical and spiritual centrality of Judah in the narrative of Israel, as well as the king's desire to involve the entire community in the temple's restoration.

and collect the required tax from all Israel
The "required tax" (מַס, mas) refers to a levy instituted for the maintenance of the temple, a practice rooted in the Mosaic Law where the community supported the tabernacle and later the temple. "All Israel" indicates a collective responsibility, transcending tribal divisions, and pointing to a unified national identity under God. This phrase underscores the principle of communal stewardship and the shared duty of maintaining the house of worship.

to repair the house of your God
The "house of your God" (בֵּית אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, beit Eloheichem) is a reverent reference to the temple, the dwelling place of God's presence among His people. The Hebrew word for "repair" (חָזַק, chazaq) implies strengthening or fortifying, suggesting not just physical restoration but also spiritual renewal. This phrase highlights the temple's role as a symbol of divine covenant and the need for its upkeep as a reflection of Israel's faithfulness.

as needed year after year
This phrase indicates the ongoing nature of the temple's maintenance, suggesting a perpetual commitment to God's house. The repetition "year after year" (שָׁנָה בְּשָׁנָה, shanah b'shanah) emphasizes the regularity and consistency required in worship and service. It serves as a reminder of the enduring nature of God's covenant and the continuous devotion expected from His people.

See that you do this quickly
The urgency in "do this quickly" (מַהֵר, maher) reflects the king's earnestness in prioritizing the temple's restoration. This command underscores the importance of prompt obedience in spiritual matters, highlighting the need for immediate action in fulfilling God's work. It serves as an exhortation to believers to respond swiftly to God's call and to prioritize His kingdom.

But the Levites did not act quickly
This concluding phrase reveals a contrast between the king's command and the Levites' response. The Hebrew root for "did not act quickly" (מָהַר, mahar) suggests a delay or hesitation, which can be seen as a failure to prioritize God's work. This serves as a cautionary note about the dangers of complacency and the importance of aligning one's actions with divine directives. It challenges believers to examine their own responsiveness to God's call and to strive for diligence in their spiritual duties.

(5) Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money.--This is the chronicler's interpretation of "Let the priests take it to themselves, each from his own acquaintance" (Kings). The priests and Levites of the different districts were to collect the moneys due to the sanctuary, each in his own neighbourhood.

And see that ye hasten the matter.--Literally, and, for your part, hasten ye in regard to the matter (comp. 2Chronicles 18:8); and the Levites hastened not. This agrees with the statement in 2Kings 12:6; 2Kings 12:9 : "And it was so, that in the three and twentieth year of king Jehoash the priests had not repaired the breaches of the house." The remissness of the priestly order is evidently inferable from these words.

Verse 5. - To repair. The idea of this verb (חָזַק) is that of making strong. From year to year. The compound adverbial expression חָדֵּי, here used for "from," era-braces the idea of" unfailingly from year to year." The command given here to the priests and Levites is expressed very differently, though in no degree contadictorily, in the parallel (see its vers. 4, 5). The addition is there found, "every man of his acquaintance;" this expression may glance at the very supposable circumstance that the priest and Levite collecting deputations would naturally go respectively to the towns and cities where they had been located beforetime. A slight ambiguity is perhaps occasioned by the impression that the fourth verse (in the parallel) produces - that the priests and Levites should wait to receive, e.g., in Jerusalem. This, however, is sot what is said, and need not, therefore, be made into a difficulty. Howbeit the Levites hastened not. We are not told why this delay was, nor does the subsequent narrative seem to elucidate it, further than this - that the delay somehow seemed to rest with Jehoiada, as the king appealed to him for explanation.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So he gathered
וַיִּקְבֹּץ֮ (way·yiq·bōṣ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6908: To gather, collect

the priests
הַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים (hak·kō·hă·nîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 3548: Priest

and Levites
וְהַלְוִיִּם֒ (wə·hal·wî·yim)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi

and said,
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Go out
צְא֣וּ (ṣə·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

to the cities
לְעָרֵ֪י (lə·‘ā·rê)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 5892: Excitement

of Judah
יְהוּדָ֟ה (yə·hū·ḏāh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3063: Judah -- 'praised', a son of Jacob, also the southern kingdom, also four Israelites

and collect
וְקִבְצוּ֩ (wə·qiḇ·ṣū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 6908: To gather, collect

the money
כֶּ֜סֶף (ke·sep̄)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3701: Silver, money

due
מִדֵּ֤י (mid·dê)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1767: Sufficiency, enough

annually
שָׁנָה֙ (šā·nāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8141: A year

from all
מִכָּל־ (mik·kāl)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֨ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

to repair
לְחַזֵּ֣ק ׀ (lə·ḥaz·zêq)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 2388: To fasten upon, to seize, be strong, obstinate, to bind, restrain, conquer

the house
בֵּ֣ית (bêṯ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of your God.
אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֗ם (’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

Do it
לַדָּבָ֑ר (lad·dā·ḇār)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

quickly.”
תְּמַהֲר֣וּ (tə·ma·hă·rū)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 4116: To be liquid, flow easily, to hurry, promptly

The Levites, however,
הַֽלְוִיִּֽם׃ (hal·wî·yim)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 3881: Levites -- descendant of Levi

did not
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

make haste.
מִֽהֲר֖וּ (mi·hă·rū)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 4116: To be liquid, flow easily, to hurry, promptly


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OT History: 2 Chronicles 24:5 He gathered together the priests and (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr)
2 Chronicles 24:4
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