Day 559 of 1461 · 2028-07-12 · 21 verses
2 Chronicles 34:8–28
Josiah Repairs the Temple
Matthew Henry · 34:8–13
Here, 1. Orders are given by the king for the repair of the temple, Ch2 34:8. When he had purged the house of the corruptions of it he began to fit it up for the services that were to be performed in it. Thus we must do by the spiritual temple of the heart, get it cleansed from the pollutions of sin, and then renewed, so as to be transformed into the image of God. Josiah, in this order, calls God the Lord his God. Those that truly love God will love the habitation of his house. 2. Care is taken about it, effectual care. The Levites went about the country and gathered money towards it, which was returned to the three trustees mentioned, Ch2 34:8. They brought it to Hilkiah the high priest (Ch2 34:9), and he and they put it into the hands of workmen, both overseers and labourers, who undertook to do it by the great, as we say, or in the gross, Ch2 34:10, Ch2 34:11.…
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It is observed that the workmen were industrious and honest: They did the work faithfully (Ch2 34:12); and workmen are not completely faithful if they are not both careful and diligent, for a confidence is reposed in them that they will be so. It is also intimated that the overseers were ingenious; for it is said that all those were employed to inspect this work who were skilful in instruments of music; not that their skill in music could be of any use in architecture, but it was an evidence that they were men of sense and ingenuity, and particularly that their genius lay towards the mathematics, which qualified them very much for this trust. Witty men are then wise men when they employ their wit in doing good, in helping their friends, and, as they have opportunity, in serving the public. Observe, in this work, how God dispenses his gifts variously; here were some that were bearers of burdens, cut out for bodily labour and fit to work. Here were others (made meliori luto - of finer materials) that had skill in music, and they were overseers of those that laboured, and scribes and officers. The former were the hands: these were the heads. They had need of one another, and the work needed both. Let not the overseers of the work despise the bearers of burdens, nor let those that work in the service grudge at those whose office it is to direct; but let each esteem and serve the other in love, and let God have the glory and the church the benefit of the different gifts and dispositions of both.
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John Gill · 34:8
Now in the eighteenth year of his reign, when he had purged the land and the house,.... The temple; this was in the twenty sixth year of his age, six years this work had been doing before it was finished: he sent Shaphan the son of Azaliah: who only is mentioned in 2 Kings 22:3 two more are added here, as follow: and Maaseiah the governor of the city; the city of Jerusalem, a deputy governor under the king, a sort of mayor or provost: and Joah the son of Joahaz the recorder; who was over the book of memorials, as the Targum; the word may be rendered "the remembrances"; and, according to Jarchi, as every king of Judah had a scribe to write down the memorable things that happened in his reign, good or bad, so the scribe had one by him, to put him in mind of every transaction, from whom he wrote it down: to repair the house of the Lord his God; that is, to give orders for the doing of it, t…
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o prepare for it, provide workmen, and appoint overseers of them: it had not been repaired since the times of Joash, which, according to the Jewish chronology (y), was a space of two hundred and eighteen years. (y) Seder Olam Rabba, c. 24.
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More notes on this section (6)
John Gill · 34:9
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And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest,.... To whom they were sent to advise with about the repair of the temple: they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God; that is, the high priest, and the Levites the doorkeepers, gave it to the king's ministers; which money was either brought to the temple voluntarily, as the free gifts of the people, for the repairs; or rather what was collected by the Levites, sent throughout the land for that purpose, or it may be both: which the Levites that kept the doors; of the temple; and received the money as the people brought it: and also had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah, and Benjamin; they went throughout all the land of Israel and Judah, and collected money for the above purpose: and they returned to Jerusalem; with it, which the high priest took the sum of, see 2 Kings 22:4 of whom the king's ministers now received it.
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John Gill · 34:10
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And they put it,.... The king's ministers did: in the hand of the workmen that had the oversight of the house of the Lord; whose business it was to inspect the temple, and see what repairs were necessary, and to overlook the workmen in making those repairs; the names of these overseers are in 2 Chronicles 34:12, and they gave it to the workmen that wrought in the house of the Lord, to repair and mend the house; that is, the overseers gave the money they received to the labourers, as the hire of their labour, and the reward of their work, and to buy materials with, as follows.
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John Gill · 34:11
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Even to the artificers and builders gave they it,.... To the masons and carpenters: to buy hewn stone; to put in the room of that which was decayed or fallen down: and timber for couplings; of boards, beams, and rafters: and to floor the houses; the chambers, the apartments in the temple, which belonged to the priests and Levites: which the kings of Judah had destroyed; the idolatrous ones, who had let them go to decay and ruin, taking no care of them.
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John Gill · 34:12
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And the men did that work faithfully,.... The labouring men, as also their inspectors, see 2 Kings 22:7. and the overseers of them were Jahath and Obadiah, the Levites, of the sons of Merari; the third son of Levi: and Zechariah and Meshullam, of the sons of the Kohathites; who had their name from Kohath, the second son of Levi: to set it forward; to urge and animate the men to their work, to keep them constant to it, and see that they did it well: and other of the Levites, all that could skill of instruments of music; these, when they were not employed in singing in the temple, attended this service, to look after the workmen at the repairs of it; and perhaps they might play, as some think, on their instruments of music, while the men were at work, that they might go on in it the more pleasantly and cheerfully.
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John Gill · 34:13
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Also they were over the bearers of burdens,.... Who carried the timber and stones to the workmen, to look after them, that they were not dilatory, and that the workmen might not stand still for want of materials being brought to them to work with: and were overseers over all that wrought in any manner of service; whether in the way of masonry, or in that of carpenters, or of such that served them, or in whatsoever way: and of the Levites there were scribes, and officers, and porters; some to take the account of the money carried in and paid, who were the scribes, according to Jarchi; and others who looked after the men, and kept them to work, who were the officers; and others that let them in and out, called porters.
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Jamieson–Fausset–Brown · 34:8
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HE REPAIRS THE TEMPLE. (Ch2 34:8-18) in the eighteenth year of his reign . . . he sent Shaphan--(See on Kg2 22:3-9).
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Hilkiah Finds the Book of the Law
Jamieson–Fausset–Brown · 34:19
AND, CAUSING THE LAW TO BE READ, RENEWS THE COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND THE PEOPLE. (Ch2 34:19-33) when the king had heard the words of the law, &c.--(See on Kg2 22:11-20; Kg2 23:1-3). Next: 2 Chronicles Chapter 35
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John Gill · 34:14
And when they brought out the money that was brought into the house of the Lord,.... The Levites, who brought it out of the country into the temple, and from thence brought it to the high priest, who delivering it to the king's ministers, and they to the overseers, the repairs were begun: and then Hilkiah the high priest found a book of the law of the Lord given by Moses house of the Lord,.... The Levites, who brought it out of the country into the temple, and from thence brought it to the high priest, who delivering it to the king's ministers, and they to the overseers, the repairs were begun: See Gill on 2 Kings 22:8. From hence, to the end of 2 Chronicles 34:28, is the same as 2 Kings 22:8.
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More notes on this section (1)
Matthew Henry · 34:14–28
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This whole paragraph we had, just as it is here related, Kg2 22:8-20, and have nothing to add here to what was there observed. But, 1. We may hence take occasion to bless God that we have plenty of Bibles, and that they are, or may be, in all hands, - that the book of the law and gospel is not lost, is not scarce, - that, in this sense, the word of the Lord is not precious. Bibles are jewels, but, thanks be to God, they are not rarities. The fountain of the waters of life is not a spring shut up or a fountain sealed, but the streams of it, in all places, make glad the city of our God. Usus communis aquarum - These waters flow for general use. What a great deal shall we have to answer for if the great things of God's law, being thus made common, should be accounted by us as strange things! 2. We may hence learn, whenever we read or hear the word of God, to affect our hearts with it, and to get them possessed with a holy fear of that wrath of God which is there revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, as Josiah's tender heart was. When he heard the words of the law he rent his clothes (Ch2 34:19), and God was well pleased with his doing so, Ch2 34:27. Were the things contained in the scripture new to us, as they were here to Josiah, surely they would make deeper impressions upon us than commonly they do; but they are not the less weighty, and therefore should not be the less considered by us, for their being well known. Rend the heart therefore, not the garments. 3. We are here directed when we are under convictions of sin, and apprehensions of divine wrath, to enquire of the Lord; so Josiah did, Ch2 34:21. It concerns us to ask (as they did, Act 2:37), Men and brethren, what shall we do? and more particularly (as the jailor), What must I do to be saved? Act 16:30. If you will thus enquire, enquire (Isa 21:12); and, blessed be God, we have the lively oracles to which to apply with these enquiries. 4. We are here warned of the ruin that sin brings upon nations and kingdoms. Those that forsake God bring evil upon themselves (Ch2 34:24, Ch2 34:25), and kindle a fire which shall not be quenched. Such will the fire of God's wrath be when the decree has gone forth against those that obstinately and impenitently persist in their wicked ways. 5. We are here encouraged to humble ourselves before God and seek unto him, as Josiah did. If we cannot prevail thereby to turn away God's wrath from our land, yet we shall deliver our own souls, Ch2 34:27, Ch2 34:28. And good people are here taught to be so far from fearing death as to welcome it rather when it takes them away from the evil to come. See how the property of it is altered by making it the matter of a promise: Thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, housed in that ark, as Noah, when a deluge is coming.
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Huldah’s Prophecy
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Drawn from the public-domain commentaries and Spurgeon sermons that cover this exact passage · ~464 words.
Matthew Henry. The public reading of the law to the people and their renewing their covenant with God thereupon (Ch2 34:29-33). Before we see Judah and Jerusalem ruined we shall yet see some glorious years, while good Josiah sits at the helm. They brought it to Hilkiah the high priest (Ch2 34:9), and he and they put it into the hands of workmen, both overseers and labourers, who undertook to do it by the great, as we say, or in the gross, Ch2 34:10, Ch2 34:11. The Levites went about the country and gathered money towards it, which was returned to the three trustees mentioned, Ch2 34:8. Observe, in this work, how God dispenses his gifts variously; here were some that were bearers of burdens, cut out for bodily labour and fit to work. It is observed that the workmen were industrious and honest: They did the work faithfully (Ch2 34:12); and workmen are not completely faithful if they are not both careful and diligent, for a confidence is reposed in them that they will be so. Let not the overseers of the work despise the bearers of burdens, nor let those that work in the service grudge at those whose office it is to direct; but let each esteem and serve the other in love, and let God have the glory and the church the benefit of the different gifts and dispositions of both. We may hence take occasion to bless God that we have plenty of Bibles, and that they are, or may be, in all hands, - that the book of the law and gospel is not lost, is not scarce, - that, in this sense, the word of the Lord is not precious. When he heard the words of the law he rent his clothes (Ch2 34:19), and God was well pleased with his doing so, Ch2 34:27. We may hence learn, whenever we read or hear the word of God, to affect our hearts with it, and to get them possessed with a holy fear of that wrath of God which is there revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, as Josiah's tender heart was. If we cannot prevail thereby to turn away God's wrath from our land, yet we shall deliver our own souls, Ch2 34:27, Ch2 34:28. Such will the fire of God's wrath be when the decree has gone forth against those that obstinately and impenitently persist in their wicked ways. 5.
Jamieson–Fausset–Brown. HE REPAIRS THE TEMPLE. (Ch2 34:8-18) in the eighteenth year of his reign . . . he sent Shaphan--(See on Kg2 22:3-9). AND, CAUSING THE LAW TO BE READ, RENEWS THE COVENANT BETWEEN GOD AND THE PEOPLE. (Ch2 34:19-33) when the king had heard the words of the law, &c.--(See on Kg2 22:11-20; Kg2 23:1-3).
Chapter introductions and general notes (1)
Matthew Henry · ch. 34
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Before we see Judah and Jerusalem ruined we shall yet see some glorious years, while good Josiah sits at the helm. By his pious endeavours for reformation God tried them yet once more; if they had known in this their day, the day of their visitation, the things that belonged to their peace and improved them, their ruin might have been prevented. But after this reign they were hidden from their eyes, and the next reigns brought an utter desolation upon them. In this chapter we have, I. A general account of Josiah's character (Ch2 34:1, Ch2 34:2). II. His zeal to root out idolatry (Ch2 34:3-7). III. His care to repair the temple (Ch2 34:8-13). IV. The finding of the book of the law and the good use made of it (Ch2 34:14-28). V. The public reading of the law to the people and their renewing their covenant with God thereupon (Ch2 34:29-33). Much of this we had 2 Kings 22.
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