2 Kings 12:4
French (La Bible expliquée)
Toutefois, il ne supprima pas les lieux sacrés; les gens continuaient d'y aller pour offrir des sacrifices d'animaux et brûler des parfums. Le bon roi Joas n'est qu'un enfant, au début de son règne, mais il est formé à bonne école: celle de la loi des prêtres. C'est la première fois, depuis son inauguration, qu'on parle de restaurer le temple de Salomon. Bien que le texte hébreu soit un peu embrouillé (v. 5-6), on apprend la création d'un fonds spécial par ordonnance royale: une partie des impôts cultuels et des offrandes volontaires, versés aux prêtres, doit être collectée par ceux-ci et réservée à cette restauration. Comme ils sont peu zélés pour cette tâche, le roi les en dessaisit pour la confier à des agents plus motivés et parfaitement honnêtes (v. 8-9, 16).
What Does This Mean?
King Jehoash is instructing the priests about the money that people bring to the house of the LORD. He wants to know about all the money that comes in, whether it's for special offerings or just money people want to give as a gift to God.
Explained for Children
Imagine you have a piggy bank where you put all your coins. King Jehoash wants to make sure the temple has a big piggy bank where people can put their money to help God's house. He tells the priests to keep track of all the money that comes in, just like you count your coins.
Historical Background
This verse is part of the Book of 2 Kings, written by various prophets around 560 BCE. It was written for the Israelites to remind them of their kings and their responsibilities to the Temple and God. The cultural setting was one of temple worship and maintaining the religious practices of the time.
Living It Out Today
Today, we can think about how we contribute to our churches or religious communities. Like Jehoash instructed about the money for the temple, we can consider what we donate or how we use our resources to support our places of worship and the people around us.
Topics
financeworshipleadershipdedicationreligious practicescommunity support
Related Verses
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Jehoash?
Jehoash was a king of Judah who reigned from 835 to 796 BCE. He was known for repairing the temple of Jerusalem.
What was the temple used for in Jehoash's time?
The temple was the central place of worship for the Israelites. It was where sacrifices were made and where the people would go to pray and seek God's guidance.
How does this verse relate to modern church practices?
This verse can be applied to how modern churches manage their finances and resources, emphasizing the importance of tracking and using funds for the right purposes, such as maintaining the church and supporting its community.
What does it mean to be 'set at' in this verse?
The phrase 'set at' likely refers to the valuation or appraisal of a person or object, indicating the amount of money one is willing to donate or the value placed on something dedicated to God.