I am using the daily Bible reading schedule from “The Bible.net” for my daily Bible reading. I had been using One Year Bible Online, but it was time for a change.

Today, I am reading and commenting on 2 Chronicles 23-25.

    The story here about what happened when Joash first attempted to have the Temple repaired is clearer than the account in 2 Kings. Joash first told the priests and Levites to go to the towns throughout Judah to collect the offering required by the Law and use it to repair the Temple. When they did not do so, Joash ordered that a chest be placed at the entrance to the Temple. He then sent a proclamation out reminding people that they were required by the Law of Moses to make the offering. The people received this proclamation joyously and proceeded to bring their offerings to the Temple. The passage does not say so, but I suspect that the reason the Levites did not go out and collect the offerings was because the people would have disliked such an action. However, when the proclamation went out, those who were offended by donating to the Temple just ignored it, while those who wanted to support the Temple were happy to do so. Additionally, since it was up to the people to bring their offerings to the Temple they were able to do so when it best suited their finances rather than being pressured to do so when the Levites arrived in their town.