2 Kings 12:14 MEANING

(14) But they gave that to the workmen.--Literally, for to the doers of the work they used to give it, and they used to repair, &c. In Chronicles it is added that, after the repairs were finished, the money that was left was applied to the purpose of making "spoons and vessels of gold and silver" for the house of the Lord. This certainly has the appearance of having been added to the original account, for the purpose of edifying the chronicler's contemporaries. He may, however, have found it in the compilation on which he mainly depended.

Verse 14. - But they gave that - i.e., the whole money contributed - to the workmen - equivalent to "the carpenters, builders, masons, hewers of stone," etc., mentioned in vers. 11, 12 - and repaired therewith the house of the Lord; i.e. expended the money on the repairs.

12:1-16 It is a great mercy to young people, especially to all young men of rank, like Jehoash, to have those about them who will instruct them to do what is right in the sight of the Lord; and they do wisely and well for themselves, when willing to be counselled and ruled. The temple was out of repair; Jehoash orders the repair of the temple. The king was zealous. God requires those who have power, to use it for the support of religion, the redress of grievances, and repairing of decays. The king employed the priests to manage, as most likely to be hearty in the work. But nothing was done effectually till the twenty-third year of his reign. Another method was therefore taken. When public distributions are made faithfully, public contributions will be made cheerfully. While they were getting all they could for the repair of the temple, they did not break in upon the stated maintenance of the priests. Let not the servants of the temple be starved, under colour of repairing the breaches of it. Those that were intrusted did the business carefully and faithfully. They did not lay it out in ornaments for the temple, till the other work was completed; hence we may learn, in all our expenses, to prefer that which is most needful, and, in dealing for the public, to deal as we would for ourselves.But they gave that to the workmen, and repaired therewith the house of the Lord. They took care that the workmen should first be paid for the repairs of the temple.