Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

The collection was not to be made in Jerusalem only, but in all “the cities of Judah” 2 Chronicles 24:5; the various priests and Levites being collectors in their own neighborhoods.

Breaches - The word in the original includes every kind and degree of ruin or dilapidation.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

Let the priests take it to them, every man of his acquaintance,.... Of those that were most known by them; for the priests had cities assigned them in several parts of the land, and they that dwelt with them in them, or in the parts adjacent to them, were best known by them; and they were sent into all the cities, some to one and some to another, where they were most acquainted, to collect money, both what was due by law, and what the people should freely give, see 2 Chronicles 24:5.

and let them repair the breaches of the house, wheresoever any breach shall be found: that is, of the temple, which, according to the Jewish chronology^F9Seder Olam Rabba, c. 18. , had been built but one hundred and fifty five years; and being built very strong, would have needed no considerable repairs as yet, but that it had been broken up and misused by Athaliah and her sons, 2 Chronicles 24:7.

Geneva Study Bible

(d) For the temple which was built a hundred and fifty-five years before, had many things decayed in it, both by the negligence of the king's predecessors, and also by the wickedness of the idolaters.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

2 Kings 12:5 Let the priests take [it] to them, every man of his acquaintance: and let them repair the breaches of the house, wheresoever any breach shall be found.

Ver. 5. And let them repair the breaches of the house.] Labes domus, rupturas, fissuras, scissuras, such as the temple had contracted, either by antiquity, for it had stood one hundred and fifty-five years, or by the iniquity of the times. See 2 Chronicles 24:7.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

Let the priests take it to them; let them go abroad through all the parts of the land, as they have acquaintance and interest, and gather up the money, and bring it to Jerusalem.

Wheresoever any breach shall be found; either through decay, or by ill accidents, or by the malice of Athaliah or her relations; of which see 2 Chronicles 24:7.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

5.Every man of his acquaintance — From this, and more particularly from Chronicles, (2 Kings 12:5,) it appears that the priests and Levites were not to wait at the temple to receive contributions, but were to “go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of God from year to year.” But this method failed, probably because the priests took little interest in the measure, and received little or no more than was sufficient for their own subsistence. The people, too, seemed little inclined to fall in with this measure, for when a new method was adopted, and a chest set by the temple to receive their offerings, they “rejoiced, and brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end.” 2 Chronicles 24:8-10. So in other ages of the Church, travelling agents sent forth to collect funds have often cost more than the amounts they collected, and have injured the cause besides.

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments

2 Kings 12:5. Let the priests take it to them, &c. — Let them go abroad through all the parts of the land, as they have acquaintance and interest, and gather up the money, and bring it to Jerusalem. Let them repair, &c., wheresoever any breach shall be found — Either through decay, or by ill accidents; or by the malice of Athaliath, or her relations; of which see 2 Chronicles 24:7.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Order. Hebrew, "acquaintance." Let them receive the contributions on the spot where they reside; or, let those who are on duty in the temple take them. (Calmet) --- Thing. Hebrew, "breach," badek, a term which the Septuagint retain. (Haydock)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(5) Every man of his acquaintance.—See 2 Chronicles 24:5. From that passage it is evident that the chronicler understood that the priests were required to collect such moneys, each in his own city and district, year by year. Our text, taken alone, would seem to imply that persons going to the Temple to have the value of vows estimated, or to make free-will offerings, resorted to the priests whom they knew. (The word rendered “acquaintance” only occurs in this account.)

The breaches of the house.—The dilapidations of the Temple were serious, not because of its age—it had only stood about 130 years—but owing to the wanton attacks of Athaliah and her sons (comp. 2 Chronicles 24:7), who had, moreover, diverted the revenues of the sanctuary to the support of the Baalworship.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Let the priests

2 Chronicles 24:5

let them repair

12; 22:5,6; 1 Kings 11:27; 2 Chronicles 24:7; Isaiah 58:12