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Later, Joash decided to ·repair [restore] the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord. He ·called [assembled; summoned] the priests and the Levites together and said to them, “Go to the towns of Judah and gather the annual offering. Use it to repair the ·Temple [L house] of your God. Do this ·now [quickly; immediately].” But the Levites ·did not hurry [delayed].

So King Joash ·called for [summoned] Jehoiada the leading priest and said to him, “Why haven’t you made the Levites bring in from Judah and Jerusalem the tax money that Moses, the Lord’s servant, and the people of Israel used for the ·Holy Tent [L tent/tabernacle of the testimony/covenant]?”

In the past the sons of wicked Athaliah had broken into the ·Temple [L house] of God and used its ·holy things [sacred/dedicated objects] for worshiping the Baal idols.

King Joash commanded that a ·box for contributions [chest] be made. They put it outside, at the gate of the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord. Then the Levites made an ·announcement [proclamation; edict] in Judah and Jerusalem, telling people to bring to the Lord the ·tax money [levy] Moses, the servant of God, had made the Israelites give while they were in the ·desert [wilderness]. 10 All the ·officers [leaders; officials] and people ·were happy to bring [rejoiced and brought] their ·money [levies; contributions], and they put it in the box until the box was full. 11 When the Levites would take the box to the king’s ·officers [officials; accountants], they would see that ·it was full [there was a lot] of money. Then the king’s ·royal secretary [scribe] and the ·leading [chief; high] priest’s officer would come and ·take out the money [empty the chest] and return ·the box [L it] to its place. They did this ·often [L day after day] and gathered much money. 12 King Joash and Jehoiada gave the money to the people who worked on the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord. And they hired ·stoneworkers [masons] and carpenters to ·repair [restore] the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord. They also hired people to work with iron and bronze to ·repair [restore] the ·Temple [L house].

13 The people worked hard, and the work to ·repair [restore] the ·Temple [L house] ·went well [progressed]. They ·rebuilt [restored] the ·Temple [L house] of God ·to be as it was before [according to its original design/specifications], but even stronger. 14 When the workers finished, they brought the money that was left to King Joash and Jehoiada. They used that money to make ·utensils [articles] for the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord, ·utensils [articles] for the service in the ·Temple [L house] and for the burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17], and ·bowls [pans; ladles] and other ·utensils [articles] from gold and silver. Burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] were ·given every day [offered/sacrificed continually] in the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord ·while Jehoiada was alive [L all the days of Jehoiada].

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