And the king called for Jehoiada the chief, and said unto him, Why hast thou not required of the Levites to bring in out of Judah and out of Jerusalem the collection, according to the commandment of Moses the servant of the LORD, and of the congregation of Israel, for the tabernacle of witness?

2 CHRONICLES 24:6KJV
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2 Chronicles 24:6 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 24:6 mean?

2 Chronicles 24:6 shows King Joash questioning Jehoiada the chief priest about why the Levites have not collected the required offerings from Judah and Jerusalem for the upkeep of the tabernacle, as Moses had commanded. The verse highlights the king’s concern that the religious duties given by God through Moses are not being properly carried out.

In this scene, King Joash is speaking directly to Jehoiada, who is the leading priest at the time. The king notices that the Levites, the tribe assigned to religious service, have not gathered the contributions needed for the "tabernacle of witness"—the sacred tent where God’s presence was believed to dwell. This moment takes place during a period of temple repairs, and Joash is holding the religious leaders accountable to the ancient instructions given to Moses for the support of worship in Israel.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 24:6

  • "collection" (הַמַּשְּׂאָה, ha-massa’ah): This word refers to a specific offering or contribution. Here, it points to the special collection Moses commanded for the maintenance of the tabernacle, not just any general offering.
  • "tabernacle" (הַמִּשְׁכָּן, ha-mishkan) and "witness" (הָעֵדוּת, ha-edut): Together, "tabernacle of witness" refers to the tent where the tablets of the covenant were kept, emphasizing its role as a testimony of God’s agreement with Israel.
  • "required" (דָּרַשׁ, darash): This word often means to seek or demand. Here, it shows the king expects Jehoiada to actively ensure the Levites fulfill their duty, not just passively wait for it to happen.

Why 2 Chronicles 24:6 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the responsibility for maintaining worship and the temple was not just a priestly matter but also something the king was expected to oversee, showing the partnership between religious and civic leadership in ancient Israel.
  • By referencing Moses and the original command, the verse connects Joash’s reforms to the foundational laws of Israel, grounding his actions in long-standing tradition rather than new ideas.
  • The verse highlights the importance of accountability among leaders, as even respected figures like Jehoiada are questioned when duties are neglected.

Where else these words appear

“collection” Hebrew H4864 · used in 14 verses

  • Genesis 43:34 And he took and sent messes unto them from before him: but Benjamin's mess was five times so much as any of theirs. And they drank, and were merry with him.
  • 2 Chronicles 24:9 And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem, to bring in to the LORD the collection that Moses the servant of God laid upon Israel in the wilderness.
  • Jeremiah 40:5 Now while he was not yet gone back, he said, Go back also to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, whom the king of Babylon hath made governor over the cities of Judah, and dwell with him among the people: or go wheresoever it seemeth convenient unto thee to go. So the captain of the guard gave him victuals and a reward, and let him go.

“Jehoiada” Hebrew H3077 · used in 48 verses

  • 2 Samuel 8:18 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers.
  • 1 Kings 4:4 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the host: and Zadok and Abiathar were the priests:
  • 2 Chronicles 23:8 So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.

“witness” Hebrew H5715 · used in 57 verses

  • Exodus 16:34 As the LORD commanded Moses, so Aaron laid it up before the Testimony, to be kept.
  • Exodus 40:20 And he took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the staves on the ark, and put the mercy seat above upon the ark:
  • 2 Kings 23:3 And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.

“congregation” Hebrew H6951 · used in 116 verses

  • Genesis 28:3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people;
  • 1 Kings 8:22 And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven:
  • Nehemiah 7:66 The whole congregation together was forty and two thousand three hundred and threescore,