And they put it in the hand of the workmen that had the oversight of the house of the LORD, and they gave it to the workmen that wrought in the house of the LORD, to repair and amend the house:
2 CHRONICLES 34:10KJVWhat does 2 Chronicles 34:10 mean?
2 Chronicles 34:10 describes how the money collected for temple repairs was handed over to the supervisors and workers responsible for fixing and restoring the house of the LORD. The verse emphasizes that the funds were given directly to those doing the actual repair work on the temple.
King Josiah’s officials are making sure that the money gathered from the people is used honestly and efficiently. The verse shows a practical step in Josiah’s temple restoration project, with trusted workers and overseers receiving the resources needed to repair and strengthen the temple building.
The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 34:10
- The word for “workmen” is עָשָׂה (‘asah, to do or make) and מְלָאכָה (melakhah, work or labor). This highlights that the people involved were skilled laborers actively engaged in the physical repairs.
- “Oversight” uses פָּקַד (paqad, to oversee or supervise), showing that there were supervisors making sure the work was done well and the resources were handled properly.
- “Repair” comes from חָרַשׁ (charash, to repair or engrave), suggesting careful, skilled restoration rather than just patching things up.
- “Amend” is from חָזַק (chazaq, to strengthen or make strong), pointing to the goal of making the temple sturdy and secure, not just fixing what was broken.
Why 2 Chronicles 34:10 matters
- This verse shows the practical, organized approach Josiah’s administration took to restore the temple, highlighting honesty and accountability in handling resources.
- The focus on both “repair” and “amend” suggests the work was thorough, aiming not only to fix but also to strengthen the temple for the future.
- 2 Chronicles 34:10 connects to the larger story of Josiah’s reforms, showing his commitment to restoring proper worship and respect for the house of the LORD.