(9) And they made a proclamation.—Literally, uttered a voice (or cry) in Judah. The phrase (nathan qôl) occurs here only in this sense. (Comp. Proverbs 1:20.)

To bring in to the Lord.—Comp. 2Chronicles 24:6. The meaning is, To bring into the Temple, for the Lord.

The collection.—Tax, or impost.

This verse, and the next one also, are peculiar to the chronicle. The writer is fond of dwelling on the willingness of the people in the good old time to contribute to the cause of religion; doubtless, by way of suggestion to his own contemporaries. (Comp. 1Chronicles 29:6; 1Chronicles 29:9; 1Chronicles 29:14.)

In Kings we read: “And the priests, the warders of the threshold, used to put into it all the money that was brought into the house of the Lord.”

Until they had made an end.—This is correct. The same phrase recurs, 2Chronicles 31:1. The ancient versions wrongly give “until it was filled.” Killāh does not mean “to make full,” as is asserted in Lange’s Commentary, but to finish any action.

24:1-14 Joash is more zealous about the repair of the temple than Jehoiada himself. It is easier to build temples, than to be temples to God. But the repairing of places for public worship is a good work, which all should promote. And many a good work would be done that now lies undone, if active men would put it forward.It appears from 2 Kings 12:4 that Joash had assigned to the restoration-fund two other payments also. 4-14. Joash was minded to repair the house of the Lord—(See on [451]2Ki 12:4-16). i.e. A collection answerable to it; as they are said to be guilty of the error of Balaam and gainsaying of Core, Judges 1:11, who fell into sins of the same kind.

And they made a proclamation through Judah and Jerusalem,.... By heralds appointed for the purpose:

to bring in to the Lord; into the house of the Lord, and for the reparation of it; and so for his service, honour, and glory:

the collection that Moses the servant of the Lord laid upon Israel in the wilderness; not to bring in the tabernacle of Moses, as the Targum here and in 2 Chronicles 24:6, but such a voluntary gift as Moses moved the children of Israel to bring, when in the wilderness, for the service of the tabernacle.

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.