John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 5. And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work , that have the oversight of the house of the Lord , etc.] That were overseers of the workmen, whose names are mentioned, ( 2 Chronicles 34:12) into their hands the money was to be delivered by the high priest, when he had taken the account of it, and perhaps along with the king’s scribe, (see Kings 12:10), and let them give it to the doers of the work, which is in the house of the Lord, to repair the breaches of the house as their wages for their work; it seems it had not been repaired from the times of Jehoash, a space of two hundred and eighteen years, according to the Jewish chronology f256 ; but Kimchi and Abarbinel make it two hundred and twenty four.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-10 - The different event of Josiah's early succession from that of Manasseh must be ascribed to the distinguishing grace of God; yet probably the persons that trained him up were instruments in producing thi difference. His character was most excellent. Had the people joined in the reformation as heartily as he persevered in it, blessed effect would have followed. But they were wicked, and had become fools in idolatry. We do not obtain full knowledge of the state of Judah from the historical records, unless we refer to the writings of the prophet who lived at the time. In repairing the temple, the book of the law wa found, and brought to the king. It seems, this book of the law was los and missing; carelessly mislaid and neglected, as some throw their Bibles into corners, or maliciously concealed by some of the idolaters God's care of the Bible plainly shows his interest in it. Whether thi was the only copy in being or not, the things contained in it were new both to the king and to the high priest. No summaries, extracts, or collections out of the Bible, can convey and preserve the knowledge of God and his will, like the Bible itself. It was no marvel that the people were so corrupt, when the book of the law was so scarce; the that corrupted them, no doubt, used arts to get that book out of their hands. The abundance of Bibles we possess aggravates our national sins for what greater contempt of God can we show, than to refuse to rea his word when put into our hands, or, reading it, not to believe an obey it? By the holy law is the knowledge of sin, and by the blesse gospel is the knowledge of salvation. When the former is understood in its strictness and excellence, the sinner begins to inquire, What mus I do to be saved? And the ministers of the gospel point out to his Jesus Christ, as the end of the law for righteousness to every one tha believeth.
Original Hebrew ויתנה5414 על5921 יד3027 עשׂי6213 המלאכה4399 המפקדים6485 בבית1004 יהוה3068 ויתנו5414 אתו853 לעשׂי6213 המלאכה4399 אשׁר834 בבית1004 יהוה3068 לחזק2388 בדק919 הבית׃1004
