The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 417

Vers. 8-13.-The repairing of the 'temple by Josiah. I. THE ooMMIBBIONERS. 1. Thei,r names. Shaphan the son of Azaliah, the king's secretary (ver. 15); Maaseiah the governor of the city; and Joah the son of Joahaz, the rocorder or chronicler. 2. Their lrusiness. To repair the house of the Lord. This had been done two centuries before by Joash (eh. xriv. 12), and nearly one century before by Hezekiah (eh. xxix. 12-19). During the reigns of Manasseh and Amon it had fallen into such disorder that it a third time demanded renovation. In this respect the temple was a. melan- choly symbol of all human institutions-not excepting such as are religious-which constantly exhibit a tendency as they grow old to become degenerate, and, as a conse- q nence stand in need of periodic reformation and rejuvenescence. 3. Their proce- dure. Along with Hilkiah the priest-as Joash had acted in concert with Jehoiada, and the king's scribe had co-operated with the high priest's officer (eh. xxiv. 11, 12) -they received the money which the Levites that kept the temple doors had col- lected from the people of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and from the inhabitants of all Judah aud Benjamin, who, following the plan in vogue since the days of Joash and Jehoiada., cast in their free-will offerings into a box placed in the temple court for the purpose of receiving the voluntary contributions of the faithful towards the good end the king had in view, the repairing of the temple. Having received this money, the three commissioners, along with the high priest, paid it over to the superintendents who had the oversight of the house of the Lord. IL THE OVERSEERS. 1. Their names. (1) Jahath and Obadiah, two Levites of the family of Merari; (2) Zachariah and Meshullam, two Levites of the house of Kohath ; and (3) others unnamed, but specified as "Levites, all that could skill of instruments of music" (ver. 12). 2. Their duties. (1) To exercise supervision over the workmen, over the bearers of burdens, and all that wrought in any manner of service (ver. 13), over the carpenters, builders, and other artisans engaged in the undertaking (ver. 11). (2) To set forward the work (ver. 12), or "to preside over it" (margin). (3) Perhaps also to do both, i.e. incite and cheer the workmen, and so prosper the work, by music and song (Berthean). "Orpheus and .Amphion, by their music, moved the workmen to diligence and activity, and lessened and alleviated their toil. May we not suppose, then, that skilful musicians among the Levites did exercise their art among the work- men who were employed in the repairs of the house of the Lord?" (Adam Clarke). (4) To distribute the moneys received from the commissioners to the different tradesmen that these might procure the necessary materials for the building (vers. 10, 11). III. THE ARTISANS. 1. Carpenters, or workers in wood, whose business was to pre- pare timber for couplings and to make beams for the houses, i.e. for the temple and its courts, which the king,; of Judah had permitted to fall into decay. 2. Masons, or Ctt. xxnv.1-83.] 'fHE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 423