2 Kings 22:5
And let them deliuer it into the hand of the doers of the worke, that haue the ouersight of the house of the Lord: and let them giue it to the doers of the worke, which is in the house of the Lord, to repaire the breaches of the house, 2 Kings 22:5 (KJV)
And let them deliver it into the hand of the doers of the work, that have the oversight of the house of the LORD: 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, 2 Kings 22:5 (KJV)
This verse is part of the narrative in 2 Kings that recounts the reign of King Josiah, who became king of Judah at the age of eight. During his reign Josiah implemented various reforms to restore the worship of the Lord and cleanse the land from idolatry. In 2 Kings 22 Josiah sent Shaphan the scribe to Hilkiah the high priest to count the money brought into the temple by the people and use it for repairs. As part of this work Hilkiah discovered the Book of the Law, presumably the Torah or a portion of it, in the temple after it had been lost or neglected for some time. When King Josiah heard the words of the Book of the Law read to him he tore his clothes in repentance because he realized that the people of Judah had not been following the commandments of God. In verse 5 Josiah instructed the officials to deliver the money into the hand of the doers of the work who had oversight of the house of the Lord, to repair the breaches thereof.
The verse emphasizes the responsibility and oversight of the house of the Lord. The “doers of the work” mentioned here refer to the individuals entrusted with the maintenance and repair of the temple, reminding us of the importance of taking care of the places of worship and ensuring they are in proper condition to honor God. The funds brought into the temple were to be used for a specific purpose—repairing the breaches in the temple—demonstrating the importance of financial stewardship and ensuring that resources are utilized appropriately for the work of God. The fact that the temple required repairs suggests a spiritual condition that needed to be addressed; the breaches symbolize neglect and disregard for God’s laws and commandments. King Josiah’s response to the rediscovery of the Book of the Law reflects his repentant heart and desire to restore proper worship.
This passage serves as a reminder that when we encounter God’s Word and realize areas where we have fallen short it is essential to respond with repentance and a desire for restoration. Just as King Josiah took immediate action to repair the breaches in the temple, we should be proactive in addressing any areas in our lives or communities where God’s commands have been neglected.
