Nevertheless, (A)the high places were not taken away; the people continued to sacrifice and make offerings on the high places.

Jehoash Repairs the Temple

Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the holy things (B)that is brought into the house of the Lord, the money for which each man is assessed—the money from the assessment of persons—and (C)the money that a man's heart prompts him to bring into the house of the Lord, let the priests take, each from his donor, and let them repair the house wherever any need of repairs is discovered.” But by the twenty-third year of King Jehoash, the priests had made no repairs on the house. Therefore King Jehoash summoned Jehoiada the priest and the other priests and said to them, “Why are you not repairing the house? Now therefore take no more money from your donors, but hand it over for the repair of the house.” So the priests agreed that they should take no more money from the people, and that they should not repair the house.

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The high places,(A) however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

Joash said to the priests, “Collect(B) all the money that is brought as sacred offerings(C) to the temple of the Lord—the money collected in the census,(D) the money received from personal vows and the money brought voluntarily(E) to the temple. Let every priest receive the money from one of the treasurers, then use it to repair(F) whatever damage is found in the temple.”

But by the twenty-third year of King Joash the priests still had not repaired the temple. Therefore King Joash summoned Jehoiada the priest and the other priests and asked them, “Why aren’t you repairing the damage done to the temple? Take no more money from your treasurers, but hand it over for repairing the temple.” The priests agreed that they would not collect any more money from the people and that they would not repair the temple themselves.

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