4: And Jehoash said, &c. - Remembering that he owed his preservation
and restoration to the temple, and that he was made by God the guardian of
his temple, he now takes care to repair it. Dedicated things - The money
which had been either formerly or lately vowed or dedicated to the service
of God and of his house. That is brought - Or rather, that shall be
brought: for though the people might vow to bring it thither in
convenient time, yet it is not likely they would bring much money thither
in the tyrannical and idolatrous reign of Athaliah. The money - The
half shekel, which was paid for every one that was numbered from twenty
years old and upward. Is set at - Heb. the money of souls, or
persons according to his taxing, the money which every man that had
vowed his person to God, paid according to the rate which the priest put
upon him. That cometh - All that shall be freely offered.
15: Faithfully - For they perceived by many experiments that they
were faithful.
20: And slew Joash - We are told, in the Chronicles, that his
murdering the prophet, Jehoiada's son, was the provocation. In this,
how unrighteous so ever they were, yet the Lord was righteous. And this
was not the only time, that he let even kings know, it was at their peril,
if they touched his anointed, or did his prophets any harm. Thus
fell Joash, who began in the spirit, and ended in the flesh.
And indeed God usually sets marks of his displeasure upon apostates, even
in this life.
