[II Kings, 11:17–12:17]
“Jehoiada made a covenant” [11:17]. The priest made a covenant and an oath between Israel and king Jehoash. The story was as follows. One king was named Ahaziah and his mother was called Athaliah. Ahaziah died and left behind several children. Athaliah had the children killed and she became the queen of Israel by force. However, Yehosheva, the sister of Ahaziah, stole a son who was called Jehoash and hid him in the Temple because of Athaliah. He was hidden for six years and he was hidden with his wet nurse, who nursed him. Jehoash was hidden shortly after he was born. Athaliah was queen over Israel for six years. In the seventh year, Jehoiada the priest went with the secret and sought advice and he gathered a large group of people to kill Athaliah. The people stood with spears and swords in the Temple and the group was only priests. They took out Jehoash and they made him a crown for a king. They shouted and clapped with their hands saying; the king Jehoash should live. Athaliah heard shouting and she came to the Temple. She saw the king standing with his crown and with many people all around him, blowing trumpets and with great joy. She tore her clothes. Jehoiada immediately ordered that Athaliah should be killed. She was dragged out and killed outside the city. Jehoiada immediately made a covenant with Jehoash, the young king.1II Kings, 11:1–16.
“Then all the people of the land” [11:18]. The people went and destroyed and tore down the foreign gods and a priest called Mattan, who was the priest for the foreign gods, was killed.
“He took the captains” [11:19]. The priest Jehoiada took all the people and they led the king out of the Temple to the king’s house and on the royal throne.
“All the people rejoiced” [11:20]. All the people were happy with king Jehoash.
“Jehoash was seven years old” [12:1]. Jehoash was seven years old when he was made king and he was king in Jerusalem for forty years.
“Jehoash did” [12:3]. Jehoash did what was good in the eyes of the Holy One, because Jehoiada taught him to do good. However, as soon Jehoiada died, Israel and the captains came to Jehoash and said to him. You were inside the Temple for six years, where the high priest goes only once a year, only on Yom Kippur. He was in great danger and was only there for one hour. You, Jehoash, were in the same place for six years and nothing happened to you. You must be a god. They bowed down to him and considered him a god. The king let it happen, to have them bow down to him as a god.2Rashi, II Kings, 12:3.
“Jehoash said” [12:5]. Jehoash said to the priests. All the silver that is brought to the Temple; there are two types that are brought every year. The first type that is brought is the assessment coin that everyone from twenty onwards paid, the same silver coin. Then there is the other silver that is brought when someone makes a donation, to give silver to the Temple.
“Let the priests receive it” [12:6]. The king said: take all the silver, but you should repair the Temple, and that which is broken, is from the same money.
“The king called” [12:8]. The king called Jehoiada the priest and said to him: why did they not repair the Temple? Therefore, you should not accept any more silver, but it should be given to the Temple.
“The priests agreed” [12:9]. The priests agreed that they would not take silver and would also not repair the House.
“Jehoiada took” [12:10]. Jehoiada took a chest and made a hole in it so that whoever brought silver to the Temple could throw the silver into it. The chest became full of silver and the king’s scribe and the high priest came to count the silver. Those coins that were good, they tied up separately. The pieces of silver were made into coins, since they needed coins to pay the craftsmen to repair the Temple.
“They gave the money” [12:12]. They gave the money to hire woodchoppers and stonemasons and to those who build houses to repair the House and they did not make silver vessels in the Temple from the silver. They first had to repair the House and later made vessels in the Temple.
“No check was kept on the men” [12:16]. They did not ask these men who had the silver in their hands to give an account, since they did everything faithfully. From here our sages learn that they should not make an accounting of the managers of the charity funds, so that people should not say that he acted improperly with charity funds.3B. Baba Bathra, 9a.
“Money brought as a guilt offering and sin offering” [12:17]. When a person gave money to purchase a guilt offering or sin offering and something remained, it was not given to repair the House, but the priests took that silver and bought sacrifices, for appropriate sacrifices.