The funding mechanism — the collection chest — 'And the king commanded, and they made a chest, and set it outside the gate of the house of the LORD. And a proclamation was made throughout Judah and Jerusalem to bring in to the LORD the levy that Moses the servant of God had imposed on Israel in the wilderness' (ויצו המלך ויעשׂו אשׁכול אחד ויתנו אתו מחוץ לשׁער בית יהוה וירוא קול ביהודה וירושׁלם להביא ליהוה את מס משׁה עבד אלהים אשׁר הטיל על ישׁראל במדבר). Joash's practical solution — placing a chest outside the temple gate (מחוץ לשׁער בית יהוה) for collections — proves more effective than the Levites' efforts. A proclamation (קול, voice/announcement) is made throughout Judah and Jerusalem, invoking the Mosaic levy. The assembly is reminded of the ancient law; compliance is framed as covenantal obligation. The king's initiative succeeds where priestly administration had stalled.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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