Definition: And he gathered together the priests and the Levites, and said to them, Go out unto the cities of Judah, and gather of all Israel money to repair the house of your God from year to year, and see that ye hasten the matter. Howbeit the Levites hastened [it] not.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 2 Chronicles 24:5. It’s a really important passage about leadership and responsibility in ancient Israel. Here's what it means in simpler terms: The Basic Idea: This verse is telling the priests and Levites (a group of religious leaders) to actively work towards repairing the Temple in Jerusalem – a very significant place for worship and connection with God. It’s giving them a specific, urgent task. Let's unpack it piece by piece: “And he gathered together…” : This describes a meeting or gathering of people. “…the priests and the Levites…” : These are specific groups within the religious community – priests (responsible for rituals) and the Levites (who performed music, prayers, and other services). “…and said to them…” : The leader was speaking directly to these people. “Go out unto the cities of Judah…” : This is where the action begins. "Judah" refers to a specific region in Israel – probably the area around Jerusalem. It’s telling them to travel to this area. “…and gather of all Israel money…” : They need to collect every single piece of money from all the people living in the entire kingdom of Israel. This is a huge amount of money! “…to repair the house of your God from year to year…” : This is the core instruction – they need to put this money away regularly and dedicate it to rebuilding the Temple. "Repairing the house of your God" means restoring it to its original glory and purpose. “and see that ye hasten the matter.” : This is a crucial part. It means they must work quickly and efficiently to get the repairs done. It’s not just about doing it, but doing it with speed and urgency. “albeit the Levites hastened [it] not.” – This is the really interesting part. The Levites didn't rush or make a fuss about this task. They didn’t take it as seriously as the leaders did. What does this verse tell us? This verse speaks to a time of great importance and potential crisis for Israel. It highlights: Responsibility: The priests and Levites were entrusted with a large, critical responsibility – managing the financial resources needed to maintain the Temple and the religious community. Urgency: There was a pressing need to act quickly and decisively to address this situation. The verse stresses that it wasn't just about doing something; it was about doing it quickly . In essence, the verse is a call to action with a strong emphasis on urgency and diligent work. It’s a reminder of the importance of leadership and responsibility in maintaining sacred places and fulfilling religious obligations. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of this verse? Discuss the historical context of this passage? Give you a more detailed explanation of the significance of the Temple in ancient Israel?