Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem for forty years. His mother was Zibiah from Beersheba. Joash did what was pleasing in the Lord’s sight throughout the lifetime of Jehoidada the priest. Jehoiada chose two wives for Joash, and he had sons and daughters. As one point Joash decided to repair and restore the Temple of the Lord. He summoned the priests and Levites and gave them these instructions: “Go to all the towns of Judah and collect the required annual offerings so that we can repair the Temple of your God. Do not delay!” But the Levites did not act immediately. (vv. 1-5 NLT)
Over the years the followers of the wicked Athaliah had broken into the Temple of God, and they had used all the dedicated things from the Temple of the Lord to worship the image of Baal.
So the king ordered a chest to be made and set outside the gate leading to. the Temple of the Lord. Then a proclamation was sent throughout Judah and Jerusalem, telling the people to bring to the Lord the tax that Moses, the servant of God, had required of the Israelites in the wilderness. This pleased all the leaders and the people, and they gladly brought their money and filled the chest with it. (vv. 7-10, NLT)