By the twenty-third year of the reign of Joash, however, the priests had not yet repaired the damage to the temple.
We have here an account of the repairing of the temple in the reign of Joash. I. It seems, the temple had gone out of repair. Though Solomon built it very strong, of the best materials and in the best manner, yet in time it went to decay, and there were breaches found in it (Kg2 12:5), in the roofs, or walls, or floors, the...
Commenting on 2 Kings 12:4-16
And the priests consented to receive no more money of the people,.... And delivered up what they had: neither to repair the breaches of the house; being very willing to be stop both services, and especially since they seemed to be suspected.
In the three and twentieth year - In what year Jehoash gave the orders for these repairs, we cannot tell; but the account here plainly intimates that they had been long given, and that nothing was done, merely through the inactivity and negligence of the priests; see Ch2 24:6.