Treasury (of Temple)
Treasury (of Temple)
trezhur-i (, ‘ocar, usually; , ganzakh, 1Ch 28:11; , gazophulakion, , korbanas):
1. Origin of the Treasury:
The need of a treasury in connection with the house of Yahweh would early be felt for the reception of the offerings of the people, of tithes, and of the spoils of war dedicated to Yahweh. Already in Jos 6:19, Jos 6:24, therefore, we read of a treasury of the house of Yahweh, into which the silver and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, taken at Jericho, were brought. In the reign of David, and in his plans for the future temple, great prominence is given to the treasuries. In 1Ch 26:20 ff are given the names of those who were over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things (the spoil won in battles, 1Ch 26:27), the latter being applied to repair the house of Yahweh.
2. The Solomonic Temple:
In David’s plans for Solomon the treasuries (ganzakkm) are mentioned with the porch, the houses, the upper rooms, the inner chambers of the Temple (1Ch 28:11); and the same distinction is made of the treasuries (‘oceroth) of the house of God, and the treasuries of the dedicated things (1Ch 28:12). In the accounts of the actual building of the Temple, treasuries are not mentioned, but subsequent notices give ample evidence of their existence. In the narratives of the repeated plunderings of the Temple (see TEMPLE), constant allusion is made to the carrying away of the treasures of the house of Yahweh and the treasures of the king’s house or palace (1Ki 14:26; 1Ki 15:15, 1Ki 15:18; 2Ki 12:18; 2Ki 14:14; 2Ki 16:8; 2Ki 18:15; 2Ki 24:13). In the episode of Jehoash’s repair of the Temple (2 Ki 12; 2 Ch 24), we have a refreshing glimpse of the presence and uses of the treasury; but this brighter gleam is soon swallowed up again in darkness. Of the larger store-chambers we get a glance in Jeremiah, where we are told that the house of the king was under the treasury (Jer 38:11), i.e. on a lower level under the south wall.
3. The Second Temple:
The Book of Neh introduces us to treasury-chambers in the second temple – now used for the voluntary offerings (tithes) of the people – grain, and wine, and oil (Neh 13:4 ff; compare Mal 3:10). A certain Meshullam had repaired the city wall over against his chamber (Neh 3:30), and he, with other Levites, kept the watch at the storehouses of the gates (Neh 12:25). These gates were probably gates of exit on the southern side, as in the Herodian temple.
4. Herod’s Temple in the New Testament:
In Herod’s temple the name treasury was specially given to the court of the women (see TEMPLE, HEROD’S), where were 13 trumpet-shaped boxes for the reception of the offerings of the worshippers. It was here that Jesus saw the poor widow cast in her two mites (Mar 12:41; Luk 21:1-4), and the court is expressly named the treasury in Joh 8:20 : These words spake he in the treasury, as he taught in the temple. It is a legitimate deduction that this court was the ordinary scene of the Lord’s ministry when teaching in the temple. See also TREASURE, TREASURER, TREASURY.