And when they came to Hilkiah the high priest,.... To whom they were sent to advise with about the repair of the temple: they delivered the money that was brought into the house of God; that is, the high priest, and the Levites the doorkeepers, gave it to the king's ministers; which money was either brought to the temple voluntarily, as the free gifts of the people, for the repairs; or rather what was collected by the Levites, sent throughout the land for that purpose, or it may be both: which the Levites that kept the doors; of the temple; and received the money as the people brought it: and also had gathered of the hand of Manasseh and Ephraim, and of all the remnant of Israel, and of all Judah, and Benjamin; they went throughout all the land of Israel and Judah, and collected money for the above purpose: and they returned to Jerusalem; with it, which the high priest took the sum of, see Kg2 22:4 of whom the king's ministers now received it.