דברי הימים ב, פרק כ״ד, פסוק ז׳

A grand and sturdy structure built by King Solomon should not have required major repairs after a relatively short period. The sudden need for a comprehensive renovation of the Temple during the reign of King Joash stems from a period of intense physical and spiritual decay. The damage was not the result of natural wear and tear over time, but rather the outcome of intentional sabotage. To prove this point, history shows that after Joash completed his repairs, the building stood firm for over two hundred years until the days of King Josiah without needing any further structural reinforcement [רש״י, רד״ק].

The blame for this ruin falls squarely on the wicked Athaliah and her sons. These sons were born to her from another man, not the king, and they actively collaborated with their mother to corrupt the holy site [רד״ק, מצודת דוד]. Together, they physically broke down the walls and vandalized the building [מצודת ציון], while violently looting its sacred treasures [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

This deliberate destruction also explains why King Joash had to initiate a massive public fundraising campaign to pay for the restorations. Athaliah and her sons had taken the dedicated funds and sacred objects from the Temple and repurposed them for idol worship, specifically offering them to the Baals. Consequently, the Temple treasury was drained, leaving insufficient money to finance the necessary repairs [רש״י, מצודת דוד, רד״ק].

Although it might seem that absolutely every sacred item was stolen, the historical account in the Book of Kings indicates that a small number of dedicated objects did survive. However, King Joash specifically chose not to sell or use these remaining items to fund the construction work. He wanted to ensure that God's treasury was not left entirely bare, which is why he relied on the generosity of the public instead [רד״ק].