2 Chronicles · Chapter 23

Verse 1. And in the seventh year] See on 2 Kings 11:4, &c.

Verse 1. And took the captains of hundreds — Not all, but those here following, in whom he put most trust. But the contents of this chapter, in general, having occurred 2 Kings 11., where they are explained, little need be said on them here.

Verse 2. And gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah — Because he knew them to be well affected to the cause of God and the king, to which they were bound by the two strongest ties, conscience and interest: and because he could collect them without any suspicion, it being their duty to attend at Jerusalem at the solemn feasts, the time of one which was probably chosen for this purpose. And the chief of the fathers Israel — Judah is here called Israel, as in several other places. They came to Jerusalem — To settle their resolutions with Jehoiada.

Verses 4, 5. A third part of you shall be porters of the doors — Or rather, guards at the gates, to prevent any of Athaliah’s party from entering into the temple. At the gate of the foundation — So called, because it stood lower than the rest of the doors, at the foot of the steps by which they went up from the king’s house to the temple. And all the people shall be in the courts — In the two courts; for by the people here he seems to intend both the generality of the Levites, who had no particular station assigned them, such as their brethren had, and who were to be in the court of the priests, and the people who were in the court of the people.

V. 5. Foundation-At the east gate, so called because it stood lower than the rest of the doors at the foot of the steps, by which they went up from the king’s house to the temple.

Verses 4, 5. A third part of you shall be porters of the doors — Or rather, guards at the gates, to prevent any of Athaliah’s party from entering into the temple. At the gate of the foundation — So called, because it stood lower than the rest of the doors, at the foot of the steps by which they went up from the king’s house to the temple. And all the people shall be in the courts — In the two courts; for by the people here he seems to intend both the generality of the Levites, who had no particular station assigned them, such as their brethren had, and who were to be in the court of the priests, and the people who were in the court of the people.

Verse 6. Let none come into the house of the Lord — Strictly so called, and distinguished from the courts just mentioned, namely, into the sanctuary, or holy place. Save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites — Who are to minister in course, or according to my present appointment. They shall go in, for they are holy — They have been consecrated to the service of God, and are bound to attend there. But all the people shall keep the watch of the Lord — That is, of the house of the Lord, as is expressed 2 Kings 11:6. The meaning is, Let them stand in their court to prevent and oppose any person that shall endeavour violently to break into the house, to seize upon the king, or to oppose the present work, which he expected Athaliah and her accomplices would do.

Verse 9. Spears and bucklers] See on 2 Kings 11:10.

V. 11. His sons-And Zechariah among the rest, whom afterwards he ungratefully slew, 2 Chronicles 24:21.

Verse 11. God save the king.] May the king live! See on 2 Kings 11:12.

Verse 11. Jehoiada and his sons anointed him — Among which sons was Zechariah, whom he afterward most ungratefully slew.

V. 13. Rejoiced-To see a rod sprung out of the stem of Jesse! To see what they despaired of ever seeing, a king of the house of David.

Verse 13. All the people rejoiced — To see a rod sprung out of the stem of Jesse! To see what they despaired of ever seeing, a king of the house of David.

Verse 14. And whoso followeth her, let him be slain with the sword.] He who takes her part, or endeavours to prevent the present revolution, let him be immediately slain.

Verse 15. Of the horse-gate] See on 2 Kings 11:16.

V. 16. Him-The Lord, as is expressed, 2 Kings 11:17.

Verse 16. Made a covenant between him] The high priest was, on this occasion, the representative of GOD; whom both the people and the king must have had in view, through the medium of his priest.

Verse 16. Jehoiada made a covenant between him, &c. — In 2 Kings 11:17, it is said, Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, and the king, and the people. Here it is said to be made between him, the people, and the king. But the two passages do not contradict each other. For Jehoiada, as God’s priest, was his representative in this transaction, or a sort of mediator, as Moses was. God covenanted by him to take them for his people; and the king and people covenanted with him to be his; and then the king covenanted with the people to govern them as the people of God; and the people with the king, to be subject to him as the Lord’s people, in his fear, and for his sake. For it must be observed, that this covenant, and others made in like manner, were solemn promises on the part of the Jewish king and people, that, for the future, they would observe God’s laws: in return to which the high-priest promised, on the part of God, that, if they did so, they should enjoy all the blessings promised in those divine laws to obedience.

Verse 17. Mattan the priest] The Targum will not prostitute the term priest, but calls him armwk cumera, priestling.

V. 18. Appointed-Or, as it is in the Hebrew, put the offices of the house of the Lord into the hand, that is, he restored the priests and Levites to the exercise of their office.

Verse 18. Jehoiada appointed the offices, &c. — Or rather, restored, for there was no new appointment of offices or officers, but the old officers were restored to their respective offices. The Hebrew literally translated is, He put the offices of the house of the Lord into the hand of the priests, &c. For in the time of the idolatrous kings, and of Athaliah, those offices had probably been disposed of to persons of other tribes, partly to gratify their wicked friends, and partly to bring God’s house and worship into disgrace.

V. 21. Rejoiced, &c.-The generality of the people rejoiced, the rest were quiet and made no opposition. When the Son of David is enthroned in the soul, all therein is quiet, and springs of joy are opened.

Verse 21. The city was quiet] There was no attempt at a counter-revolution. Concerning the coronation of Joash, there is a curious circumstance mentioned by the Targumist on 2 Chronicles 23:11, it is as follows:—

“And they brought forth the son of the king, and put on him the royal crown which David took from the head of the king of the children of Ammon. In it was inserted the precious attracting stone, in which was engraven and expressed the great and honourable NAME [hwhy] which David had placed there by the Holy Spirit: and it was of the weight of a talent of gold; it was therefore a testimony to the house of David that no king who was not of the seed of David should be able to put it on his head, nor be able to bear its weight. When, therefore, the people saw it placed on the head of Joash, and that he was able to bear this crown, they believed him to be of the seed of David, and immediately constituted him king. Therefore Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, May the king be prosperous in his kingdom!”

The Jews say that this was the crown of the king of the Ammonites; and that it was always worn afterwards by the kings of the house of Judah. See Jarchi on this place.

II CHRONICLES

Verse 21. All the people rejoiced: and the city was quiet — The generality of the people rejoiced, the rest were quiet, and made no opposition. When the son of David is enthroned in the soul, all therein is quiet, and springs of joy are opened.

Verse 21. The people of the land rejoiced. This revolution, in the hands of so venerable a man as Jehoiada, was effected with the same ease as sailors change at the helm. The people had confidence in their priest.