2 Chronicles · Chapter 24

Verse 1. Joash was seven years old] As he was hidden six years in the temple, and was but seven when he came to the throne, he could have been but one year old when he was secreted by his aunt; see on 2 Chronicles 22:10.

Verse 1. Joash was seven years old, &c. — A great part of this chapter is explained in the notes on 2 Kings 12.

Verse 4. To repair the house of the Lord.] During the reigns of Joram and Athaliah, the temple of God had been pillaged to enrich that of Baal, and the whole structure permitted to fall into decay; see 2 Chronicles 24:7.

Verse 5. Gather of all Israel money] As the temple was the property of the whole nation, and the services performed in it were for the salvation of the people at large, it was right that each should come forward on an occasion of this kind, and lend a helping hand. This is the first instance of such a general collection for building or repairing a house of God. From year to year] It must have been in a state of great dilapidation, when it required such annual exertions to bring it into a thorough state of repair.

Verse 5. Gather of all Israel — Not only of the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, but of all the Israelites, belonging to any of the ten tribes, who are now resident in my kingdom: money to repair, &c., from year to year — That is, either, 1st, To repair part of it every year till the reparations were perfected: or, 2d, The money was to be gathered from year to year, till they got such a sum as might suffice for the work.

V. 6. The chief-It is observable, that he is not called the chief priest, or high-priest, but only the chief, or the head, which he might be in many other respects, either by reason of his near relation to the royal family: or because he was the chief of one of the twenty-four families.

Verse 6. The collection-of Moses] This was the poll-tax, fixed by Moses, of half a shekel, which was levied on every man from twenty years old and upward; and which was considered as a ransom for their souls, that there might be no plague among them. See Exodus 30:12-14.

Verse 6. The king called for Jehoiada the chief — It is observable, that he is not called the chief priest, or high-priest, but only the chief, or the head; which he might be in many other respects, either by reason of his near relation to the royal family, or because he was the chief of one of the twenty-four families. And the high-priest seems to be mentioned as a distinct person from Jehoiada, 2 Kings 12:9, 10; which things make it questionable whether Jehoiada was the high-priest or not.

Verse 6. The collection required by Moses for the erection of the tabernacle, of the half shekel. Dr. Lightfoot contends that it was but the half of the half shekel, the eighth part of an ounce.

V. 7. The sons-Ahaziah, and his brethren before they were carried away captive, 2 Chronicles 21:17, who did this by her instigation, as this phrase implies. Broke up-Both broke up the treasuries, and defaced the house itself.

Verse 7. The sons of Athaliah, &c. — To wit, Ahaziah and his brethren, before they were carried away captive, (2 Chronicles 21:17,) who did this by her instigation, as this phrase implies; had broken up the house of God — Had both broken up the treasures, and defaced the house itself. And the dedicated things did they bestow upon Baalim — Gave them, either to adorn the temples of those false gods, or to promote their worship.

Ver. 7. The sons of Athaliah that wicked woman had broken up the house of God. She had managed Ahaziah by her counsel, 2 Chronicles 22:3; and having done it during the time she swayed the sceptre, she would not be wanting to repeat the crime; or if she had sons by another husband, they could not be more than six or seven years of age.

Verse 8. They made a chest] See Clarke’s notes on the parallel places, “2 Kings 12:4”, &c.

Verses 8, 9. And set it at the gate of the house, &c. — That is, of the court of the people, whither all manner of persons might come to offer. To bring in to the Lord the collection that Moses laid upon Israel — That is, a collection answerable to it.

Verses 8, 9. And set it at the gate of the house, &c. — That is, of the court of the people, whither all manner of persons might come to offer. To bring in to the Lord the collection that Moses laid upon Israel — That is, a collection answerable to it.

V. 14. Vessels-Because Athaliah and her sons had taken the old ones away, ver. 7.

Verse 14. Whereof were made vessels for the house of the Lord — Because Athaliah and her sons had taken away the old ones.

V. 15. An hundred and thirty years old-By which it appears, that he was born in Solomon’s time, and had lived six entire reigns before this. They buried him among the kings, with this honourable encomium, (perhaps inscribed upon his grave-stone) that he had done good in Israel. But the little religion that Joash had, was all buried in his grave. See how great a judgment to any prince or people, the death of holy, useful men is!

Verses 15, 16. A hundred and thirty years old was he, &c. — By which it appears, that he was born in Solomon’s time, and had lived six entire reigns before this. They buried him among the kings — With this honourable encomium, (perhaps inscribed upon his grave-stone,) that he had done good in Israel — But the little religion that Joash had, was all buried in his grave. See how great a judgment, to any prince or people, the death of holy, useful men is! Both toward God, and toward his house — He had been an instrument in restoring the divine worship, which now, they were sensible, was a great blessing, and in repairing the decays which were in the temple, and furnishing it with vessels for the service of God. Verses 17. Came the princes of Judah — Some of the great men, who continued Baalites in their hearts; and made obeisance to the king — And in that posture presented their requests to him, that they might not be confined to troublesome journeys to Jerusalem, but might have the liberty, which their forefathers enjoyed, of worshipping God in the high places. This liberty once obtained, they knew they could worship idols without disturbance, which was the thing at which they aimed: and for the prevention of such abuses, God obliged all to worship him in one place. Then the king hearkened unto them — He consented to their request, that they might worship in the high places. For fair words and flatteries easily deceive princes, as Grotius here observes; and they wanted not specious reasons to persuade the king, not to be so strict as to insist on their worshipping only at the temple.

DEATH OF JEHOIADA, 15, 16.

15. A hundred and thirty years old — Longevity without parallel since the days of the patriarchs. Compare Genesis 47:9. A number of critics, however, regard the number as corrupt, and propose to substitute one hundred and three, or eighty-three. This aged priest had been as a sun and a shield to his people. He had preserved the royal seed of David from destruction, delivered the kingdom from the curse of Athaliah’s rule, exalted Joash to the throne, and counseled him in the ways of Jehovah, and lived long to guard and strengthen his reign. Well might a grateful people bury him “among the kings,” and remember and chronicle the “good” he had done in Israel. The death of this high priest is mentioned as the turning-point in the reign of Joash. When his priestly friend and counsellor was gone, he was soon led astray by evil advisers, and thus brought judgment upon himself and his people.

V. 16. Israel-In Judah, which was an eminent part of Israel, and the only part of it which owned God, or was owned by God as his Israel, to whom therefore he often appropriates this name.

Verse 16. They buried him-among the kings] He had, in fact, been king in Judah; for Joash, who appears to have been a weak man, was always under his tutelage. Jehoiada governed the state in the name of the king; and his being buried among the kings is a proof of the high estimation in which he was held among the people.

Verses 15, 16. A hundred and thirty years old was he, &c. — By which it appears, that he was born in Solomon’s time, and had lived six entire reigns before this. They buried him among the kings — With this honourable encomium, (perhaps inscribed upon his grave-stone,) that he had done good in Israel — But the little religion that Joash had, was all buried in his grave. See how great a judgment, to any prince or people, the death of holy, useful men is! Both toward God, and toward his house — He had been an instrument in restoring the divine worship, which now, they were sensible, was a great blessing, and in repairing the decays which were in the temple, and furnishing it with vessels for the service of God. Verses 17. Came the princes of Judah — Some of the great men, who continued Baalites in their hearts; and made obeisance to the king — And in that posture presented their requests to him, that they might not be confined to troublesome journeys to Jerusalem, but might have the liberty, which their forefathers enjoyed, of worshipping God in the high places. This liberty once obtained, they knew they could worship idols without disturbance, which was the thing at which they aimed: and for the prevention of such abuses, God obliged all to worship him in one place. Then the king hearkened unto them — He consented to their request, that they might worship in the high places. For fair words and flatteries easily deceive princes, as Grotius here observes; and they wanted not specious reasons to persuade the king, not to be so strict as to insist on their worshipping only at the temple.

DEATH OF JEHOIADA, 15, 16.

15. A hundred and thirty years old — Longevity without parallel since the days of the patriarchs. Compare Genesis 47:9. A number of critics, however, regard the number as corrupt, and propose to substitute one hundred and three, or eighty-three. This aged priest had been as a sun and a shield to his people. He had preserved the royal seed of David from destruction, delivered the kingdom from the curse of Athaliah’s rule, exalted Joash to the throne, and counseled him in the ways of Jehovah, and lived long to guard and strengthen his reign. Well might a grateful people bury him “among the kings,” and remember and chronicle the “good” he had done in Israel. The death of this high priest is mentioned as the turning-point in the reign of Joash. When his priestly friend and counsellor was gone, he was soon led astray by evil advisers, and thus brought judgment upon himself and his people.

V. 17. Made obeisance-In that posture presenting their requests to him, that they might not be confined to troublesome journeys to Jerusalem, but might have the liberty, which their fore-fathers enjoyed, os worshipping God in the high-places. This liberty once obtained, they knew they could worship idols without disturbance: which was the thing at which they aimed. And for the prevention of such abuses, God obliged all to worship him in one place.

Verse 17. The princes of Judah-made obeisance to the king] I believe the Targum has given the true sense of this verse: “After the death of Jehoiada, the great men of Judah came and adored King Joash, and seduced him; and then the king received from them their idols.”

DEFECTION AND WICKEDNESS OF THE KING AND THE PEOPLE, 17-22.

17. The princes of Judah — Whether these were the same who assisted in the overthrow of Athaliah, or a younger class of men, we have no means of knowing. Probably, however, they were the sons of those who helped Joash to the throne, and had grown tired of Jehoiada’s rigid observance of the law, and wished for a change.

V. 18. Left, &c.-The king and princes that awhile ago so zealously repaired the temple, now forsook the temple! So inconstant a thing is man! So little confidence is to be put in him!

Verse 18. And they left the house of the Lord God — The king and princes, who a while ago so zealously repaired the temple, now forsook the temple! So inconstant a thing is man! So little confidence is to be put in him! It is probable that these great men at first only worshipped in the groves and on the high places themselves; yet they had their emissaries, who persuaded the people to join with them. So that the house of God was soon deserted by them, and they proceeded to worship idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem — They were soon punished by the hand of Hazael, king of Syria.

18. They left — King and princes left, and multitudes of the people soon followed them. Left the house of the Lord — Forsook the temple service. Groves and idols — The Asherah worship involved idolatry. See note on 1 Kings 14:15.

Verse 19. Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again — God’s goodness was astonishing, in sending messengers to reclaim such a base people; whose wickedness was no less wonderful, in that they hearkened to the great men among them, rather than to those whom they knew to be true prophets of Jehovah.

DEFECTION AND WICKEDNESS OF THE KING AND THE PEOPLE, 17-22.

17. The princes of Judah — Whether these were the same who assisted in the overthrow of Athaliah, or a younger class of men, we have no means of knowing. Probably, however, they were the sons of those who helped Joash to the throne, and had grown tired of Jehoiada’s rigid observance of the law, and wished for a change.

V. 20. Who stood-The people were assembled in the court of the temple, which they had not quite forsook, when Zechariah stood up in some of the desks that were in the court of the priests, and plainly told them their sin, and the consequences of it.

Verse 20. And the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah] “When he saw the transgression of the king and of the people, burning incense to an idol in the house of the sanctuary of the Lord, on the day of expiation; and preventing the priests of the Lord from offering the burnt-offerings, sacrifices, daily oblations, and services, as written in the book of the law of Moses; he stood above the people, and said.”-Targum.

Verse 20. The Spirit of God came upon Zechariah, who stood above the people — He was moved by the Holy Spirit to address the people publicly, and to reprove them for their idolatries, and their departure from the worship of God, which that he might do, so as to be heard by all, he stood upon a high place, where they might both see and hear him, and from thence both testified against their sin, and warned them of the consequences of it. And said, Why transgress ye, &c. — It is remarkable, that, though he spake by the spirit of prophecy, yet he only applied the general prediction of Moses, Deuteronomy 31:16, 17, unto the present time; that they might all learn to pay a greater regard to Moses, and to make themselves better acquainted with his law; unto which, if they had attended, they would have easily discerned who were true prophets and who were false. Because ye have forsaken the Lord, he also hath forsaken you — This, it is likely, he spake with great vehemence, and even enlarged upon the subject so long, that it raised their indignation.

Ver. 20. The Spirit of God came upon Zechariah. The same phrase is used of Jahaziel: 2 Chronicles 20:14.

20. Zechariah the son of Jehoiada — The son and successor of the aged priest nobly stood above the people, (that is, took a bold and elevated position before them,) and rebuked their evil ways, and so became a martyr. The memory of this dark crime became fixed in Jewish tradition, and according to the Talmud, the martyrs’ blood continued to bubble, like blood yet warm, upon the pavement of the court, until the temple was destroyed by Nebuzaradan, who, it is said, slew eighty thousand young priests to avenge the blood of Zechariah. This legend shows what a hold the martyrdom of the high priest took upon the Jewish mind. The “Zacharias, son of Barachias,” to whom our Lord referred, is to be identified with this Zechariah. See Matthew 23:35, note. His blood, crying from the ground like that of Abel, was heard yet in Messiah’s day, as if repeating, “The Lord look upon it, and require it.” Verse 22. The writer proceeds to show that Joash and his people were speedily punished for their sins by the Syrian invasion, and the king himself soon after fell by the hand of assassins. The remainder of the chapter is to be compared with 2 Kings 12:17-21. One writer supplements the other, though both accounts are brief. The difference in the names of the conspirators (verse 26) is doubtless owing to a corruption of the text.

V. 21. Stoned him-They stoned him immediately, without even colour of law; as horrid a piece of wickedness, as any we read of in all the history of the kings. That ever such a villainy should be committed, by men, by Israelites, in contempt and violation of everything that is just, honourable, and sacred! The Jews say, there were seven transgressions in one: They killed a priest, a prophet, a judge; they shed innocent blood; polluted the court of the temple, the Sabbath, and the day of expiation: for on that day, their tradition says, this happened.

Verse 21. Stoned him-at the commandment of the king] What a most wretched and contemptible man was this, who could imbrue his hands in the blood of a prophet of God, and the son of the man who had saved him from being murdered, and raised him to the throne! Alas, alas! Can even kings forget benefits? But when a man falls from God, the devil enters into him; and then he is capable of every species of cruelty.

Verse 21. And they conspired against him — Namely, the people whom he addressed, having been easily corrupted by the examples of their apostate king and princes. And stoned him with stones — And that immediately, without even colour of law; not so much as accusing him of being a blasphemer, a traitor, a false prophet, or guilty of any crime whatever; at the commandment of the king — Who owed his crown and life to Jehoiada his father; and in the court of the house of the Lord — Whose minister and messenger he was! As horrid a piece of wickedness this as any we read of in all the history of the kings! The person was sacred, a prophet; the place sacred, the court of the temple, either the court of the priests, or the inner court, between the porch and the altar; the message was yet more sacred, a message which, we have reason to believe, they knew proceeded from the spirit of prophecy; the reproof was just, the warning fair, and both grounded on Scripture acknowledged by themselves to be divinely inspired; and yet so impudently and daringly do they defy God himself, that nothing less than the blood of the prophet can satisfy their indignation at his prophecy. Be astonished, O heavens, at this, and tremble, O earth, that ever such villany should be committed by men, by Israelites, in contempt and violation of every thing that was just, honourable, and sacred! That a king, a king in covenant with God, should command the murder of one whom it was his office to protect and countenance! The Jews say, there were seven transgressions in one: they killed a priest, a prophet, a judge; they shed innocent blood; polluted the court of the temple, the sabbath, and the day of expiation: for on that day, their tradition says, this happened.

Ver. 21. They stoned him at the command of the king. Jehoiada lived to the vast age of a hundred and thirty years; and having saved Joash, the only male branch of David’s house, and completely repaired the temple, he acquired the surname of Berachiah, the blessed of the Lord. He left the pontificate to his son Zechariah, who inherited all the virtues of his sire. Now, because Baruch had a son named Zechariah, who was slain with myriads more at the taking of Jerusalem, our critics have too much displayed their learning in raking up whatever is known of the latter Zechariah. Certainly the Jews were not to blame for his death. It was the apostate nobles of Judah who prevailed on king Joash to restore idolatry, and in this glorious struggle Zechariah fell at his post resisting idolatry. They stoned him at the altar; so that as Hosea says, “blood touched blood.” While dying, with uplifted hands he testified his faith, and called on God to avenge his blood. Presently Joash, who had ordered him to be slain, was assassinated by two of his captains; so that his death had a striking resemblance to that of Zechariah. A chain of other calamities followed on the country. Before the death of Joash, Hazael king of Damascus carried his bloody conquests to Philistia; an earthquake also followed, which much desolated the country, while drought one year denied vegetation, and another year, the locust devoured the land. Joel 2.

DEFECTION AND WICKEDNESS OF THE KING AND THE PEOPLE, 17-22.

17. The princes of Judah — Whether these were the same who assisted in the overthrow of Athaliah, or a younger class of men, we have no means of knowing. Probably, however, they were the sons of those who helped Joash to the throne, and had grown tired of Jehoiada’s rigid observance of the law, and wished for a change.

V. 22. Require it-Make inquisition for innocent blood. But the words may be rendered, The Lord will look upon it, and require it, will require satisfaction from you for it.

Verse 22. The Lord look upon it, and require it.] And so he did; for, at the end of that year, the Syrians came against Judah, destroyed all the princes of the people, sent their spoils to Damascus; and Joash, the murderer of the prophet, the son of his benefactor, was himself murdered by his own servants. Here was a most signal display of the Divine retribution.

On the subject of the death of this prophet the reader is requested to refer to the note on Matthew 23:34, 35.

Verse 22. When he died, he said, The Lord look upon it, and require it — That is, make inquisition for my innocent blood. But the words may as well be rendered, The Lord will look upon it, and require it — He will examine this action, and require satisfaction from you for it: a prophetic sentence, which, as appears from what follows, was speedily executed.

DEFECTION AND WICKEDNESS OF THE KING AND THE PEOPLE, 17-22.

17. The princes of Judah — Whether these were the same who assisted in the overthrow of Athaliah, or a younger class of men, we have no means of knowing. Probably, however, they were the sons of those who helped Joash to the throne, and had grown tired of Jehoiada’s rigid observance of the law, and wished for a change.

V. 23. The year-So soon did God hear the cry of his holy prophet’s blood, and revenge it. The princes-That it might appear they were sent and directed by God to single out to destruction the first beginners of this general apostacy.

Verse 23. At the end of the year the host of Syria came up — So soon did God hear the cry of his holy prophet’s blood and revenge it. They came and destroyed all the princes — That it might appear they were sent and directed by God, to single out to destruction the first beginners, and chief promoters, of this general apostacy. And sent all the spoil unto the king of Damascus — To Hazael the king of that part of Syria called Syria Damascena, from its capital city Damascus.

Verse 24. For, or rather, although, the army of the Syrians came with a small company — Or was a small company of men. This more manifestly showed that the punishment proceeded from the hand of God, who took away their courage, so that, even with a great host, they could not withstand a mere handful of their enemies. This, as all the circumstances of it make manifest, was a distinct war from that mentioned 2 Kings 12:17; as the reader will easily see if he compare that passage with this. The case seems to have been as follows: When the Jews began to apostatize, Hazael was sent to chastise them, as is recorded 2 Kings 12:17; but God, in his great long-suffering, either that he might give them further space for repentance, or because he saw some partial repentance had already taken place among them, permitted Hazael to be diverted, by Joash’s presents, from his purpose of leading his army against Jerusalem. But in the end of the year, the king and people being still more sunk in idolatry, and this horrid wickedness of murdering his prophet being committed, he sent a party of these same Syrians to execute this awful judgment against Joash, who had commanded it to be committed; against the princes, who had been the instigators of it; and against the people, who had so readily obeyed such an unrighteous mandate of their apostate king and princes.

V. 25. Son-By which it seems, he slew not only Zechariah, but his brothers also. Perhaps they that slew him intended to take vengeance for that innocent blood. However that was it, which God intended, in permitting them to do it.

Verse 25. They left him in great diseases, &c. — The chastisement by the invasion of the Syrians, and their destroying the princes, and plundering the city, not answering the end intended, of humbling Joash, and bringing him to repentance, God proceeded to smite him with sore diseases; and as even this did not reclaim him, his own servants were permitted to conspire against him and slay him. For, when vengeance pursues guilty men, the end of one trouble is often but the beginning of another. For the blood of the sons of Jehoiada — By which it seems Joash slew, not only Zechariah, but his brothers also. And perhaps they that slew him intended to take vengeance for that innocent blood. However, that was it which God intended in permitting them to do it.

Verse 26. These are they that conspired against him] The two persons here mentioned were certainly not Jews; the mother of one was an Ammonitess, and the mother of the other was a Moabitess. Who their fathers were we know not; they were probably foreigners and aliens. Some suppose that these persons were of the king’s chamber, and therefore could have the easiest access to him. It has been, and is still, the folly of kings to have foreigners for their valets and most confidential servants, and they have often been the causes of murders and treacheries of different kinds. Foreigners should be banished from the person of the sovereign by strong and efficient laws: even in this country they have often been the cause of much political wo.

V. 27. Burdens-The great judgments of God upon him, both by the Syrians, ver. 24:23, and by great diseases, ver. 25.

Verse 27. The greatness of the burdens laid upon him] Meaning, probably, the heavy tribute laid upon him by the Syrians; though some think the vast sums amassed for the repairs of the temple are here intended. Written in the story] vrdm midrash, the commentary, of the book of Kings. We have met with this before; but these works are all lost, except the extracts found in Kings, Chronicles, and Ezra. These abridgments were the cause of the neglect, and finally of the destruction, of the originals. This has been often the case in works of great consequence. Trogus Pompeius wrote a general history of the world, which he brought down to the reign of Augustus, in forty-four volumes. Justin abridged them into one volume, and the original is lost.

II CHRONICLES

Verse 27. The greatness of the burdens laid upon him — Either the severe prophecies uttered against him, of which one instance is recorded, and there might be others that are not recorded; or the great judgments of God upon him, both by the Syrians, verse 23, and by great diseases, verse 25.

Ver. 27. The greatness of the burdens laid upon him; that is, the tribute which the Syrians had imposed. The Vulgate reads here, “The sum of money gathered by him.”