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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
23:1-24:27 Joash. Joash's rule marks not only the restoration of the throne to the rightful Davidic king but also Judah's return to its covenant commitment to be the Lord's people (23:16). Thanks largely to Jehoiada and his watchful concern for the nation's life, these reforms are successful for a while, but things go awry once the old high priest has died. Joash is the first in a sequence of three kings (followed by Amaziah and Uzziah) whose reigns begin on a relatively positive note but end in failure or ignominy because they reject godly counsel.
23:1-21 This is drawn mainly from 2 Kings 11:4-20, with numerous changes to reflect the Chronicler's particular concerns.
23:1b-2 This is the Chronicler's addition, mentioning the role of the Levites and the heads of fathers' houses, as well as military figures, in the uprising (cf. note on 2 Kings 11:4). Other references to the Levites in their key role of defending the king and the sanctity of the temple have been added in 2 Chron. 23:5-8.
23:3 The assembly was the representative body of leaders of the people. Wise kings sought the advice and support of this body in their undertakings (see 1 Chron. 13:2; 29:1; 2 Chron. 30:2). The covenant with the king probably included the arrangements under which Joash would rule, including Jehoiada's supervisory regency until Joash reached adulthood (see 24:4). Let him reign, as the Lord spoke concerning the sons of David. The Chronicler's addition affirms that the coup was in keeping with God's promise to preserve David's line (see 1 Chron. 17:14; 2 Chron. 6:10; 21:7).
23:4 This is the thing that you shall do. See note on 2 Kings 11:5-8.
23:5-6 The Chronicler adds that all the people participated in the coup, though he is careful to note that they remained in the courts and did not enter the temple.
23:8 The coup was timed for the changing of the temple and palace guards on the Sabbath, to bring the maximum number of armed men into the temple precincts without arousing suspicion.
23:9 the spears and . . . shields. See note on 2 Kings 11:10.
23:11 Along with his coronation and anointing, Joash is presented with the testimony, which several interpreters understand to be the terms of his covenant with the assembly (v. 3), while others think it is a copy of the laws of God (perhaps the book of Deuteronomy) as specified in Deut. 17:18 (see note on 2 Kings 11:12).
23:13-15 The pillar is probably either Boaz or Jachin, the pillars at the temple entrance (3:17; see note on 2 Kings 11:14). The Chronicler has added the reference to the singers with their musical instruments leading in the celebration, who are evidently Levites (see 1 Chron. 23:5; 25:6). Athaliah's cry of Treason! shows that, as well as being blind to her own position as a violent usurper, she had no inkling that any of the house of David had survived. Jehoiada's instruction to remove her from the temple precincts for execution is in order to avoid defiling the sacred site any more; yet ironically, his own son will not be spared this fate (2 Chron. 24:21-22).
23:16-21 The climax of these dramatic events is the ceremony of covenant renewal led by Jehoiada, in which the high priest, king, and people commit themselves afresh to be the Lord's people (cf. note on 2 Kings 11:17). Effectively, this meant the reaffirmation of the Law of Moses as the rule for the kingdom and the removal of pagan practices and cultic personnel. The temple of Baal in Jerusalem may have been built for Athaliah as part of the marriage alliance with the northern kingdom, much as Solomon had provided shrines for his foreign wives (1 Kings 11:7-8). Verses 18b-19 of 2 Chronicles 23 are the Chronicler's addition, affirming that, as part of the covenant renewal, temple worship was also brought into proper conformity with the stipulations of Moses and David.
24:1-27 Loosely adapted from 2 Kings 11:21-12:21, this is supplemented with the Chronicler's own material (see 2 Chron. 24:27). Joash's reign () falls into two parts: a faithful period, while Jehoiada the priest was alive (vv. 1-16), followed by apostasy ending in judgment (vv. 17-27). Throughout 2 Chronicles, the religious character of a king can be readily gauged by his attitude toward the temple, and this is most evident in the case of Joash: in his faithful period, he is devoted to the restoration of the temple (vv. 4, 5, 12), but in his apostasy, he abandons it for idolatry (v. 18).
24:2 Joash did what was right. See note on 2 Kings 12:2-3.
24:3 The Chronicler's addition. got for him two wives. Jehoiada acts to ensure that the Davidic line will continue after its near destruction.
24:4 restore. Literally, "to renew." The temple had been despoiled by Athaliah and her family (v. 7) and probably neglected before that time.
24:5-6, 9 repair the house of your God. See note on 2 Kings 12:4-5. Kings refers to three sources of revenue (cf. 2 Kings 12:4), but the Chronicler specifies instead only the census tax imposed by Moses for the construction and maintenance of the tabernacle (see Ex. 30:16). The typological correspondence and continuity between the Mosaic tabernacle and the temple is one of the Chronicler's characteristic themes (see notes on 2 Chronicles 3-4). Verses 5-6 of ch. 24 offer a rare note of criticism of the priests and Levites for failing to perform their task.
24:8-11 Joash's initiative allowed the people to bring their tax directly to the temple. all the people rejoiced and brought their tax. See 1 Chron. 29:6-9. The Chronicler wants his readers to see the temple not as a burden but as a joyful duty (see Ex. 36:4-7).
24:13-14 The repairs were made according to the original design, and the surplus funds were used for the temple vessels (see 2 Kings 12:13-14). vessels of gold and silver. Second Kings 12:13 says that vessels of gold and silver were not made while the temple was being repaired, while 2 Chron. 24:14 specifies that when they had finished those repairs, they used the rest of the money to make these vessels. The Chronicler specifies that Joash's revival of temple worship lasted all the days of Jehoiada, and did not extend into his later years of apostasy following Jehoiada's death (see note on vv. 1-27).
24:15-22 This section is found only in Chronicles. Jehoiada's age at death, 130, exceeds that of Aaron (
24:23-27 This follows the outline of 2 Kings 12:17-21 (see notes on 2 Kings 12:17-18; 12:20), but is mainly the Chronicler's own material. Defeat by the smaller Syrian army is a reversal of Judah's earlier experience (see 2 Chron. 14:8-9) and a sign of divine judgment. Joash's fate is a case of "measure for measure." As Joash had supported those who conspired to kill Zechariah (24:21), now his own officials conspired to do the same to him in revenge for Zechariah's death. His exclusion from the tombs of the kings is in pointed contrast with Jehoiada (v. 16).
