Bible Commentaries
2 Chronicles 23

Verse 1

CHAPTER XXIII

Jehoiada the priest, after having taken counsel with the

captains, Levites, c., proclaims Joash, and anoints him

king, 1-11.

Athaliah, endeavouring to prevent it, is slain, 12-15.

He makes the people enter into a covenant, that they would

serve the Lord, 16.

The people break down the temple of Baal, and slay Mattan his

priest, 17.

Jehoiada makes several alterations, and remodels the kingdom,

18-21.

NOTES ON CHAP. XXIII

Verse 2 Chronicles 23:1. And in the seventh year — See on 2 Kings 11:4, &c.

Verse 9

Verse 2 Chronicles 23:9. Spears and bucklers — See on 2 Kings 11:10.

Verse 11

Verse 2 Chronicles 23:11. God save the king. — May the king live! See on 2 Kings 11:12.

Verse 14

Verse 2 Chronicles 23:14. 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

Verse 2 Chronicles 23:15. Of the horse-gate — See on 2 Kings 11:16.

Verse 16

Verse 2 Chronicles 23:16. 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 17

Verse 2 Chronicles 23:17. Mattan the priest — The Targum will not prostitute the term priest, but calls him כומרא cumera, priestling.

Verse 21

Verse 2 Chronicles 23:21. 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 [יהוה] 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.