Bible Commentaries
2 Chronicles 24

Introduction

2 CHRONICLES CHAPTER 24

Joash reigneth well all the days of Jehoiada, 2 Chronicles 24:1-14.

He dieth; is buried honourably; and Joash falleth to idolatry; slayeth Zechariah the son of Jehoiada, 2 Chronicles 24:15-22.

He is spoiled by the Syrians; slain by Zabad and Jehozabad: Amaziah succeedeth him, 2 Chronicles 24:23-27.

Verse 1

A great part of this chapter is explained on 2 Kings 12:0.

Verse 5

Gather of all Israel, i.e. of all the Israelites that were in the kingdom of Judah. See 2 Chronicles 15:17; 2 Chronicles 21:2. To repair the house of your God from year to year; either,

1. Repair part of it every year till the reparations be perfected; or,

2. Gather it from year to year, till you get such a sum as may suffice for the work; for he supposed one or two years’ collection would not suffice for the work, whether it were that collection of half a shekel for every man, of which see Exodus 30:12,Exodus 30:13; 2 Kings 12:14; or a voluntary contribution required for the present exigence of the temple by virtue of the command and example of Moses, who made such a collection for the building of the tabernacle, Exodus 35:5; see also Nehemiah 10:32; which he thought would not be any great sum, because of the great iniquity and impiety which yet had reigned for many years, and yet continued in the generality of the people of the land, the Levites not excepted, as the last clause of this verse shows.

Verse 6

Jehoiada the chief: it is observable, that he is not called the chief priest, or high priest, but only

the chief, or &c 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; or because he had been the chief man in the contriving and bringing about of this great change, and the general of the forces employed about it. And the high priest seems to be mentioned as a distinct person from Jehoiada here, 2 Kings 12:9,2 Kings 12:10; all which make it questionable whether Jehoiada was the high priest or no.

The collection, according to the commandment of Moses, Heb. the collection of Moses, i.e. such a one as he commanded or made in the like case; of which See Poole "2 Chronicles 24:5". In like manner we read of the sins of Manasseh, 2 Kings 24:3, and of the sin of Jeroboam frequently.

Verse 7

The sons of Athaliah, 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; both broken up the treasuries, and defaced the house itself.

Verse 8

i.e. Of the court of the people, whither all manner of persons might come to offer.

Verse 9

i.e. A collection answerable to it; as they are said to be guilty of the error of Balaam and gainsaying of Core, Jude 1:11, who fell into sins of the same kind.

Verse 11

The chest was brought unto the king’s office, from the gate of the court into one of the chambers belonging to the temple, which was appointed by the king for this office.

Verse 14

Whereof were made vessels for the house of the Lord; because Athaliah and her sons had taken the old ones away, 2 Chronicles 24:7.

Verse 16

He had done good in Israel, i.e. 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 oft appropriates this name, thereby signifying that the other tribes were unworthy of that honourable title, and had forfeited all their right in it to Judah. See Poole "2 Chronicles 21:2".

Verse 17

Made obeisance to the king; in that posture presenting their requests to him, that they might not be confined to unnecessary and troublesome journeys in coming to Jerusalem to worship, but might have the liberty which their forefathers enjoyed of worshipping God in the high places; which liberty, when once they had obtained, they knew they could then worship idols without observation or 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 18

By Hazael of Syria; of which see 2 Kings 12:17,2 Kings 12:18

Verse 20

Above the people; in a higher place, that his voice and message might be the better heard.

Verse 21

They conspired, i. e. the people to whom he preached, who were easily corrupted by the examples of their apostate king and princes.

Verse 22

i.e. Make inquisition for my innocent blood; which he did not wish from any desire of private revenge, with which so wise and good a man would never be willing to die; but partly from a zeal to public justice, and the punishment of such gross wickedness; and partly to deter them, if possible, from completing their murderous intentions. But these words may as well be rendered indicatively as optatively,

The Lord will look upon it, and

require it, i. e. he will examine this action, and require satisfaction from you for it.

Verse 23

At the end of the year; so soon did God hear the cry of his holy prophet’s blood, and revenge it.

Destroyed all the princes of the people; 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.

Unto the king of Damascus; to Hazael, the king of that part of Syria called Syria Damascena, from its capital city Damascus.

Verse 25

For the blood of the sons of Jehoiada, i.e. of Zechariah his son; the plural number sons put for the singular son, as it is frequently, both in Scripture, as Genesis 46:7; Numbers 26:42, and in Cicero and other profane authors. Or he might kill other sons of Jehoiada with him, either because they owned him in what he had said, or lest they should revenge his death.

Verse 27

The greatness of the burdens laid upon him; either the severe prophecies against him, which are oft called burdens; 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, 2 Chronicles 24:23,2 Chronicles 24:24, and by great diseases, 2 Chronicles 24:25.