Bible Commentaries
2 Chronicles 23

Verse 1

And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him.

In the seventh year Jehoiada ... took the captains of hundreds ... - (see the notes at 2 Kings 11:4; 2 Kings 11:17.) The five officers mentioned here had probably formed part of the royal guard, and were known to be strongly disaffected to the government of Athaliah,

Verse 2

And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.

Chief of the fathers of Israel. This name is frequently used in Chronicles for Judah and Benjamin, now all that remained of Israel. Having cautiously entrusted the secret of the young prince's preservation to all the leading men in the kingdom, he enlisted their interest in the royal cause, and gotten their pledge to support it by a secret oath of fidelity.

They came to Jerusalem. The time chosen for the grand discovery was, probably, one of the annual festivals, when there was a general concourse of the nation at the capital

Verse 3

And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king's son shall reign, as the LORD hath said of the sons of David.

No JFB commentary on this verse.

Verse 4

This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doors;

This is the thing that ye shall do. The arrangements made for defense are here described. The people were divided into three bodies: one attended as guards to the king, while the other two were posted at all the doors and gates, and the captains and military officers who entered the temple unarmed, to lull suspicion were furnished with weapons out of the sacred armoury, where David had deposited his trophies of victory, and which was re-opened on this occasion.

Verses 5-7

And a third part shall be at the king's house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD.

No JFB commentary on these verses.

Verse 8

So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.

Jehoiada ... dismissed not the courses. Since it was necessary to have as large a disposable force as he could command on such a crisis, the high priest detained those who, in other circumstances, would have returned home on the expiration of their week of service.

Verses 9-10

Moreover Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David's, which were in the house of God.

No JFB commentary on these verses.

Verse 11

Then they brought out the king's son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save the king.

Put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony [ haneezer (H5145)] - the diadem, (2 Samuel 1:10; 2 Kings 11:12, etc.) A crown was worn by Jewish kings, even in battle, and by Joash at his coronation; though of what form and of what materials is unknown. But this was not the state crown, which in all probability was kept in the temple. Some think that the original word rendered "testimony," as its derivation warrants, may signify here the regalia, especially the bracelet (2 Samuel 1:10); and this view they support on the ground that "gave him" being supplemented, the text properly runs thus, 'put upon him the crown and testimony.' Accordingly, Montanus, while he translated the Hebrew by testimonium, has ornamentum in the margin. At the same time, it seems equally pertinent to take "the testimony" in the usual acceptation of that term; and, accordingly, many are of opinion that a roll containing a copy, of the law (Deuteronomy 17:18) was placed in king's hands, which he held as a sceptre or truncheon, or it was held over his diademed head in a symbolical manner (Thenius, in loco); while others, referring to the custom of Oriental people, when receiving a letter or document from a highly respected quarter, lifting it up to their heads before opening it, consider that Joash, besides the crown, had the book of the law laid upon his head (see Job 31:35-36).

God save the king. - literally, Long live the king!

Verse 12

Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the LORD:

When Athaliah heard the noise. The unusual commotion indicated by the blast of the trumpets, and the vehement acclamations of the people, drew her attention or excited her fears. She might have flattered herself that having slain all the royal family, she was in perfect security; but it is just as likely that, finding on reflection one had escaped her murderous hands, she might not deem it expedient to institute any inquiries; but the very idea would keep her constantly in a state of jealous suspicion and irritation. In that state of mind, the wicked usurper, hearing across the Tyropoeon the outburst of popular joy, rushed across the bridge to the temple ground, and penetrating from a single glance the meaning the whole scene, raised a shriek of "Treason!"

Verse 13

And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of musick, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason.

Behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in. The king's pillar was in the people's court, opposite that of the priests. The young king, arrayed in the royal insignia, had been brought out of the inner, to stand forth in the outer, court to the public view. Some think that he stood on the brazen scaffold of Solomon, erected beside the pillar.

Verse 14

Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth of the ranges: and whoso followeth her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said, Slay her not in the house of the LORD.

Slay her not in the house of the Lord ...

Verse 15

So they laid hands on her; and when she was come to the entering of the horse gate by the king's house, they slew her there.

The entering of the horse gate by the king's house, they slew her there. The high priest; ordered her immediately to be taken out of the temple grounds and put to death; "and they laid hands on her; and she went by the way by the which horses came into the king's house, and there was she slain" (2 Kings 11:16). 'Now, we are not to suppose that horses came into' the kings' house 'of residence, but into the king's (horses') house or hippodrome (the gate of the king's mules) (Josephus) he had built for them on the southeast of the temple, in the immediate vicinity of the horse gate in the valley of Kedron-a valley which was at that time a kind of desecrated place, by the destruction of idols and their appurtenances' (2 Kings 22:2; 2 Kings 22:6; 2 Kings 22:12) (Barclay's 'City of the Great King').

Verse 16

And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD's people.

Jehoiada made a covenant - (see the note at 2 Kings 11:17.)