2 Chronicleschapter 23
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Key verse
And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the Lord’s people.
It stands in Baal's altars broken and the city made quiet again, verses 16 to 21.
The chapter
Chapter summary
In the seventh year Jehoiada the priest acts. He brings the captains of hundreds into covenant, gathers the Levites and heads of fathers' houses out of all the cities, and stations them by courses with David's spears and shields: 'let no man come into the house of Jehovah, save the priests.' The king's son is brought out, crowned, given the testimony, and anointed, with clapping and trumpets and the cry, God save the king. Athaliah tears her clothes and cries 'Treason! treason!' and is put to death outside the temple precinct. Jehoiada makes a covenant that they should be Jehovah's people; the house of Baal is torn down and Mattan its priest slain; the temple courses are restored, and the city is quiet.
Context
History · Ezra · 2 Chronicles overview
The world behind this chapter
2 Chronicles 23The history
The chapter belongs to Jehoiada the priest, who had hidden the king's son for six years and who acts here in the seventh. Thiele's reconstruction places the rising at about 835 BC.
The place is the temple itself, its courts, its gates and its weekly duty roster.
The rest of the history, and what it meant to them
The occasion is a throne held by a usurper and an heir old enough to be shown. Jehoiada bound the commanders of hundreds by covenant first, then gathered Levites and heads of families from all the towns of Judah, so the rising had national backing before a sword was drawn.
A first hearer knew the roster the plan runs on. The priests and Levites served in weekly courses, one coming on duty each Sabbath as another went off, so armed Levites in the courts that day surprised nobody and Jehoiada ordered both shifts to stay.
The spears and shields of King David were kept in the house of God, because sanctuaries doubled as armouries across the ancient world.
A first hearer knew, last, why the queen was taken outside before she was killed, and why only the priests and the ministering Levites entered the house. That is the same rule the first hearers lived under.
What it meant to them
A priest saved the line of David by knowing the duty roster. That is the sort of detail this book keeps, because the roster was the structure that held the nation together when the throne failed.
The covenant Jehoiada then makes, that they would be the LORD's people, is the same three-cornered agreement the returned community renewed under Nehemiah.
Sources cited
- Roland de Vaux, Ancient Israel: Its Life and Institutions
- Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: Chronicles
- Edwin R. Thiele, The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings
- The 2 Chronicles rows of `scripts/data/historical-context/ch3-chronicles.mjs`
Where the chapter sits
2 Chronicles 23 falls in Kings of Judah: Rehoboam to Ahaz (chapters 10–28). The divided kingdom narrated from Judah's side only; reform kings (Asa, Jehoshaphat, Joash, Uzziah, Jotham) and evil kings; prophetic interventions unique to Chronicles (Azariah, Hanani, Zechariah son of Jehoiada).
Before it: Solomon's reign, chapters 1–9. After it: Hezekiah to the exile, chapters 29–36.
The whole shape of 2 Chronicles→The structure of this chapter
The heads below are this chapter's scenes. The numbered points under each are its verses.
A. Jehoiada's covenant with the captains, and the king's son crowned
1. (vv. 1-2)
2 Chronicles 23:1
“And in the seventh year - See on 2Ki 11:4 (note), etc.”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
1 more voice on this verseWhat preachers and commentators have said about this verse, in their own words.
2 Chronicles 23:1
“The five names do not occur in Kings; only, and incidentally, the five divisions of the royal guard (2Ki 11:5 note).”
2 Chronicles 23:2
“Jehoiada was unwilling to trust the success of the revolution wholly and entirely to the royal body-guard. Accordingly, the captains collected from the cities of Judah a strong body of Levites and the chief of the fathers of Israel (i. e. “Judah,” see 2Ch 20:34 note) who were brought up to Jerusalem.”
1 more voice on this verse
2 Chronicles 23:2
“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 got 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.”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown· Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
Jehoiada strengthened himself: Chronicles opens the coup where 2 Kings 11 does, with the covenant of the captains, but the muster differs. Kings calls up the captains and the royal guard; Chronicles has Jehoiada gather the Levites out of all the cities of Judah and the chief of the fathers of Israel, the priestly order standing where the parallel account names palace troops. The Chronicler tells the same rescue as a Levitical action, guarded by the men David had already organized into courses rather than by hired soldiers.
2. (v. 3)
2 Chronicles 23:3
“By “all the congregation” here is meant the persons referred to in 2Ch 23:2.”
as the Lord hath said of the sons of David: The whole congregation enters covenant with the king in the house of God, and Jehoiada states the ground of it plainly: the king's son shall reign, as the LORD hath said of the sons of David. The claim reaches back to the covenant of 1 Chronicles 17, where the throne is called the LORD's own, held for David's line rather than any man's private possession. Six years under a usurper have not voided the promise.
3. (vv. 4-7)
2 Chronicles 23:4
“The writer of Chronicles relates the orders that were given to the Levites, the author of Kings those received by the royal body-guard (2Ki 11:5 note).”
2 Chronicles 23:6
“Keep the watch of the Lord - i. e. guard against any attempt that might be made by the Baal-worshippers to force their way through the courts into the temple.”
2 Chronicles 23:7
“Compare 2Ki 11:8, 2Ki 11:11. The soldiers and the Levites in the temple were probably intermixed in about equal proportions.”
porters of the doors: The plan Jehoiada lays down turns on one restriction the parallel in Kings does not carry: none may enter the house of the LORD but the priests and the ministering Levites, for they are holy, while all the people keep the watch of the LORD outside. Kings organizes the coup around the royal bodyguard's stations; Chronicles organizes it around the temple's own line between holy and common ground, the line that governs the whole book. The Levites who compass the king armed are not palace troops but David's own courses, standing watch the way they were appointed to stand watch.
4. (vv. 8-9)
2 Chronicles 23:8
“And took every man his men ... - i. e. the relief, already organized by Jehoiada into three bodies 2Ch 23:4-5, was further strengthened by the members of the outgoing “course,” who were associated in the work to be done.”
2 Chronicles 23:9
“Spears and bucklers - See on 2Ki 11:10 (note).”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
dismissed not the courses: Judah obeys to the letter, and Jehoiada dismisses not the courses: the outgoing and incoming week's rotation stay armed together, doubling the guard David's own system already had in place. The spears and shields the captains receive had belonged to David himself, kept in the house of God since his reign, so the weapons that secure his descendant's throne are relics of the same king's provision. The order filling these two verses runs on Davidic institutions from beginning to end, the courses of 1 Chronicles 24 and the deposits of 1 Chronicles 26 doing service here rather than a palace armory built for the purpose.
5. (vv. 10-11)
2 Chronicles 23:11
“God save the king - May the king live! See on 2Ki 11:12 (note).”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
1 more voice on this verse
2 Chronicles 23:11
“18 Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the L ORD by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of the L ORD , to offer the burnt offerings of the L ORD , as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David.”
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
every man having his weapon: Every man stands with his weapon in his hand around the temple's full circuit before the boy is even brought out, the priestly guard of verses 4-7 now in place. Then the king's son is crowned and given the testimony together, the copy of the law a king was to keep by him under Deuteronomy 17:18-20, so the crown and the law arrive on his head in the same act. Jehoiada and his sons anoint him, and the acclamation goes up: God save the king.
B. Treason! Athaliah dragged out to the horse gate
1. (vv. 12-13)
2 Chronicles 23:12
“When it seemed a withered root in a dry ground, to see what they despaired of ever seeing--a king of the house of David, what a pleasing surprise was it to them! They ran in transports of joy to see this sight, praised the king, and praised God, for they had with them such as taught to sing praise.”
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
1 more voice on this verse
2 Chronicles 23:12
“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 enquiries; but the very idea would keep her constantly in a state of jealous suspicion and irritation.”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown· Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
2 Chronicles 23:13
“Slay her not in the house of the Lord . . . and when she was come to 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" (2Ki 11:16).”
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown· Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)reformed
1 more voice on this verse
2 Chronicles 23:13
“At the entering in - i. e. at, or near, the opening from the main chamber of the temple into the holy of holies.”
the noise of the people running: Athaliah hears the noise and comes into the house of the LORD to find the coronation already finished: the king at his pillar, the princes and trumpets beside him, the people sounding trumpets. Chronicles names one detail Kings does not carry at this point, the singers with instruments of music and such as taught to sing praise standing among the crowd, the temple choir David founded caught up in the same acclamation as the priests and the guard. Athaliah tears her clothes and cries the one word that names what she has just lost: Treason.
2. (vv. 14-15)
2 Chronicles 23:14
“And whoso followeth her, let him be slain with the sword - He who takes her part, or endeavors to prevent the present revolution, let him be immediately slain.”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
2 Chronicles 23:15
“Of the horse-gate - See on 2Ki 11:16 (note).”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
Have her forth of the ranges: Jehoiada does not have Athaliah killed at the altar; he orders her taken out of the ranges first, and whoever follows her is to be slain with the sword, for the priest said, Slay her not in the house of the LORD. The parallel account carries the same restraint, and both books make the same point from it: even the death of a usurper who murdered the royal children must not stain the temple's ground. She is put to death at the entering of the horse gate by the king's house, outside the boundary the whole chapter has been guarding.
C. Baal's altars broken and the city made quiet again
1. (vv. 16-18)
2 Chronicles 23:16
“In the Kings it is said that Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, the people, and the king, 2 Kings xi. Here it is said to be between himself, the people, and the king; for he, as God's priest, was his representative in this transaction, or a sort of mediator, as Moses was.”
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
2 Chronicles 23:17
“The greatest grievance of Athaliah's reign was the bringing in of the worship of Baal, and supporting of that; therefore that must be abolished in the first place. Down with Baal's house, his altars, his images; down with them all, and let the blood of his priests be mingled with his sacrifices; for God had commanded that seducers to idolatry should be put to death, Deut. xiii.”
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
2 Chronicles 23:18
“He appointed the priests to their courses, for the due offering of sacrifices, according to the law of Moses. The singers to theirs, according to the appointment of David. The sacrifices (it should seem) were offered with rejoicing and singing, and with good reason.”
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
1 more voice on this verse
2 Chronicles 23:18
“The priests the Levites - Rather, with the versions, “the priests and the Levites.” It was the duty of the priests alone to offer the burnt offerings Num 18:1-7, and of the Levites alone to praise God with singing and music 1Ch 23:5; 1Ch 25:1-7.”
that they should be the Lord’s people: Jehoiada renews the covenant, and Chronicles states its parties differently than Kings does: Kings names the LORD, the king and the people as the three sides, while Chronicles reads between him, and between all the people, and between the king, the priest standing in God's place as Moses once did for Israel. Then the house of Baal comes down, its altars and images broken, and Mattan the priest of Baal is slain before his own altars, judgment falling where the false worship had stood. Jehoiada restores the temple's offices into the hand of the priests the Levites exactly as David had distributed them, offering the burnt offerings as the law of Moses commands and singing as David ordained, so the reform ends by putting the Davidic order back in its place rather than only tearing an idol's house down.
2. (vv. 19-21)
2 Chronicles 23:20
“They brought the king in state to his own palace, and set him upon the throne of the kingdom, to give law, and give judgment, either in his own person or by Jehoiada his tutor. Thus was this happy revolution perfected.”
Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible (1707-1721)puritan
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 2Ch 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.”
Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible (1810-1826)evangelical
that none which was unclean: Jehoiada sets porters at the gates of the house of the LORD so that none unclean in anything may enter, the same purity line the chapter kept from its opening restriction in verse 6, now made a standing office rather than an emergency measure. The king is brought down through the high gate into the king's house and set upon the throne of the kingdom, and the city is quiet after Athaliah is slain with the sword. Six years under a usurper end in one day that never breaches the temple's own holiness, the note Chronicles chooses to close on.
This page carries no textual note on 2 Chronicles 23. Where this site has examined a place the manuscripts differ, the examination is in the manuscripts room. Every place this site examines →
Sources for this chapter
The summary
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory; John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary.
The exposition
Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Jamieson Fausset and Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Keil, The Books of the Chronicles and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.