2 Chronicleschapter 23

A.Jehoiada's covenant with the captains, and the king's son crownedvv. 1-11

1 Then in the seventh year, Jehoiada strengthened himself and made a covenant with the commanders of hundreds—with Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zichri. 2 So they went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah and the heads of the families of Israel. And when they came to Jerusalem, 3 the whole assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. “Behold, the king’s son!” said Jehoiada. “He must reign, just as the LORD promised concerning the descendants of David. 4 This is what you are to do: A third of you priests and Levites who come on duty on the Sabbath shall keep watch at the doors, 5 a third shall be at the royal palace, and a third at the Foundation Gate, while all the others are in the courtyards of the house of the LORD. 6 No one is to enter the house of the LORD except the priests and those Levites who serve; they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the people are to obey the requirement of the LORD. 7 The Levites must surround the king with weapons in hand, and anyone who enters the temple must be put to death. You must stay close to the king wherever he goes.” 8 So the Levites and all Judah did everything that Jehoiada the priest had ordered. Each of them took his men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—for Jehoiada the priest had not released any of the divisions. 9 Then Jehoiada the priest gave to the commanders of hundreds the spears and the large and small shields of King David that were in the house of God. 10 He stationed all the troops, with their weapons in hand, surrounding the king by the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple. 11 Then Jehoiada and his sons brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, presented him with the Testimony, and proclaimed him king. They anointed him and shouted, “Long live the king!”

B.Treason! Athaliah dragged out to the horse gatevv. 12-15

12 When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and cheering the king, she went out to them in the house of the LORD. 13 And she looked out and saw the king standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, while the singers with musical instruments were leading the praises. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason, treason!” 14 And Jehoiada the priest sent out the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, saying, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the house of the LORD.” 15 So they seized Athaliah as she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate to the palace grounds, and there they put her to death.

C.Baal's altars broken and the city made quiet againvv. 16-21

16 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and the king and the people that they would be the LORD’s people. 17 So all the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. 18 Moreover, Jehoiada put the oversight of the house of the LORD into the hands of the Levitical priests, whom David had appointed over the house of the LORD, to offer burnt offerings to the LORD as is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and song, as ordained by David. 19 He stationed gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the LORD, so that nothing unclean could enter for any reason. 20 He also took with him the commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD and entered the royal palace through the Upper Gate. They seated King Joash on the royal throne, 21 and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been put to the sword.

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Chapter summary

In the seventh year Jehoiada the priest acts.

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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.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary and John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament.

Context

History · Ezra — 2 Chronicles overview

A. 1–11 Jehoiada's covenant with the captains, and the king's son crowned
B. 12–15 Treason! Athaliah dragged out to the horse gate
C. 16–21 Baal's altars broken and the city made quiet again

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

2 Kings 1110 verses
- 2 Kings 11:4Then in the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards, and had them brought into the house of the LORD. There he made a covenant with them and put them under oath. He showed them the king’s son
- 2 Kings 11:5and commanded them, “This is what you are to do: A third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath shall guard the royal palace,
- 2 Kings 11:6a third shall be at the gate of Sur, and a third at the gate behind the guards. You are to take turns guarding the temple—
- 2 Kings 11:9So the commanders of hundreds did everything that Jehoiada the priest had ordered. Each of them took his men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—and came to Jehoiada the priest.
- 2 Kings 11:11And the guards stood with weapons in hand surrounding the king by the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.
- 2 Kings 11:13When Athaliah heard the noise from the guards and the people, she went out to the people in the house of the LORD.
- Read 2 Kings 11: 4 more there →
2 Chronicles 212 verses
- 2 Chronicles 21:2Jehoram’s brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat, were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah; these were all sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.
- 2 Chronicles 21:7Yet the LORD was unwilling to destroy the house of David, because of the covenant He had made with David, and since He had promised to maintain a lamp for David and his descendants forever.
- Read 2 Chronicles 21 →
1 Chronicles 242 verses
- 1 Chronicles 24:1These were the divisions of the descendants of Aaron. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
- 1 Chronicles 24:6The scribe, Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded their names in the presence of the king and of the officers: Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the heads of families of the priests and the Levites—one family being taken from Eleazar, and then one from Ithamar.
- Read 1 Chronicles 24 →
2 Chronicles 62 verses
- 2 Chronicles 6:12Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in front of the whole assembly of Israel and spread out his hands.
- 2 Chronicles 6:16Therefore now, O LORD, God of Israel, keep for Your servant, my father David, what You promised when You said: ‘You will never fail to have a man to sit before Me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants guard their way to walk in My law as you have walked before Me.’
- Read 2 Chronicles 6 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

1 Chronicles 232 verses
- 1 Chronicles 23:3The Levites thirty years of age or older were counted, and the total number of men was 38,000.
- 1 Chronicles 23:28but their duty was to assist the descendants of Aaron with the service of the house of the LORD, being responsible for the courts and chambers, the purification of all the holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God,
- Read 1 Chronicles 23 →
1 Chronicles 262 verses
- 1 Chronicles 26:1These were the divisions of the gatekeepers: From the Korahites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph.
- 1 Chronicles 26:13They cast lots for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.
- Read 1 Chronicles 26 →
Nehemiah 91 verse
- Nehemiah 9:38In view of all this, we make a binding agreement, putting it in writing and sealing it with the names of our leaders, Levites, and priests.”
- Read Nehemiah 9 →
1 Chronicles 251 verse
- 1 Chronicles 25:1Additionally, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. The following is the list of the men who performed this service:
- Read 1 Chronicles 25 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.