2 Cronache 23:14 Commento

Six years bloody Athaliah had tyrannised; in this chapter we have her deposed and slain, and Joash, the rightful heir, enthroned. We had the story before nearly as it is here related, Kg2 11:4, etc. I. Jehoiada prepared the people for the king, acquainted them with his design, armed them, and appointed them their posts (Ch2 23:1-10). II. He produced the king to the people, crowned him, and anointed him (Ch2 23:11). III. He slew the usurper (Ch2 23:12-15). IV. He reformed the kingdom, re-established religion, and restored the civil government (Ch2 23:16-21).

The contents of this chapter are the same with Kg2 11:4 and need no other explanation than what may be found in the notes there, to which the reader is referred.See Gill on Kg2 11:4. See Gill on Kg2 11:5. See Gill on Kg2 11:6. See Gill on Kg2 11:7. See Gill on Kg2 11:8. See Gill on Kg2 11:9. See Gill on Kg2 11:10. See Gill on Kg2 11:11. See Gill on Kg2 11:12. See Gill on Kg2 11:13. See Gill on Kg2 11:14. See Gill on Kg2 11:15. See Gill on Kg2 11:16. See Gill on Kg2 11:17. See Gill on Kg2 11:18. See Gill on Kg2 11:19. See Gill on Kg2 11:20. Next: 2 Chronicles Chapter 24

Jehoiada the priest, after having taken counsel with the captains, Levites, etc., proclaims Joash, and anoints him king, Ch2 23:1-11. Athaliah, endeavoring to prevent it, is slain, Ch2 23:12-15. He makes the people enter into a covenant, that they would serve the Lord, Ch2 23:16. The people break down the temple of Baal, and slay Mattan his priest, Ch2 23:17. Jehoiada makes several alterations, and remodels the kingdom, Ch2 23:18-21.

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.

JEHOIADA MAKES JOASH KING. (Ch2 23:1-11) in the seventh year Jehoiada . . . took the captains of hundreds, &c.--(See on Kg2 11:4; Kg2 11:17). The five officers mentioned here had been probably of the royal guard, and were known to be strongly disaffected to the government of Athaliah.

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" (Kg2 11:16). "Now, we are not to suppose that horses came into [the king's 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" (Kg2 23:2, Kg2 23:6, Kg2 23:12) [BARCLAY, City of the Great King].

The reign of Joash; cf. 2 Kings 12. - In both accounts only two main events in Joash's reign of forty years are narrated at any length, - the repair of the temple, and the campaign of the Syrian king Hazael against Jerusalem. Besides this, at the beginning, we have a statement as to the duration and spirit of his reign; and in conclusion, the murder of Joash in consequence of a conspiracy is mentioned. Both accounts agree in all essential points, but are shown to be extracts containing the most important part of a more complete history of Joash, by the fact that, on the one hand, in 2 Kings 12 single circumstances are communicated in a more detailed and more exact form than that in which the Chronicle states them; while, on the other hand, the account of the Chronicle supplements the account in 2 Kings 12 in many respects. To these latter belong the account of the marriage of Joash, and his many children, the account of the death of Jehoiada at the age of 130 years, and his honourable burial with the kings, etc.; see on Ch2 24:15.