Chapter 23

1 Jehoiada, having set things in order, maketh Joash king. 12 Athaliah is slain. 16 Jehoiada restoreth the worship of God.

1. In the seventh year. This chapter deals with the fall of Athaliah and the succession of Joash. It is parallel to Kings 11:4–20. The two accounts are essentially the same, although there are important points of difference. For further information, see on 2 Kings 11.

Strengthened himself. Took courage and braced himself for the ordeal with Athaliah.

The captains of hundreds. Five men are named. Their names are not given in Kings, where, however, the information is given that Jehoiada “fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard” (2 Kings 11:4). The five men were probably captains of the 500 men comprising the bodyguard of Athaliah. The primary responsibility of the royal bodyguard was, of course, to guard the life of the king. The parallel passage in 2 Kings 11:4 adds the interesting detail that Jehoiada “took an oath of them in the house of the Lord, and shewed them the king’s son.” Having seen the real king, the captains of the bodyguard now entered into a covenant with Jehoiada that their loyalty henceforth would be pledged to him.

2. All the cities. A large number of Levites and other trusted individuals were brought to Jerusalem, probably under color of some religious festival, where they could support the high priest in the coming test of strength with the queen.

3. All the congregation. That is, all the assembly of Levites, the leading men of the nation, and the captains of the royal guard (2 Kings 11:4).

4. Ye shall do. The narrative in Chronicles gives the instructions that were issued to the priests and Levites. The writer of Kings gives the orders that were issued to the palace guards (2 Kings 11:5–8). There is a certain correspondence in the orders issued to the two groups, but they are not exactly parallel. The Levites were to be divided into three groups.

5. King’s house. In 2 Kings 11:5 the “king’s house” seems to apply to the palace, where a part of the royal guard would be expected to be on duty. In Chronicles, however, the term may have been applied to the quarters where the young king was concealed in the Temple precincts. For a group of the Levites to have been stationed at the palace to keep watch on developments there might have created instant suspicion and given Athaliah the opportunity to take effective retaliatory measures against the conspirators.

Gate of the foundation. The location of this gate is not known.

In the courts. This was the usual procedure. None except the most trusted individuals were to be allowed in the vicinity of the new king at the time of his coronation.

6. Save the priests. This directive further emphasizes the foregoing instruction (v. 5). It was of vital importance that no unauthorized individual should have access to the Temple premises.

8. All Judah. That is, the officials of Judah represented there.

On the sabbath. See on 2 Kings 11:5, 7.

Dismissed not the courses. The courses of priests and Levites who had completed their duties and would normally have been dismissed were retained for the present emergency to assist those who were just beginning their duties. On these courses of priests and Levites see 1 Chron. 24, 25.

9. Spears. Compare 2 Kings 11:10.

10. Along by the altar. See on 2 Kings 11:11.

11. Brought out the king’s son. The young prince was brought out of the Temple, where he had been kept in hiding.

The testimony. Probably a copy of the law (see on 2 Kings 11:12).

God save the king. See on 2 Kings 11:12.

12. When Athaliah heard. Verses 12–15, which describe the fate of Athaliah, are almost identical with 2 Kings 11:13–16. See comments there.

16. Made a covenant. Verses 16–21, dealing with the renewal of the covenant with Jehovah, the abolition of the worship of Baal, and the setting of the king upon his throne are parallel with 2 Kings 11:17–20.

Between him. The parallel passage reads, “between the Lord” (2 Kings 11:17). In this instance Jehoiada represented the Lord, for the covenant that was made was between the Lord on the one side and the king and the people on the other.

There was also a covenant between king and people (see on 2 Kings 11:17).

17. To the house of Baal. See on 2 Kings 11:18 for the destruction of this temple.

18. Appointed the offices. This verse and the following are an expansion of the brief notice in 2 Kings 11:18: “And the priest appointed officers over the house of the Lord.” A description is here given of the restoration of the regular services of the Temple that had been seriously neglected during Athaliah’s reign (2 Chron. 24:7).

The priests the Levites. The ancient versions read, “the priests and the Levites.” This construction seems required, since it was the duty of the priests to offer the burnt sacrifices (Num. 18:1–7) and of the Levitical musicians to praise the Lord with song (1 Chron. 23:5; 25:1–7).

Had distributed. David had divided the priests and Levites into various courses (1 Chron. 23:6; 24:3; 25:1).

Singing. The Pentateuch does not contain a record of the musical services to be performed in the sanctuary, and it appears that these were first established by David (see 1 Chron. 16:4–6, 37, 41, 42; 23:5; 25:1, 6, 7; 2 Chron. 29:25, 26).

19. Porters. That is, gatekeepers.

None which was unclean. Compare v. 6, and Lev. 5:2, 3; Deut. 24:1.

Ellen G. White comments

8 PK 215

12–17, 21 PK 216