2 Crônicas 23
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
2 Crônicas 23
NJB (LXX versing) Jehoiada Sets Joash on the Throne of Judah Joash Crowned King in Judah The Revolt Against Athaliah; Her Punishment by Death and the Enthronement of Joash The Revolt Against Athaliah Accession of Joash and Death of Athaliah 23:1-7 23:1-7 23:1-7 23:1-2 23:1-7 23:3-7 23:8-11 23:8-11 23:8-11 23:8-11 23:8-11 Athaliah Murdered Death of Athaliah 23:12-15 23:12-13 23:12-15 23:12-13 23:12-15 23:14-15 23:14 23:15 Reforms Carried Out Jehoiada's Reforms Jehoiada's Reign 23:16-21 23:16-21 23:16-21 23:16-19 23:16-19 23:20-21 23:20-24:3 Etc.
2 Crônicas 23:1-7
23:1 "Jehoiada" This is the High Priest married to Jehoshapbeath in 2 Chr. 22:11, who helped hide Joash in the temple chambers for six years. The five men listed must also be of the tribe of Levi. "captains of hundreds" From 2 Kgs. 11:4 this includes some foreign mercenaries (cf. 1 Chr. 18:17). This may be the meaning of 2 Chr. 23:6, not just lay people (i.e., non-Levite), but not covenant people (i.e., Carites or Cherethites). "covenant" See SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT. 23:2 Jehoiada assembled a Levite army to protect the rightful Davidic heir (cf. 2 Kgs. 11:4-20). This is not mentioned in the 2 Kings parallel. The Chronicler is always promoting the Levites! "Israel" This is used of Judah being the true "Israel" of YHWH. See notes at 2 Chr. 11:13-17; 12:6; 21:2. 23:3 This is an allusion to 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17. There was a private, Levitical commitment to service the new Davidic child king (cf. 2 Kgs. 11:4) in the temple before the events of 2 Chr. 23:9-11. 23:6 "let no one enter" This (BDB 97, KB 112) is an IMPERFECT used as a JUSSIVE. I think there is another one at the end of the verse, "let all the people keep the charge of the Lord" (also note 2 Chr. 23:7). This limiting of access was for two purposes. It renewed the sanctity of the temple courts (i.e., Num. 1:15; 3:10,38; 18:7). It excluded any followers of Athaliah to enter.
2 Crônicas 23:8-11
23:8 "did not dismiss any of the divisions" This accumulation of Levites in the temple area had to be done secretly over time, so as not to cause Athaliah or her guards to notice. 23:9 Jehoiada passed out the weapons that were kept in the temple. David's shields of gold ‒ 2 Sam. 8:7 Solomon's shields of gold ‒ 1Kgs. 10:16-17; 14:26-27; 2 Chr. 9:16 Shishak of Egypt took Solomon's shields of gold and Rehoboam replaced them with bronze ones, 2 Chr. 12:9-10 23:10 "the altar" See SPECIAL TOPIC: ALTAR OF SACRIFICE. 23:11 "the testimony" This was a copy of the Ten Commandments or larger parts of the Law of Moses (i.e., Deut. 17:18). Some scholars think it was a document that outlined the responsibilities of the king (AB, p. 130), but I think the books of Exodus or Deuteronomy would do this. "anointed" See SPECIAL TOPIC: "ANOINTING" IN THE BIBLE. "Long live the king" This was a political affirmation (lit. "may the king live," BDB 310, KB 309, Qal JUSSIVE, cf. 2 Sam. 10:24; 1 Kgs. 1:25,34,39).
2 Crônicas 23:12-15
23:13 "tore her clothes" See SPECIAL TOPIC: GRIEVING RITES. "Treason! Treason!" This (BDB 905) is repeated for emphasis (cf. 2 Kgs.9:23; 11:14). What she considered "treason" was YHWH's justice! 23:14 NASB, NRSV, NJB "Bring her out between the ranks" "take her outside under guard" "take her out between the rows of guards" "bring her outside the precincts" "remove her from the house" The term "ranks" (BDB 690, KB 1310) can mean a line of soldiers (KB #2) a row of pillars (Egyptian root) or planks (KB, #1, cf. 1 Kgs. 6:9) "Let her be not put to death in the house of the Lord" This (BDB 562, Hiphil) is an IMPERFECT used as a JUSSIVE (cf. 2 Chr. 23:6,7). 23:15 Josephus, Antiq. 9.7.3., says Athaliah came with her royal guard whom she ordered to kill the crowned child, but she was stopped and she and her supporters killed.
2 Crônicas 23:16-21
23:17 The fact there was a temple and priesthood of Ba'al in Jerusalem shows the level of idolatry that "the house of Ahab" had caused in Judah (especially Jezebel and Athaliah). Josephus, Antiq. 9.7.4., says Athaliah ran to the temple of Ba'al which she and her husband had built in Jerusalem. 23:18 Jehoiada was returning to the organization of David's tabernacle (cf. 1 Chronicles 9). 23:20 Notice the different groups of Judean society. captains (BDB 987) ‒ military nobles (BDB 12) ‒ wealthy rulers of the people (BDB 766 I) ‒ common people people of the land (BDB 481 CONSTRUCT BDB 766 I) ‒ poor people or parallel to #3 The whole point is that all Judean society supported the coup and the Davidic child king. 23:21 "the city was quiet" This was a sign of YHWH's presence and pleasure. The NASB Study Bible, p. 612, shows the outline of Joash's reign. his anointing ‒ 2 Chronicles 23 his good years with Jehoiada as counselor ‒ 2 Chr. 24:1-16 his bad years without Jehoiada ‒ 2 Chr. 24:17-27 This initial godliness followed by evil acts is a recurrent pattern in Chronicles.