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 Numbers 18:1, and of the Levites alone to praise God with singing and music 1Ch 23:5; 1 Chronicles 25:1....

EXPOSITION This chapter records first those careful preparations of Jehoiada which eventuated in the safe proclaiming of Joash king (2 Chronicles 23:1); then the tragic demonstration and tragic end of Athaliah (2 Chronicles 23:12); and lastly, the beneficent action of Jehoiada over people and king, to the complete restoration of the worship and temple-services of the true God (2 Chronicles 23:16-14). The chapter is very closely paralleled by 2 Kings 11:4; while the characteristic and to be expected differences on the part of our text are very conspicuous. These will be noted a

2 Chronicles 23:1....

4. REFORMATION UNDER JOASH CHAPTER 23 Joash King and Athaliah's Execution _ 1. Joash made king (2 Chronicles 23:1)_ 2. Athaliah slain (2 Chronicles 23:12) 3. Jehoiada and the revival (2 Chronicles 23:16) The annotations to this interesting page in the history of Judah have already been made in connection with 2 Kings 11. We therefore pass over the preservation of the young child Joash and his hiding away in the LORD's house, on this account. However we call attention to the differences in the two accounts in...

2 CHRONICLES 23, 24. THE REIGN OF JOASH (see notes on 2 Kings 11:4 to 2 Kings 12:21. While the Chronicler bases his narrative, in the main, on the parallel passage in 2 K., he makes changes by means of additions and omissions which leave an entirely different impression on the mind of the reader; this applies more especially to the passage 2 Chronicles 23:1. According to 2 K. it is the captains of hundreds, the royal body-guard composed of foreigners, who enter the Temple at the instance of Jehoiada and proclaim Joash king; the Chronicler, on the other hand, imputes this action, not to the soldiery but to the priests and Levites, because the Law allowed none but priests and Levites to enter the sanctuary. He t

THE LEVITES. Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate read "and the Levites". OF. Some codices, with six early printed editions, read "to". BY DAVID. Hebrew "upon (or by) the hands of David"....

AND _Jehoiada appointed_, etc.] This whole ver. is represented in Kings simply by the words, "And the priest appointed officers (-offices," mg.) over the house of the Lord" (i.e. officers for the care of the Temple, e.g. to see to cleaning and repairing it). _by the hand_ R.V. UNDER THE HAND. _as it was ordained by David_ R.V. ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF DAVID. Note that the Chronicler ascribes all sacrificial arrangements to the law of Moses, but all musical arrangements to David....

OF THE PRIESTS THE LEVITES— _Of the priests, and of the Levites._ Houbigant. REFLECTIONS.—1st, Six years the usurped dominion of Athaliah lasted; but, by the prudence and courage of Jehoiada, she is hurled from her bloody throne, and the rightful heir restored, 2 Kings 11:4. 2nd, Athaliah's impotent attempt hastens her ruin: the people were too tired of her government to afford her any assistance; she fell, therefore, a just sacrifice to the manes of her murdered family. Joy and gladness now spread through the land; the king and people, by Jehoiada as mediator, renew their covenant with God and each other; and, as the first fruits of their zeal, Baal's hated worship is destroyed, and regularity and order restored to the house of God. Thus was this happy revolution effected so prosperously and speedily, and once more the seed of David possessed in peace the throne of

9. THE REIGN OF JOASH (2 Chronicles 23:16-21) TEXT 2 Chronicles 23:16. And Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, and all the people, and the king, that they should be Jehovah's people. 17. And all the people went to the house of Baal, and brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in pieces, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. 18. And Jehoiada appointed the officers of the house of Jehovah under the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of Jehovah, to offer the burnt-offerings of Jehovah, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, according to the order of David. 19. And he set the porters at the gates of the house of Jehovah, that none that was unclean in anything should

REIGN OF JOASH This chapter repeats 2 Kings 11:4, but brings into prominence the ecclesiastical officials in place of the soldiers of the royal guard....