2 Chronicles 24:18

_AND THEY LEFT THE HOUSE OF THE LORD GOD OF THEIR FATHERS, AND SERVED GROVES AND IDOLS: AND WRATH CAME_ _ UPON JUDAH AND JERUSALEM FOR THIS THEIR TRESPASS._ Wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem. The particular mention of Jerusalem as involved in the sin, implies that the neglect of the temple and the consequent idolatry received not only the king's toleration, but his sanction; and it naturally occurs to ask how, at his mature age, such a total abandonment of a place with which all his early recollections were associated can be accounted for. It has been suggested that what he had witnessed of the conduct of many of the priests in the careless performance of the worship, and especially their unwillingness to collect the money, as well as apply a portion of their revenues for the repairs of the temple, had alienated and disgusted him (Leclerc)....

15-27 See what a great judgment on any prince or people, the death of godly, zealous, useful men is. See how necessary it is that we act in religion from inward principle. Then the loss of a parent, a minister, or a friend, will not be losing our religion. Often both princes and inferior people have been flattered to their ruin. True grace alone will enable a man to bring forth fruit unto the end. Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, being filled with the Spirit of prophecy, stood up, and told the people of their sin. This is the work of ministers, by the word of God, as a lamp and a light, to discover the sin of men, and expound the providences of God. They stoned Zechariah to death in the court of the house of the Lord. Observe the dying martyr's words: The Lord look upon it, and require it! This came not from a spirit of revenge, but a spirit of prophecy. God smote Joash with great diseas...

EXPOSITION This chapter contains the entire career of Joash, and is answered to by the twelfth chapter of Kings. It tells of Joash's fidelity to God, and his worship and temple, while Jehoiada's life lasted (2 Chronicles 24:1); of his departure from God and permission of idolatry afterwards (2 Chronicles 24:15-14); of the punishment he received at the hands of the Syrians (2 Chronicles 24:23, 2 Chronicles 24:24); and of his miserable end (2 Chronicles 24:25-14). The d

AND THEY LEFT THE HOUSE OF THE LORD GOD OF THEIR FATHERS,.... Came no more to the temple at Jerusalem, forsook the worship and service of it: AND SERVED GROVES AND IDOLS; worshipped idols in groves, which were upon high places: AND WRATH CAME UPON JUDAH AND JERUSALEM FOR THIS THEIR TRESPASS: their idolatry, and particularly on these princes, the Syrian army coming against them, and destroying them, 2 Chronicles 24:23....

This chapter gives us the story of the reign of Joash. He was the only one of the royal seed who was preserved alive when Athaliah sought to destroy all the family of Ahaziah. He was hidden away for some six years in the temple by his aunt Jehoshabeath, the wife of Jehoiada the high priest, who arranged matters so well that, when the child was seven years old, Jehoiada caused him to be crowned king, and he put to death the cruel she-wolf Athaliah, who had destroyed the royal family. You see, therefore, how much this young king owed to his uncle the high-priest. Now let us read the story of his reign. 2 Chronicles 24:1. _Joash was seven years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem._ He might have reigned much longer had he not erred and turned aside from the right way, and so brought judgment upon himself....

GROVES (_ See Scofield) - (Deuteronomy 16:21). _ (_ See Scofield) - (Judges 3:7). _...

CHAPTER 24 THE TEMPLE REPAIRED, APOSTASY AND ITS RESULTS _ 1. Joash's reign (2 Chronicles 24:1)_ 2. The failure of the priests (2 Chronicles 24:4) 3. The temple repaired (2 Chronicles 24:8) 4. Death of Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 24:15) 5. The apostasy (2 Chronicles 24:17) 6. The Syrian invasion (2 Chronicles 24:23) 7. The death of Joash ...

Joash as king; his restoration of the Temple. There are some significant points of difference between this account and that of 2 K. According to the latter, the house of God having fallen into disrepair, Joash commands that certain dues and free-will offerings of the people are to be utilised by the priests for undertaking the repairs; the priests, however, while taking the money, do nothing for the repair of the Temple. As the result of a protest against this on the part of the king, the priests promise not to receive any more money from the people; but they refuse to repair the Temple. Thereupon Jehoiada, presumably at the command of the king, places a chest beside the altar into which the worshippers cast their gifts. When sufficient money has been received, the repair of the Temple is proceeded with. In the hands of the Chronicler this account becomes considerably modified. He could...

GROVES. Hebrew. _'Asherah._ See App-42. IDOLS. grievous images. WRATH CAME. From Jehovah. Compare verses: 2 Chronicles 24:23....

_they left the house of the Lord_ Cp. 2 Chronicles 29:6, "[they] have turned away their faces from the _habitation of the_Lord." These phrases are a kind of euphemism meaning "to commit apostasy." _served groves and idols_ R.V. SERVED THE ASHERIM AND THE IDOLS; cp. 2 Chronicles 14:3 (note). _wrath_ Heb. _qeçeph_; cp. 2 Chronicles 19:2 (note). _wrath came_ Cp. 2 Chronicles 24:25-26. _their trespass_ R.V. THEIR GUILTINESS; cp. 2 Chronic