2 Chronicles 24:23

_AND IT CAME TO PASS AT THE END OF THE YEAR, THAT THE HOST OF SYRIA CAME UP AGAINST HIM: AND THEY CAME TO JUDAH AND JERUSALEM, AND DESTROYED ALL THE PRINCES OF THE PEOPLE FROM AMONG THE PEOPLE, AND SENT ALL THE SPOIL OF THEM UNTO THE KING OF DAMASCUS._ At the end of the year ... the lost of Syria came up. This invasion took place under the personal conduct of Hazael, whom Joash, to save the miseries of a siege, prevailed on to withdraw his forces by a large present of gold (2 Kings 12:18). Most probably, also, he promised the payment of an annual tribute, on the neglect or refusal of which the Syrians returned the following year, and, with a mere handful of men, inflicted a total and humiliating defeat on the collected force of the Hebrews....

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...

On the unusual character of this expedition, see the marginal reference note....

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 IT CAME TO PASS AT THE END OF THE YEAR,.... After the death of Zechariah; so soon had his prophecy its accomplishment: THAT THE HOST OF SYRIA CAME UP AGAINST HIM; against Joash, king of Judah, under Hazael king of Syria, or however sent by him; for some think this is a different expedition from that in 2 Kings 12:17 though others take it to be the same: AND THEY CAME TO JUDAH AND JERUSALEM; not only came into the land of Judah, but as far as Jerusalem, the forces of Joash not being able to stop them: AND DESTROYED ALL THE PRINCES OF THE PEOPLE FROM AMONG THE PEOPLE; the idolatrous princes of Judah, 2 Chronicles 24:17, which is very remarkable that they should be distinguished from the people in their destruction, who had been the

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....

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...

HOST. force. DESTROYED ALL THE PRINCES. Who had led the People astray. This is how the "wrath came "(2 Chronicles 24:18)....

_at the end of the year_ Rather, IN THE COURSE OF A YEAR, i.e. when the same time of year had come round again. _the host of Syria_ R.V. THE ARMY OF THE SYRIANS (as in 2 Chronicles 24:24). _the princes_ Who had been leaders in the apostasy (2 Chronicles 24:17). _from among the people_ The reading of the Heb. is doubtful; the words should perhaps be expunged....