2 Chronicles 24:7

_FOR THE SONS OF ATHALIAH, THAT WICKED WOMAN, HAD BROKEN UP THE HOUSE OF GOD; AND ALSO ALL THE DEDICATED THINGS OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD DID THEY BESTOW UPON BAALIM._ For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God, х_ HAMIRSHA`AT _ (H4849)] - wickedness (concrete) for the wicked woman. A voluntary contribution was resolved upon for the due repairs of the temple, from the dilapidations committed upon it by Athaliah and her emissaries for enriching the worship of Baal....

1-14 Joash is more zealous about the repair of the temple than Jehoiada himself. It is easier to build temples, than to be temples to God. But the repairing of places for public worship is a good work, which all should promote. And many a good work would be done that now lies undone, if active men would put it forward....

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

FOR THE SONS OF ATHALIAH, THAT WICKED WOMAN,.... Not Ahaziah and his brethren, in the lifetime of Jehoram, but sons of Athaliah by another man, as Kimchi suggests: HAD BROKEN UP THE HOUSE OF GOD; not that they had made ruptures in it, or broke down the walls of it, but had defaced it by taking off the gold and silver upon it: AND ALSO ALL THE DEDICATED THINGS OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD DID THEY BESTOW UPON BAALIM; not strictly all, but a great many of them, as this word in many instances is used, as Kimchi observes, and with them furnished, beautified, and adorned the temple of Baal....

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...

SONS OF ATHALIAH. Ahaziah and his brethren before they were slain (2 Chronicles 21:17), which may have been allowed in consequence of their sin. Compare 2 Chronicles 21:10. THAT WICKED WOMAN. The term found only here. DEDICATED. holy. See note on Exodus 3:5....

_the sons of Athaliah_ To be understood figuratively, "the adherents of Athaliah." So "a son of the apothecaries" (Nehemiah 3:8; cp. A.V. with R.V.) is "a member of the apothecaries" guild" and "the sons of the prophets" (2 Kings 2:15 etc.) are "the adherents (or -scholars") of the prophets." So again in Psalms 137:8 Edom is called "daughter of Babylon" as having attached herself to the Chaldeans at the destruction of Jerusalem. _had broken up_ Rather, HAD BROKEN INTO. _all the dedicate_things] Cp. 2 Chronicles 15:18;...

FOR THE SONS OF ATHALIAH, &C.— _For Athaliah had enticed her sons to wickedness, and they had broken open the house of the Lord, and all,_ &c. Houbigant....