Matthew Poole
2 Chronicles 23

Introduction

Jehoiada maketh Joash king, 2 Chronicles 23:1-11. Athaliah is slain, 2 Chronicles 23:12-15. The pure worship of God is restored, 2 Chronicles 23:16-21.

Verse 1

Took the captains of hundreds; not all, but those here following, in whom he put most trust. But this chapter is almost all taken out of 2 Kings 11, where it is explained.

Verse 2

Gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah; partly because they could do this without any suspicion, upon pretence of some solemn feast; which time, it is probable, was chosen for this purpose; and partly because he knew them to be well affected to the cause of God and the king, to which they were obliged by the two firmest ties, conscience and interest. The chief of the fathers of Israel, i.e. both of the two tribes, and of the ten tribes, all which are called Israel; and he useth the name of Israel rather than that of Judah, because there were now great numbers of the other tribes incorporated with Judah; and these he esteemed more faithful than many of Judah, having given better proofs of the truth of their religion than they; and therefore he picked out of the chief men of the other tribes as well as of Judah and Benjamin.

Verse 3, 4

Both that of Sur, 2 Kings 11:6, and other doors adjoining or leading to it.

Verse 5

At the gate of the foundation; at the east gate, thought to be so called, because it stood lower than the rest of the doors, at the foot of the steps, by which they went up from the king's house to the temple. In the courts; either,

1. In the two courts; and so by the people he understands as well the generality of the Levites, who had no particular stations allotted to them, as their brethren had, 2 Chronicles 23:4, 5, which were to be in the priests' court, as the people, who were in the court of the people: or,
2. In the court of the people, which may be called courts, the plural number being put for the singular, in regard of great amplitude, and divers quarters and partitions, into which it was or might be divided; as the temple is called sanctuaries, because of its division into divers parts, Leviticus 26:31.

Verse 6

Into the house of the Lord; strictly so called, as it is distinguished from the courts, into which others were permitted to come, 2 Chronicles 23:5, to wit, into the holy place. The priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they who are to minister in course, or by my present appointment. The watch of the Lord, i.e. of the house of the Lord; as the phrase may be filled up out of this place and 2 Kings 11:6. The sense is, Let them stand in their court to prevent and oppose any person who shall endeavour violently to break into the house to seize upon the king, or to disturb their present work; which he expected Athaliah and her accomplices would do.

Verse 7-11

Jehoiada and his sons; and Zechariah among the rest, whom afterwards he ungratefully slew, 2 Chronicles 24:21.

Verse 12-16

Between him, i.e. the Lord, as is sufficiently implied in the end of this verse, and plainly expressed 2 Kings 11:17. Or, between himself; that the people might see that he brought them under no bond but what he would take upon himself. That they should be the Lord's people, i.e. that every one in his place and station would maintain the law and worship of God, and root out all false worship; which they did in the next verse.

Verse 17, 18

Appointed the offices of the house of the Lord by the hand or, as it is in the Hebrew, put the offices of the house of the Lord into the hand, i.e. he restored the priests and Levites, either,

1. To their places and offices, which possibly in the time of the idolatrous kings, and of Athaliah, had been disposed of to persons of other tribes, partly to gratify their wicked friends, and partly to bring God's house and worship into disgrace; or,
2. To the exercise of their offices, from which they had been in a great measure hindered.

Verse 19, 20

Through the high gate, to wit, of the court belonging and leading to the king's palace.

Verse 21