XXIV. REIGN OF JOASH. (Comp. 2 Kings 12) PROPHETIC MINISTRY OF ZECHARIAH BEN JEHOIADA. The Ascendancy of the High Priest Jehoiada. Repair of the Temple (2 Chronicles 24:1). (1) JOASH WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD. — This verse coincides with 2 Kings 12:1, merely omitting the note that his accession took p... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JOASH DID. — So 2 Kings 13:3. ALL THE DAYS OF JEHOIADA THE PRIEST. — Kings: “all his days, while (or _because_) Jehoiada the priest instructed him.” The expression “all his days” is of course relative to the clause which follows it; and the chronicler has accurately given the meaning.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JEHOIADA TOOK FOR HIM TWO WIVES. — A statement not found in the parallel narrative, and doubtless taken by the compiler from another source. Instead of this, we read in 2 Kings 12:4 : “Only the high places were not taken away; the people were still wont to sacrifice and burn incense on the high... [ Continue Reading ]
WAS MINDED. — Literally, _it became with the heart of Joash_ (2 Chronicles 6:8; 2 Chronicles 9:1; 1 Kings 8:18). TO REPAIR. — See margin _to_ 2 Chronicles 15:8. “To restore” is perhaps the best modern equivalent of the Hebrew term. The account of the restoration of the Temple is given here in diffe... [ Continue Reading ]
GO OUT UNTO THE CITIES OF JUDAH, AND GATHER OF ALL ISRAEL MONEY. — This is the chronicler’s interpretation of “Let the priests take it to themselves, each from his own acquaintance” (Kings). The priests and Levites of the different districts were to collect the moneys due to the sanctuary, each in h... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE KING CALLED FOR JEHOIADA. — So 2 Kings 12:7. THE CHIEF. — Literally, _the head, i.e.,_ of the sacerdotal caste. Usually _kôhçn,_ “priest,” is added, as in 2 Chronicles 19:11; 2 Chronicles 26:20. Kings has simply “the priest,” adding “and for the priests.” WHY HAST THOU NOT REQUIRED OF THE... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE SONS OF ATHALIAH. — There is nothing corresponding to the statements of this verse in the parallel account. Literally, _For Athaliah, the evildoer_ (or, _who did wickedly,_ 2 Chronicles 20:35), _her sons had broken down_ (Isaiah 5:5; Psalms 80:14) _the house of God._ Ahaziah and his elder br... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AT THE KING’S COMMANDMENT THEY MADE. — Literally, _And the king said_ (commanded), _and they made._ (Comp. 2 Kings 12:9 : “And Jehoiada the priest took a chest, and bored a hole in its lid;” details characteristic of a more original account.) AND SET IT WITHOUT — _i.e., outside_ of the Temple p... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY MADE A PROCLAMATION. — Literally, _uttered a voice_ (or _cry_)_ in Judah._ The phrase (_nathan qôl_) occurs here only in this sense. (Comp. Proverbs 1:20.) TO BRING IN TO THE LORD. — Comp. 2 Chronicles 24:6. The meaning is, To bring into the Temple, for the Lord. THE COLLECTION. — Tax, or... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW. — _And._ AT WHAT TIME THE CHEST WAS BROUGHT. — Literally, _at the time when one used to bring the chest to the royal inspection_ (or, _to the king’s officers pĕquddâh_)_, by the hand of the Levites; i.e., whenever the chest was brought,_ &c. The chronicler, as usual, is careful to record the... [ Continue Reading ]
TO SUCH AS DID THE WORK OF THE SERVICE OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. — Heb., _to the doer_ (‘_ôséh_) perhaps in a collective sense. Here, as in 1 Chronicles 23:24, some MSS., and LXX., Syriac, and Vulgate, read the plural (_‘ôsê_). So also the Arabic and Targum here. Those who had charge of the building... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THE WORKMEN WROUGHT. — Literally, _And the makers of the work made._ AND THE WORK WAS PERFECTED BY THEM. — Literally, _and a bandage was applied to the work by their hand._ This curious metaphor, expressive of restoration, is used again in a similar way in _Nehemiah 4:1, “_a bandage was applied... [ Continue Reading ]
The writer concludes in his own fashion, freely modifying the older account to suit the needs of his contemporaries. (The Syriac and Arabic versions omit both verses.)... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREOF WERE MADE VESSELS FOR THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. — Literally, _and he_ (_i.e.,_ Jehoiada) _made it into vessels for the house of Jehovah, vessels of ministering and of offering,_ &c. For “vessels of ministering,” comp. Numbers 4:12. SPOONS. — Cups or _bowls_ (_kappôth,_ Exodus 25:29). The chron... [ Continue Reading ]
DEATH AND BURIAL OF JEHOIADA. NATIONAL APOSTACY AND MURDER OF ZECHARIAH BEN JEHOIADA THE PROPHET (2 Chronicles 24:15). This section is wholly wanting in the Kings. It serves as a moral explanation of the after-history of Joash, recorded there and here (2 Kings 12:17). (15) BUT JEHOIADA... WHEN HE D... [ Continue Reading ]
AMONG THE KINGS. — Literally, _with._ “Because he had done good;” and also, perhaps, as having been regent for so many years, and connected by marriage with the royal house (2 Chronicles 22:11).... [ Continue Reading ]
CAME THE PRINCES... AND MADE OBEISANCE TO THE KING. — As asking a boon. What their petition was is evident from the context (2 Chronicles 24:18). They sought the royal sanction of the idolatrous forms of worship, after which they hankered. THEN THE KING HEARKENED UNTO THEM. — Comp. the influence of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY LEFT THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. — _They,_ viz., the apostate princes and their following, ceased to attend the legal worship of the Temple. AND SERVED GROVES AND IDOLS. — Rather, _the Ashçrim_ and _the idols._ (See Note on 2 Chronicles 14:3.) AND WRATH CAME. — 2 Chronicles 19:2; 2 Chronicles 1... [ Continue Reading ]
YET. — _And._ TO THEM. — _Among them._ AND THEY TESTIFIED AGAINST THEM. — _Solemnly besought them, exhorted them in the name of God_ (Exodus 20:21; 2 Kings 17:13). BUT THEY WOULD._ — And they did. _... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD CAME UPON. — Literally, _clothed, invested._ (See Note on 1 Chronicles 12:18.) ZECHARIAH THE SON OF JEHOIADA THE PRIEST. — “The priest,” _i.e.,_ the high priest, is an epithet of Jehoiada, not of Zechariah. WHICH STOOD ABOVE THE PEOPLE. — Probably on the steps of the inner co... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY CONSPIRED AGAINST HIM. — The conspiracy of 2 Chronicles 24:25 was the Divine recompense for this one. AND STONED HIM. — The legal penalty of idolatry (Leviticus 20:2; Deuteronomy 17:2). AT THE COMMANDMENT OF THE KING. — Probably Zechariah’s words had been represented to Joash as treasonabl... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD LOOK UPON IT, AND REQUIRE IT. — _Jehovah behold, and avenge!_ literally, _seek,_ scil., vengeance for the crime (Genesis 9:5; Psalms 10:4). This dying imprecation is in harmony with the spirit of the older dispensation, which exacted blood for blood. Contrast the prayer of St. Stephen, the... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD’S VENGEANCE, VIZ., THE SYRIAN INVASION AND SLAUGHTER OF THE PRINCES, AND THE MURDER OF JOASH (2 Chronicles 24:23). (Comp. 2 Kings 12:17.) (23) AT THE END OF THE YEAR. — _At the running out of the year,_ viz., the year of the murder of Zechariah. (See for the phrase, Exodus 34:22.) THE HOST... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE ARMY OF THE SYRIANS. — This verse is explanatory of 2 Chronicles 24:23. Literally, _For with fewness of men had the host of Syria come, and Jehovah had given into their hand a host in exceeding abundance._ “Fewness of men” (_miç’ar ‘anâshîm_) is a phrase not found elsewhere. (Comp. Genesis 1... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THEY WERE DEPARTED FROM HIM. — Omit _were._ The Syrians retired, instead of besieging Jerusalem, as they had purposed to do. FOR THEY LEFT HIM IN GREAT DISEASES. — Some refer this to the wounds which Joash had received from the Syrians in battle. But it is not said that Joash himself was w... [ Continue Reading ]
ZABAD THE SON OF SHIMEATH AN AMMONITESS, AND JEHOZABAD THE SON OF SHIMRITH A MOABITESS. — 2 Kings 12:21 : “Jozachar the son of Shimeath and Jehozabad the son of Shomer.”Probably “Jozachar” is right, “Zabad” being an easy corruption of “Zachar,” a normal contraction of Jozachar. Yet many MSS. of King... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW CONCERNING HIS SONS, AND THE GREATNESS OF THE BURDENS LAID UPON HIM, AND THE REPAIRING OF THE HOUSE OF GOD. — Rather, _And his sons, and the multitude of oracles upon him, and the founding of the house of God._ The word “burden” (_massa’_)is common in the sense of a threatening prophecy (2 Kings... [ Continue Reading ]