CHAPTER XXIV _Joash begins to reign when seven years old, and reigns well_ _all the days of Jehoiada the priest_, 1-3. _He purposes to repair the temple of God; and makes a_ _proclamation that the people should bring in the money_ _prescribed by Moses_, 4-9. _They all contribute liberally; and... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 24:4. _TO REPAIR THE HOUSE OF THE LORD._] During the reigns of Joram and Athaliah, the temple of God had been pillaged to enrich that of Baal, and the whole structure permitted to fall into decay; see 2 Chronicles 24:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 24:5. _GATHER OF ALL ISRAEL MONEY_] As the temple was the property of the whole nation, and the services performed in it were for the salvation of the people at large, it was right that each should come forward on an occasion of this kind, and lend a helping hand. This is the firs... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 24:6. _THE COLLECTION - OF MOSES_] This was the poll-tax, fixed by Moses, of half a shekel, which was levied on every man from twenty years old and upward; and which was considered as a _ransom_ _for their souls, that there might be no plague among them_. See Exodus 30:12-2.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 24:8. _THEY MADE A CHEST_] 2 Kings 12:4, c.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 24:16. _THEY BURIED HIM - AMONG THE KINGS_] He had, in fact, been _king_ in Judah; for Joash, who appears to have been a weak man, was always under his tutelage. Jehoiada governed the state in the name of the king; and his being buried among the kings is a proof of the high estima... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 24:17. _THE PRINCES OF JUDAH - MADE OBEISANCE TO THE KING_] I believe the _Targum_ has given the true sense of this verse: "After the death of Jehoiada, the great men of Judah came and adored King Joash, and seduced him; and then the king received from them their idols.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 24:20. _AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD CAME UPON ZECHARIAH_] "When he saw the transgression of the king and of the people, burning incense to an idol in the house of the sanctuary of the Lord, on the day of expiation; and preventing the priests of the Lord from offering the burnt-offerings... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 24:21. _STONED HIM - AT THE COMMANDMENT OF THE KING_] What a most wretched and contemptible man was this, who could imbrue his hands in the blood of a prophet of God, and the son of the man who had saved him from being murdered, and raised him to the throne! Alas, alas! Can even _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 24:22. _THE LORD LOOK UPON_ IT, _AND REQUIRE_ IT.] And so he did; for, at the end of that year, the Syrians came against Judah, destroyed all the princes of the people, sent their spoils to Damascus; and Joash, the murderer of the prophet, the son of his benefactor, was himself mu... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 24:26. _THESE ARE THEY THAT CONSPIRED AGAINST HIM_] The two persons here mentioned were certainly not _Jews_; the _mother_ of one was an _Ammonitess_, and the _mother_ of the other was a _Moabitess_. Who their _fathers_ were we know not; they were probably _foreigners_ and _aliens... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Chronicles 24:27. _THE GREATNESS OF THE BURDENS_ LAID _UPON HIM_] Meaning, probably, the heavy tribute laid upon him by the Syrians; though some think the vast sums amassed for the repairs of the temple are here intended. _WRITTEN IN THE STORY_] מדרש _midrash_, the _commentary_, of the book... [ Continue Reading ]