INTRODUCTION TO 2 CHRONICLES 24 This chapter begins with the reign of Joash king of Judah, son of Ahaziah, 2 Chronicles 24:1, relates his concern and care to repair the temple, 2 Chronicles 24:4, the death of Jehoiada the priest, during whose life he reigned well, but after his death sadly apostati... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 1,2. JOASH WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD WHEN HE BEGAN TO REIGN,.... This, and the following verse, are the same with 2 Kings 11:21. 2 Kings 12:1. 2 Kings 12:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
2 Chronicles 24:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JEHOIADA TOOK FOR HIM TWO WIVES,.... Not for himself; he had a wife who was aunt to King Joash, and he had sons who were concerned with him in anointing him, 2 Chronicles 22:11 and was now upwards of one hundred years of age; but for the king, when he was at an age fit for marriage, he advised h... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS AFTER THIS,.... After his marriage, when he was about twenty or twenty one years of age, perhaps: THAT JOASH WAS MINDED TO REPAIR THE HOUSE OF THE LORD; which in some places might be fallen to decay, having been built one hundred and fifty years or more, and in others defaced by... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE GATHERED TOGETHER THE PRIESTS AND LEVITES,.... To communicate his mind unto, and give them a charge and instructions: AND SAID UNTO THEM, GO OUT UNTO THE CITIES OF JUDAH, AND GATHER OF ALL ISRAEL MONEY TO REPAIR THE HOUSE OF YOUR GOD FROM YEAR TO YEAR; what money he means is more fully expla... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE KING CALLED FOR JEHOIADA THE CHIEF,.... Who was either the high priest, or the head of his course, or, however, the chief of the priests and Levites concerned in this affair, and, indeed, was the chief or prime minister of state: AND SAID UNTO HIM, WHY HAST THOU NOT REQUIRED OF THE LEVITES... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AT THE KING'S COMMANDMENT THEY MADE A CHEST,.... 2 Kings 12:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY MADE A PROCLAMATION THROUGH JUDAH AND JERUSALEM,.... By heralds appointed for the purpose: TO BRING IN TO THE LORD; into the house of the Lord, and for the reparation of it; and so for his service, honour, and glory: THE COLLECTION THAT MOSES THE SERVANT OF THE LORD LAID UPON ISRAEL IN TH... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL THE PRINCES AND ALL THE PEOPLE REJOICED,.... When they heard the proclamation, and understood for what use the money was to be given, and in what manner; all was agreeable and pleasing to them: AND BROUGHT IN, AND CAST INTO THE CHEST; through the hole that was in the lid of it, 2 Kings 12:9... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW IT CAME TO PASS, THAT AT WHAT TIME THE CHEST WAS BROUGHT UNTO THE KING'S OFFICE BY THE HAND OF THE LEVITES,.... The place where his officer or officers met, appointed for this service; very probably in one of the chambers of the temple, AND WHEN THEY SAW THAT THERE WAS MUCH MONEY: see 2 Kings 1... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE KING AND JEHOIADA GAVE IT TO SUCH AS DID THE WORK OF THE SERVICE OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD,.... That is, they gave it to those who were overseers of them, to pay them with it, 2 Kings 12:11 AND HIRED MASONS AND CARPENTERS TO REPAIR THE HOUSE OF THE LORD see 2 Kings 12:12 AND ALSO SUCH AS W... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THE WORKMEN WROUGHT,.... The masons, carpenters, blacksmiths, and brasiers: AND THE WORK WAS PERFECTED BY THEM; the business of repairs was completely finished: AND THEY SET THE HOUSE OF GOD IN HIS STATE; as it was at first: AND STRENGTHENED IT; so that it seemed as firm and stable as when fir... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THEY HAD FINISHED IT,.... The repairs of the house, all that were necessary: THEY BROUGHT THE REST OF THE MONEY BEFORE THE KING AND JEHOIADA: that is, the overseers, when they had paid the workmen, brought what was left of the money collected to the king and the priest, to dispose of as th... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT JEHOIADA WAXED OLD, AND WAS FULL OF DAYS WHEN HE DIED,.... A very old man; few at this time arrived to such an age; he was a rare instance: ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY YEARS OLD WAS HE WHEN HE DIED; the oldest man we read of from the times of Moses, and older than he by ten years.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY BURIED HIM IN THE CITY OF DAVID AMONG THE KINGS,.... In honour to him, he having been the preserver of the king, and of the kingdom, and being by marriage a relation of the present king, uncle to him: BECAUSE HE HAD DONE GOOD IN ISRAEL; in that part of it which belonged to the kingdom of t... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW AFTER THE DEATH OF JEHOIADA CAME THE PRINCES OF JUDAH,.... Who had been secretly inclined to idolatry, but durst not discover it during the life of Jehoiada; whose influence at court was too great for them to counterwork, but when dead they came to court: AND MADE OBEISANCE TO THE KING; bowed i... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY LEFT THE HOUSE OF THE LORD GOD OF THEIR FATHERS,.... Came no more to the temple at Jerusalem, forsook the worship and service of it: AND SERVED GROVES AND IDOLS; worshipped idols in groves, which were upon high places: AND WRATH CAME UPON JUDAH AND JERUSALEM FOR THIS THEIR TRESPASS: their... [ Continue Reading ]
YET HE SENT PROPHETS TO THEM, TO BRING THEM AGAIN UNTO THE LORD,.... To reprove them for their sin, to warn them of their danger, to exhort them to their duty, and endeavour to restore them, and reduce them to the obedience and worship, of God; such was his clemency, goodness, and condescension to t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME UPON ZECHARIAH THE SON OF JEHOIADA THE PRIEST,.... The spirit of prophecy, as the Targum; he was moved and influenced by it to speak what is after related: WHICH STOOD ABOVE THE PEOPLE; in a desk, or sort of pulpit, in which the priests stood when they taught the peo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY CONSPIRED AGAINST HIM,.... Consulted together to take away his life, and got the order of the king to do it: AND STONED HIM WITH STONES AT THE COMMANDMENT OF THE KING IN THE COURT OF THE HOUSE OF THE LORD; where he had stood and reproved them; this they did before he went out, while in the... [ Continue Reading ]
THUS JOASH THE KING REMEMBERED NOT THE KINDNESS WHICH JEHOIADA HIS FATHER HAD DONE TO HIM,.... In preserving him in his infancy, and nourishing him; in settling him on the throne, and assisting him with his advice and counsel: BUT SLEW HIS SON; who also assisted at his coronation, and with his fath... [ Continue Reading ]
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... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THE ARMY OF THE SYRIANS CAME WITH A SMALL COMPANY OF MEN,.... It consisted but of few: AND THE LORD DELIVERED A VERY GREAT HOST INTO THEIR HAND; which the king of Judah and his princes had got together to oppose them: BECAUSE THEY HAD FORSAKEN THE LORD GOD OF THEIR FATHERS; therefore the Lord... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THEY WERE DEPARTED FROM HIM,.... Having got what wealth and spoil they could: FOR THEY LEFT HIM IN GREAT DISEASES; through the wounds they gave him, and the distress they brought him into: HIS OWN SERVANTS CONSPIRED AGAINST HIM, FOR THE BLOOD OF THE SONS OF JEHOIADA THE PRIEST; for perhap... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THESE ARE THEY THAT CONSPIRED AGAINST HIM, ZABAD THE SON OF SHIMEAH AN AMMONITESS,.... Called Jozachar, the son of Shimeah, 2 Kings 12:21, AND JEHOZABAD THE SON OF SHIMRITH A MOABITESS; called in the same place the son of Shomer.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW CONCERNING HIS SONS,.... The sons of Joash; how many they were, and what their names: AND THE GREATNESS OF THE BURDENS LAID UPON HIM; which some understand of the hard and heavy prophecies of the Lord against him; and others of the heavy taxes and tribute imposed on him by the king of Syria; an... [ Continue Reading ]