2 Chronicles 23

AND in the seventh year Jehojada strengthened himself, and 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., Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Oben, and Maasejah the son of Adajah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him.

And they went about in Judah, and 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 the two firmest ties, Conscience and Interest., and 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 Iudah; because there were now great numbers of the other Tribes incorporated with Israel; and these he estemed more faithful than many of Judah, having given better proofe of the truth of their Religion than they; and therefore he pick't out of the chief men of the other Tribes, as well as of Judah and Benjamin., and they came to Jerusalem.

And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God: and he said unto them, Behold, the kings son shall reign, as the LORD has said of the sons of David.

This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you entring on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites shall be porters of the doors Both that of Shur, 2 Kings 11. 6. and other doors adjoyning or leading to it.;

And a third part shall be at the kings house; and a third part 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 Kings house to the Temple.: and all the people shall be 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, v. 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, Levit. 26. 31. of the house of the LORD.

But let none come into the house of the LORD Strictly so called, as it is distinguished from the Courts, into which others were permitted to come, v. 5. to wit, into the Holy place., save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites They who are to minister in course, or by my present appointment., they shall go in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep 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 complices would do..

And the Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand, and whosoever else cometh into the house, he shall be put to death: but be ye with the king when he cometh in, and when he goeth our.

So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehojada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in * on the sabbath, with them that were to go on the sabbath: for Jehojada the priest dismissed not the courses.

Morcover, Jehojada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds, spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king Davids, which were in th... house of God.

And he set all the people (every man having his weapon in his hand) from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king round about.

Then they brought out the kings Son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony, and made him king: and Jehojada and his sons And Zechariah among the rest, whom afterwards he ungratefully slew, ch. 24. 21. anointed him, and said, God save the King.

Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the LORD.

And the looked, and behold the king stood at his pillar, at the entring in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king? and all the people of the land rejoyced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with Instruments of musick, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes and said, Treason, treason.

Then Jehojada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds, that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth of the ranges: and whoso solloweth her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said, Slay her not in the house of the LORD.

So they laid hands on her, and when she was come to the entring of the horse-gate, by the kings house, they slew her there.

And Jehojada made a covenant between him i. e. The Lord as is sufficiently implied in the end of this, 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. and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORDS 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..

Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in pieces, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.

Also Jehojada 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 theirplaces 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 gratifie their wicked friends, and partly to bring Gods House and Worship into disgrace: Or 2. to the exercise of their offices, from which they had been in a great measure hindred. of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt-offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoycing and singing, as it was ordained by David.

And he set the porters at the gates of the house of the LORD, that none which was unclean in anything, should enter in.

And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governours of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of the LORD: and they came through the high gate To wit, of the Court belonging and leading to the Kings Palace. into the kings house, and set the king upon the throne of the land.

And all the people of the land rejoyeed: and the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword.