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2 Chronicles 23

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2 Chronicles 23 Overview

In Joash’s seventh year, Jehoiada the priest organizes captains, Levites, priests, and leaders throughout Judah. They gather at Jerusalem, protect the temple, crown Joash, give him the testimony, and proclaim him king. Athaliah cries treason but is taken outside and killed. Jehoiada then makes a covenant among himself, the people, and the king that they should be the LORD’s people. The house of Baal is destroyed, temple worship is restored, and Joash takes the throne amid rejoicing.

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Before you read 2 Chronicles 23

Coming from

Chapter 22 ended with Joash hidden in the temple while Athaliah ruled Judah.

In this chapter

Jehoiada reveals the preserved heir, restores the Davidic king, removes Athaliah, renews covenant commitment, and reestablishes temple order.

Leads into

Chapter 24 begins with Joash repairing the temple under Jehoiada’s influence but later records his serious apostasy after the priest’s death.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The revolution is presented as restoration of the legitimate Davidic heir rather than a random seizure of power. Giving the king ‘the testimony’ recalls Deuteronomy’s expectation that Israel’s king live under God’s law. The destruction of Baal worship follows the Mosaic covenant setting and should not be transferred into modern religious vigilantism.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

Jehoiada combines careful planning with fidelity to the Davidic covenant.

Truth 2

The king receives both a crown and the testimony, showing that royal authority is meant to stand under God’s word.

Truth 3

Covenant renewal includes removal of Baal worship and restoration of temple service.

Truth 4

The people rejoice when lawful Davidic rule is restored.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

Second Kings 11 gives the parallel account.

Connection 2

Deuteronomy 17:18-20 requires Israel’s king to have and read the law so his heart is not lifted above his brethren.

Connection 3

Second Samuel 7 supplies the Davidic covenant background.

Connection 4

Second Chronicles 24 will reveal that Joash’s early faithfulness depends heavily on Jehoiada’s influence.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

Do not turn Athaliah’s execution or destruction of Baal’s temple into a Christian mandate for violence against false religions today.

Keep this clear 2

The king’s possession of the testimony shows accountability to revelation, not salvation by law keeping.

Keep this clear 3

A restored institution can still later fail; chapter 24 prevents idealizing Joash prematurely.

Read 2 Chronicles 23 watching for…

The groups Jehoiada mobilizes.

The protection arranged around Joash.

The crown and testimony given to the king.

Athaliah’s removal.

The covenant renewal.

The restoration of temple worship and public rejoicing.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-11Jehoiada gathers support, guards the temple, and crowns Joash king 12-15Athaliah cries treason and is taken out and killed 16-21Jehoiada renews the covenant, Baal worship is destroyed, and Joash is placed on the throne

And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, 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, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, 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 king's son shall reign, as the LORD hath said of the sons of David.

This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doors;

And a third part shall be at the king's house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD.

But let none come into the house of the LORD, save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall go in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD.

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 out.

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

Moreover Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David's, which were in the 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 king's son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons 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 she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, 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 Jehoiada 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 followeth 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 entering of the horse gate by the king's house, they slew her there.

And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD's people.

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 Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the LORD by the hand 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 rejoicing and with 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 any thing should enter in.

And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors 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 into the king's house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom.

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

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2 Chronicles 23:16

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