2 Chronicles 23 Bible Commentary

John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes

(Read all of 2 Chronicles 23)

Verse 5

[5] 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.

Foundation — At the east gate, 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 king's house to the temple.

Verse 11

[11] 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.

His sons — And Zechariah among the rest, whom afterwards he ungratefully slew, chap. 24:21.

Verse 13

[13] 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.

Rejoiced — To see a rod sprung out of the stem of Jesse! To see what they despaired of ever seeing, a king of the house of David.

Verse 16

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

Him — The Lord, as is expressed, 2 Kings 11:17.

Verse 18

[18] 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.

Appointed — Or, as it is in the Hebrew, put the offices of the house of the Lord into the hand, that is, he restored the priests and Levites to the exercise of their office.

Verse 21

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

Rejoiced, … — The generality of the people rejoiced, the rest were quiet and made no opposition. When the Son of David is enthroned in the soul, all therein is quiet, and springs of joy are opened.