1 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.
2 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.
3 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.
4 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;
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.
6 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.
7 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.
8 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.
9 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.
10 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.
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.
12 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:
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 music, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason.
14 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.
15 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.
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.
17 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.
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.
19 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.
20 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.
21 And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword.
Chapter 23 of the book of 2 Chronicles in the King James Version of the Holy Bible continues the story of the reign of King Joash, the youngest king in the history of Judah. This chapter focuses on the efforts of the high priest Jehoiada to restore the rightful heir to the throne and bring about religious reforms in the kingdom. The main themes of this chapter include loyalty, faithfulness, and the importance of following God's laws. This chapter also serves as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the blessings of obedience to God.
The chapter begins with Jehoiada, the high priest, gathering the captains of the guards and the Levites to make a covenant with them to support and protect the rightful heir to the throne, Joash. Joash was only seven years old when he was anointed as king, and his grandmother, Athaliah, had been ruling over Judah in his place. However, Jehoiada and the other faithful leaders of Judah were determined to restore the true king and bring about religious reforms in the kingdom.
Jehoiada and his supporters devise a plan to bring Joash to the temple and anoint him as king. They also organize a guard to surround and protect the young king from any harm. The Levites were instructed to guard the gates of the temple, and the people of Judah were gathered to witness the coronation of Joash. This was an act of defiance against Athaliah, who had ordered the execution of all the descendants of David to secure her place on the throne.
As soon as Athaliah hears the commotion and sees Joash being crowned as king, she tears her clothes and cries, "Treason! Treason!" But her cries were in vain as the people of Judah rejoiced and praised God for the new king. Athaliah was eventually captured and put to death, and Joash was established as the rightful king of Judah.
Once Joash is established as king, Jehoiada and the other faithful leaders of Judah begin to implement religious reforms in the kingdom. They restore the temple of the Lord and reinstate the worship of God. The people of Judah were instructed to bring their tithes and offerings to the temple, and the priests and Levites were appointed to their duties. These reforms were necessary as the previous rulers had neglected the temple and allowed idolatry to flourish in the kingdom.
Joash also commands the people to follow the laws of God and to destroy the altars and idols of Baal. The people of Judah were obedient, and they destroyed the altars and images of Baal, and Jehoiada the priest was put in charge of the temple. The king also reinstates the proper sacrifices and offerings to be made in the temple, and the people were once again united in their worship of God.
Despite the reforms and the blessings of God on Judah, the people of Judah eventually turned away from God and began to worship idols once again. This was partly due to the influence of Joash's officials, who had abandoned the temple and turned to serve idols. When Jehoiada the priest dies at the age of 130, the king and his officials no longer have any guidance or accountability, and they begin to forsake the temple and worship idols.
God sends prophets to warn the people of Judah of the consequences of their disobedience, but they refuse to listen. Instead, they even stone one of the prophets, Zechariah, who was the son of Jehoiada. This act of rebellion and the disregard for God's laws ultimately leads to the downfall of Joash and the kingdom of Judah.
Chapter 23 of 2 Chronicles serves as a reminder of the importance of loyalty and faithfulness to God. Jehoiada, the high priest, and the other faithful leaders of Judah risked their lives to establish the rightful heir to the throne and bring about religious reforms in the kingdom. They were obedient to God's laws and were blessed for their faithfulness.
This chapter also highlights the consequences of disobedience and the importance of following God's laws. The people of Judah fell into idolatry and rebellion when they turned away from God and neglected His laws. Their disobedience ultimately led to the downfall of the kingdom and the death of Joash.
Furthermore, this chapter also serves as a reminder that even the most faithful leaders can fall into sin when they lack accountability and guidance. Joash, who was once a faithful king, turned away from God and led the people astray when he no longer had Jehoiada to guide and advise him.
In conclusion, chapter 23 of 2 Chronicles highlights the themes of loyalty, faithfulness, and the importance of following God's laws. It serves as a reminder of the blessings of obedience and the consequences of disobedience. This chapter also emphasizes the need for accountability and guidance in staying faithful to God.
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