2 Chronicles 23:13

The contents of this chapter are the same with 2 Kings 11:4 and need no other explanation than what may be found in the notes there, to which the reader is referred.See Gill on 2 Kings 11:4 . See Gill on 2 Kings 11:5 . See Gill on 2 Kings 11:6 . See Gill on 2 Kings 11:7 . See Gill on 2 Kings 11:8 . See Gill on 2 Kings 11:9 . See Gill on 2 Kings 11:10 . See Gill on 2 Kings 11:11 . See Gill on 2 Kings 11:12 . See Gill on 2 Kings 11:13 . See Gill on 2 Kings 11:14 . See Gill on 2 Kings 11:15 . See Gill on 2 Kings 11:16 . See Gill on 2 Kings 11:17 . See Gill on 2 Kings 11:18 . See Gill on 2 Kings 11:19 . See Gill on 2 Kings 11:20 .

23:12-20 A warning from God was sent to Jehoram. The Spirit of prophecy might direct Elijah to prepare this writing in the foresight of Jehoram's crimes. He is plainly told that his sin should certainly ruin him. But no marvel that sinners are not frightened from sin, and to repentance, by the threatenings of misery in another world, when the certainty of misery in this world, the sinking of their estates, and the ruin of their health, will not restrain them from vicious courses. See Jehoram here stripped of all his comforts. Thus God plainly showed that the controversy was with him, and his house. He had slain all his brethren to strengthen himself; now, all his sons are slain but one. David's house must not be wholly destroyed, like those of Israel's kings, because a blessing was in it; that of the Messiah. Good men may be afflicted with diseases; but to them they are fatherly chastisements, and by the support of Divine consolations the soul may dwell at ease, even when the body lies in pain. To be sick and poor, sick and solitary, but especially to be sick and in sin, sick and under the curse of God, sick and without grace to bear it, is a most deplorable case. Wickedness and profaneness make men despicable, even in the eyes of those who have but little religion.

13 . at his pillar ] R.V. by his pillar ; cp. 2 Kings 23:3 (= 2 Chronicles 34:31 , “in his place”). Others translate, upon his platform . at the entering in ] Read (as 2 Kin.) as the manner was . also the singers … to sing praise ] R.V. the singers also played on instruments of music, and led the singing of praise .

Verse 13. - At his pillar (see note on ver. 10). At the entering in . The parallel ( 2 Kings 11:14 ) has "as the manner was" ( ךשׂךשׁ כַּמִּשְׁפָּט בַּמָּבוא ). The reading in the parallel is quite explainable by such references as 2 Kings 23:3 ; 2 Chronicles 34:31 ). Such as taught . Piel participle of יָדַע ; the meaning here probably being not literally the teaching confraternity as such, but the leaders, and in particular those who were appointed on this occasion to lead. Treason! קֶשֶׁר ; interesting references are 2 Samuel 15:12 ; 1 Kings 16:20 ; Isaiah 8:12 ; Jeremiah 11:9 ; Ezekiel 22:25 . The idea of the word is conspiracy , and Athaliah's eye read this at once, and not less promptly, that it amounted to treason to her. 2 Chronicles 23:13

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, {h} Treason, Treason. (h) Declaring her vile impudency who having unjustly and by murder usurped the crown would still have defeated the true possessor and therefore called true obedience treason.

(13) Stood. — Was standing. At his pillar.—On his stand. So 2Kings 23:3. Kings here has, “on the stand;” LXX., ἐπὶ τῆς στάσεως αὐτοῦ; Vulg., “stantem super gradum.” At the entering in.—In the entry. LXX., ἐπὶ τῆς εἰσόδου. Kings reads, “according to the custom.” So the Syriac and Arabic here. And the princes.—See Note on 2Kings 11:14. Some Hebrew MSS. here also read “singers;” one MS. has “Couriers.” Rejoiced.—Were rejoicing and sounding. Also the singers with instruments of music, and such as taught to sing praise.—And the minstrels (or musicians) with the instruments of music, and men leading the chanting (literally, teaching to praise). This is one of the writer’s characteristic additions to the older text. Said.—Kings, “cried,” which is more original.

13. behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in—The king's pillar was in the people's court, opposite that of the priests'. The young king, arrayed in the royal insignia, had been brought out of the inner, to stand forth in the outer court, to the public view. Some think that he stood on the brazen scaffold of Solomon, erected beside the pillar [see on [448]2Ch 6:13].

Slaughter of Athaliah, as in 2 Kings 11:13-16 . In 2 Chronicles 23:13 of the Chronicle, the statement that the assembled people played on instruments is expanded by the addition, "and singing with instruments of song, and proclaiming aloud to praise," i.e., and praising. ויּוצא, 2 Chronicles 23:14 , is an orthographical error for ויצו (Kings).

Slaughter of Athaliah, as in 2 Kings 11:13-16 . In 2 Chronicles 23:13 of the Chronicle, the statement that the assembled people played on instruments is expanded by the addition, "and singing with instruments of song, and proclaiming aloud to praise," i.e., and praising. ויּוצא, 2 Chronicles 23:14 , is an orthographical error for ויצו (Kings).