2 Chronicles 23:9

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.

22:1-12 The reign of Ahaziah, Athaliah destroys the royal family. - The counsel of the ungodly ruins many young persons when they are setting out in the world. Ahaziah gave himself up to be led by evil men. Those who advise us to do wickedly, counsel us to our destruction; while they pretend to be friends, they are our worst enemies. See and dread the mischief of bad company. If not the infection, yet let the destruction be feared, Re 18:4. We have here, a wicked woman endeavouring to destroy the house of David, and a good woman preserving it. No word of God shall fall to the ground. The whole truth of the prophecies that the Messiah was to come from David, and thereby the salvation of the world, appeared to be now hung upon the brittle thread of the life of a single infant, to destroy whom was the interest of the reigning power. But God had purposed, and vain were the efforts of earth and hell.

(9) Moreover. — And. This verse is essentially identical with 2Kings 11:10 : “And the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds the spear and the shields that had been king David’s, which were in the house of Jehovah.” The chronicler has added Jehoiada and the bucklers, and turned the spear into spears, rightly according to most critics. Spears, and bucklers, and shields.—Each word has the article in the Hebrew. That had been king David’s.—Comp. 1Chronicles 18:7; 1Chronicles 18:11; also 1Samuel 22:10; 1Samuel 17:7.

The account of the occupation of the temple thus arranged agrees with 2 Kings 11:9-11 . Instead of המּאות שׂרי (Kings), in 2 Chronicles 23:8 are very fittingly named "the Levites (as in 2 Chronicles 23:5 ) and all Judah," viz., in its chiefs, since the high priest had assured himself of the support of the heads of the fathers'-houses of Israel ( 2 Chronicles 23:2 ). Further, to the statement that those who were departing from the service also took part in the affair, it is added, "for Jehoiada had not dismissed the courses." המּחלקות are the divisions which, according to the arrangement made by David ( 1 Chronicles 24-26 ), had charge of the temple service at that time. To the captains Jehoiada gave the spears and shields which had been presented to the temple by David as offerings, because they had come into the temple without weapons; see on 2 Kings 11:10 . ויּעמד, "and he caused the whole people to take position," is connected formally with ויּתּן, 2 Chronicles 23:9 ; while in 2 Kings 11:11 , we have simply ויּעמדוּ.