2 Chronicles 23
DOYLYChap. XXIV. ver. 3. And Jehoiada took for him two wives:] That is, recommended to the king, when he was come to an age fit to marry, two wives. Dr. Wells.
2 Chronicles 23:16
- — because he had done good in Israel.] “In Israel,” that is, in the part of the land of Israel, over which he VOL. I.
reigned, namely Judah. This shews a good disposition then subsisting in the king and his people, that they paid honour to the memory of Jehoiada, “because he had done good toward God, and toward His house,” having been the instrument of restoring the Divine worship, and of repairing the decays which had taken place
2 Chronicles 23:17
- — came the princes of Judah.] Some of the principal men, who in their hearts continued devoted to the worship of Baal, “made obeisance to the king;” that is, made their addresses to him with great reverence, pretending devotion to his service, and requested leave to worship the idols which Jehoiada had destroyed. Bp. Patrick. The great change now wrought in Joash shews of how great importance it is for men in eminent situations to have about them wise and virtuous persons, and for the ministers of religion to be endued with zeal and prudence. The death of persons of this character is a great loss; and evil counsels are ever fatal to those who follow them. Ostervald.
2 Chronicles 23:21
- And they conspired against him, &c.] So degenerate was this prince grown, that he suffered that very temple, which he himself had piously repaired, to be profaned with the blood of a virtuous man, the son of his best benefactor, to whom he owed his life and his crown. Pyle. To what extremities of wickedness will not wretched man proceed, when deserted by his Maker! King Joash is turned, not idolater only, but persecutor; yea, which is more horrible to consider, persecutor of the son of that Jehoiada, to whom he owed his own life. Zechariah, his foster brother, the only issue of those parents, by whom Joash lived and reigned, is, for his conscientious rebuke of the idolatry of prince and people, unto Judah and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people, and sent all the spoil of them unto the king of † Damascus. Before CHRIST 840. Darmstadt.
2 Chronicles 23:22
- — he said, The Lord look upon it, and require it.] The Prophet resigned his breath without any the least reviling word; only telling them that God would not fail to punish such outrageous impieties. The words, “The Lord look upon it, &c.” are not an imprecation, but a prophecy: they are to be taken in a future sense, “The Lord will look upon it and require it.” Pyle. Assuredly, his zeal for justice, not the uncharitable thirst of revenge, drew forth these words. God heard his dying words, and soon called Joash to a severe account. His crime made him odious when living, and deprived him, when slain, of the sepulchre of his fathers, ver. 25; as if this last mark of royalty were too good for him who had forgotten the law of humanity. Bp. Hall.
2 Chronicles 23:23
- — all the princes of the people] Those who had advised Joash to restore the worship of Baal. Bp. Patrick.
2 Chronicles 23:25
- — buried him not in the sepulchres of the kings.] Because he had been a notorious idolater. Bp. Wilson. The fate of Joash was like that of other bad kings. God delivered him up to the Syrians, though they “came with a small company of men,” ver. 24; he was killed in his bed by his own subjects, and buried with disgrace: whence we are taught, that they who provoke the wrath of God by their sins, will experience sooner or later the severity of His judgments. Ostervald.