2 Chronicles 24
DortJoas is religious, as long as Jojada liveth, vers.1, etc. He marrieth two wives, 3. Causeth the Temple to be repaired, 4. Jojada dieth, 15. Is very honorably buried, 16. Joas becometh an idolater, 17. Causeth Zacharia the son of Jojada to be put to death, for reproving idolatry, 20. He is preyed upon and smitten by the Syrians, 23. Murdered by his own servants, 25. Amazia his becometh King, 27.
1. Joas was seven years old, [Hebr. a son of seven years. See above chap.23.on vers.1.] when he became king, and he reigned fourty years at Jerusalem: and his mothers name was Zibia, of Ber-Seba.
2. And Joas did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, all the days of Jojada the Priest. [That is, as long as Jojada was alive, who ceased not to instruct as him in the ways of the Lord, 2 Kings 12:2.]
3. And Jojada took for him two wives, [That is, he chose two wives for him, whom he sought out in due manner, and joined them to him in wedlock] and he begat sons and daughters.
4. Now it came to pass after this, that it was in the heart of Joas, [That is, that Joas was minded, or had an intent. So 1 Kings 8:17,18. See the Annotations] to renew the house of the LORD. [That is, to repair, or to mend, that which was broken, and decayed in it.]
5. So he gathered together the Priests and the Levites, and said unto them; Go out into the cities of Juda, gather money of all Israel, [Meaning the Israelites, that were under the jurisdiction of Juda. See above chap.15.on vers.17. and 21.on vers.2.] to repair [Hebr. strengthen, that is, to renew, as vers.4. So 2 Kings 12:5,6. And below vers.12.] the house of your God, from year to year; [because it could not be repaired in one year, or, for that it was to be repair every year] and make ye haste for this matter, [Hebr. for this word] but the Levites made no haste.
6. And the King called Jojada, the chief, [To wit, of the priests; that is, the chief Priest. The word Priest, is added thereto, below vers.11. See also Neh.12.on v.7.] and said unto him; Why hast thou not made search, [Or, not enquired] among the Levites, to bring in out of Juda, and out of Jerusalem, the tax [Or, levy, collection, charge] of Moses the servant of the LORD, and of the Congregation of Israel, for the Tent of the Testimony? [meaning such a tax, levy, or collection, as Moseh had commanded for the making of the Tabernacle in the wilderness, Exod.30.12,13. And 38.24.25. which happened not yearly, but as necessity required. Compare the Annotations on Exod.30.12. Others conceive that this collection was ordained, and was made duly every year, for the maintaining of the worship of God, and its appurtenances. See of the Tent of witness, or, testimony, Numb.1.on vers.50.]
7. For when Athalia dealt wickedly, her sons [Namely, Ahazia with some of his next kinsmen. See above chap.21.16,17. For the rest of her sons were carried away captive in the life-time of Joram her husband. Otherwise the Plural Number is here used for the Singular; as Gen.21.7. unless we should say, that Athalia’s sons had done the thing here mentioned, before their captivity] had broken up the house of God, [Others, the sons of Athalia, that wicked woman, had, etc. Hebr. For Athalia dealing wickedly, her sons had, etc.] yea even bestowed all [that is, all manner, or, the greatest part] the hallowed thing [see Lev.16.on vers.4.] of the house of the LORD upon Baalim. [That is, Idols. See Judges 2.on vers.11.]
8. And the King commanded, [Hebr. said; that is here, commanded; to wit, by the advice of Jojada the High Priest, as may be gathered from 2 Kings 12:2.] and they made a chest, and set it without at the gate of the house of the LORD. [To wit, of the peoples Court; on the right hand, as they entered into the Temple of the Lord. See 2 Kings 12:9. and the Annotations thereon.]
9. And they made proclamation in Juda, and in Jerusalem, [Hebr. and they gave a voice in Juda. Etc. that is, they caused proclamation to be made. Of the word voice for proclamation, see Exod.36.6. and the Annotat. Item Ezra 1:1.] to bring in to the LORD the tax [see above on vers.6.] of Moseh the servant of the LORD over Israel [that is, charged upon Israel by God, and imposed upon them by Moseh] in the wilderness.
10. Then all the Princes, and all the people rejoiced: and they brought in, and cast into the chest, until they had made an end. [To wit, of repairing the house of the Lord. See vers.14. Others, until it became full.]
11. Now it came to pass, at the time when he [Namely, Jojada the High Priest] brought in the chest [to wit, out of the place where it stood, into one of the chambers that were in the Temple, for to take out the money there, to pursue it, and to tell it out. Compare 2 Kings 12:10. and the Annotations] at the Kings command by the hand of the Levites, and when they saw that there was much money; that the Kings Scribe came, and the chief Priests and officers, [that is, those that were appointed for this work by the High Priest. In their room the High Priest himself is mentioned, 2 Kings 12 10. For a man may be said to do that himself, which he doth by another. See Gen.40.on vers.22.] and emptied the chest, and took it up, and carried it to his place again: [see of this place above on vers.8.] thus they did from day to day, and gathered money in abundance;
12. Which the King, and Jojada gave to those, that had the care of the work of the service of the house of the LORD; [Hebr. that did the work, etc. That is, that provided it, or had the care of it. And understand thereby the Chiefest over-seers over the work, that it mighty by them be given to the workmen, or labourers: for there was more than one over-seer. See 2 Kings 12.on vers.11.] and they hired hewers, [the Hebrew word signifieth as well hewers stone, as hewers of wood. See 1 Kings 5.on vers.15.] and carpenters, [the word that is used in the original, is indeed ascribed to sundry artificers or handy-crafts-men, as appeareth, Exod.35 35. And 38. 23. 2 Chron.22.15. Isai 45.16, etc. and here in the following words of this verse; but that it is to be understood here of Carpenters, may be here truly gathered from the foregoing and following words] to renew the house of the LORD: together with workmen also in iron, and copper, to mend the house of the LORD.
13. So the providers of the work caused the repairing [Hebr. health] of the work to go on by their hand: [the meaning is, that the work of Building by the diligent care of the over-seers came to good perfection. The Hebrew word is likewise so taken, 1 Kings 18:30. Nehem.4.7.] and they restored the house of God in his shape, [The Hebrew word signifieth here a well-ordered form, or a right-fashioned, or, regular structure, having its due proportion, shape, and dimension] and made it strong.
14. Now when they had finished (its,) [To wit, the repairing and mending of the Temple] they brought the rest of the money before the King and Jojada, [to wit, the providers, and over-seers of the work did so, who were intrusted by the king and Jojada to lay out this money aright, above vers.12.] whereof he [to wit, the king] made vessels for the house of the LORD, vessels to minister, and to offer (withal,) [Others, monitors] and incense-bowels, and gold, and silver vessels; and they offered burnt-offerings continually in the house of the LORD all the days of Jojada. [That is, as long as Jojda lived. So above vers.2.]
15. And Jojada waxed old, and full of days, [See Gen.25.8. and the Annotat. Item Gen.35.29. 1 Chron.23.1. and 29.28.] and died, he was an hundred and thirty years old, [Hebr. a son of an hundred and thirty years] when he died.
16. And they buried him in the city of David, by the kings: for he had done good [To wit, kept the young king from the cruel and murderous Athalia, brought him well up, and instructed him, set him upon the royal throne, put to death wicked Athalia, repaired the Temple, and restored the pure worship of God] in Israel, [that ,is, in the land of Juda, and that which appertained thereto, which was a part of Israel, this name being taken generally. See above chap.21.on vers.2.] both towards God [in restoring his worship, above chap 23.18. and here vers.14.] and (towards) his house. [Meaning, his Temple, which was repaired by the advice and managing of Jojada.
17. But after the death of Jojada, came the Princes of Juda, and bowed themselves down before the King: [To wit, suing unto him, for the bringing in of idolatry again into the land, as probably may be gathered from the following verse] then the king hearkened unto them. [That is, he granted their suit, or, request.]
18. So they left the house of the LORD the God of their fathers and served the groves, and the idols: [Hebr. sorrows. See 1 Sam.31.on vers.9.] then great wrath [namely, of God. See below chap.28.on vers.13.] was upon Juda, and Jerusalem, for this their trespass.
19. Yet he sent Prophets among them, to cause them to return unto the LORD: they testified against them, [That is, called heaven and earth to witness against them] but they inclined not (their) ears.
20. And the spirit of God put Zecharia [Or, clothed; that is, the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and arrayed him as a garment. See Judges 6.on vers.34.] the son of Jojada the Priest, who stood above the people, [that is, in a place that was higher than the place wherein the people were assembled; from which place Zachariah spake, that he might be the better heard] and he said unto them; Thus saith God; Why trangress ye the commandments of the Lord? Therefore ye shall not be prosperous; [compare 2 Chron.15 2.] because ye have foesaken the LORD, therefore he will forsake you.
21. And they made a conspiracy against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the King, [See Matth.23.35.] in the court of the house of the LORD. [To wit, in the peoples court, as some conceive. Others understand this of the priests court, so that this murder should have been commited. Between the Altar and the Porch of the Temple; to wit, as it were before the face of the Lord. The opinion of many is, that the Lord Jesus Christ hath respect to this passage, Matth.23.34. and that Jojada is called there Baracha.]
22. Thus king Joas remembered not the kindness, which Jojada his father had done to him, [Of which see above chap.23.] but slew his son: who when he died, said; The LORD will look upon it, and require (it.) [Namely, my bloud at the hands of these murderers, and at the hand of him that commanded the murder to be done. That is, God will punish and avenge it. See Gen.9.5. and 42.23. and the Annotations. Others, the LORD seeth it, and will require it: or, the Lord look upon it, and require it.]
23. Therefore it came to pass with the circuit of the year, that the forces of Syria marched up against him, and they came to Juda, and Jerusalem, and destroyed all the Princes of the people from among the people: and they sent all the spoil of them unto the King of Damascus. [Hebr. Syria. See Gen.14.on vers.15.]
24. Albeit that the army of the Syrians came with few men; yet not with standing the LORD delivered an army of great multitude into their hand, because they had forsake the LORD the God of their fathers: [Compare above chap.12. the annotations on vers.2.] so they [namely, the Syrians] executed the judgements against Joas. [That is, the punishments of God, which he had deserved of Zacharia. For it seemeth likewise by the following verse, that the Syrians had wounded him.]
25. And when they were departed from him, (for they left him in great diseases) his servants made a conspiracy against him, [see 1 Kings 15. The Annotations on vers.27.] for the blouds; that is, for the murder commited on Zacharia. See 1 Kings 2.on vers.33.] of the sons of Jojada the Priests, [That is, of Zacharia the son of Jojada the priest; the plural number being here put for the Singular. See above v.7. and the Annotations: unless we should say that Jojada had more sons, that were put to death: or at least by sons are here to be meant the sons of Zacharia, because children seem to have been sometimes destroyed with their fathers. Compare 2 Kings 9.vers.26. and above chap.24 4.] and they slew him on his bed, that he died, and they buried him in the city of David, but they buried him not in the Sepulchres of the Kings.
26. Now these are they, that made a covenant against him, Zahad, [Called also Jozachar, 2 Kings 12:21.] the son of Simath the Ammonitess, and Jozahad the son of Simrith [otherwise called Somer, 2 Kings 12:21.] the Moabitess.
27. Now concerning his sons, [Which he had, or also left behind] and the greatness of the burden (laid) upon him, [That is, of the taxation, wherewith he was changed, or burdened, to redeem the plundering and spoiling of Jerusalem of Hazael, 2 Kings 12:18. Others understand this of the collections or taxes, which he laid upon the people, toward the building and repairing of the Temple] and the building of the house of God, [Hebr. the ground-work, or, foundation, etc. that is, the building on the house of God] behold, they are written in the History of the book of the kings: [the Hebrew word Midruseh hath its name from seeking, because therein the acts and deeds of Kings were diligently sought out, gathered together, and recorded. So above chap.13.22.] and Amazia his son became king in his stead.