Ezra 2

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Ezra 2:2

Jehoram King of Judah

When Jehoshaphat died, he was buried with his fathers in the city of David, that is Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 21:1). That the city is called “the city of David” reminds us of the kingship of David, the man after God’s heart, and to the promises of eternal kingship in the great Son of David, the Lord Jesus Christ. Jehoshaphat is succeeded by his son Jehoram, who reigns from 848-841 BC. Jehoshaphat has more sons (2 Chronicles 21:2). However, they are first referred to as “brothers” of Jehoram. This relationship is therefore emphasized.

Jehoshaphat gave his sons wealth and fortified cities (2 Chronicles 21:3). Rehoboam did something similar (2 Chronicles 11:23). It is hard to say whether Jehoshaphat’s policy was sensible. It may have contributed to Jehoram, who gets the kingship from him because he is the eldest son, seeing them as a danger to the undermining of his power. After all, his brothers all have an area over which they have authority.

Jehoram is an evil man. When he has come on the throne, he first does all that is necessary to strengthen his position as king (2 Chronicles 21:4; cf. 2 Chronicles 23:1). To strengthen his position, he may have given people important posts to ensure their support in exercising and maintaining his power. He will have done it with the plan in mind to kill all his brothers, a plan he then executes.

After the murder of his brothers (cf. Judges 9:5), he also kills a number of rulers. Except that he sees them as competitors that threaten him in the exercise of his power, it may be that these men fear the LORD and address Jehoram about his evil path. We read about his brothers that they are better than he (2 Chronicles 21:13). Such voices are definitively silenced.

Those in power do everything to strengthen and maintain their position. They eliminate anyone they see as a threat to their position. People who act like Jehoram, do so because they expect that they themselves will be treated this way by others. They want to prevent that.

Jehoram is an adult man when he becomes king and commits these murders (2 Chronicles 21:5). He has been on the throne for eight years. What he does is the same as the kings of Israel do. The cause of this is his marriage to a daughter of Ahab (2 Chronicles 21:6). Through this, Jehoshaphat’s house is connected to Ahab’s house. The murders he commits shows the influence that his wicked wife has on him, who also performs a massacre herself (2 Chronicles 22:10). That woman has her murderousness not of a stranger, but of Jezebel, the wife of Ahab, who will have been closely involved in her upbringing (1 Kings 18:4; 1 Kings 19:2; 1 Kings 21:7-15).

Despite this monstrous marriage and its monstrous manifestations, the LORD did not destroy the house of David. The reason for this is the covenant He made with David (2 Samuel 23:5; 1 Chronicles 17:12; Isaiah 55:3). Man’s actions cannot destroy God’s faithfulness.

Ezra 2:3

Jehoram King of Judah

Ezra 2:4

Jehoram King of Judah

Ezra 2:5

Jehoram King of Judah

Ezra 2:6

Jehoram King of Judah

Ezra 2:7

Jehoram King of Judah

Ezra 2:8

Jehoram King of Judah

Ezra 2:9

Rebellion of Edom and Libnah

Unfaithfulness to the Lord always brings with it loss of power over enemies. We see that here too. Edom, who is subject to Judah, rebels against the authority of Judah and establishes his own kingdom (2 Chronicles 21:8). Jehoram doesn’t accept that. He tries to submit Edom to himself again (2 Chronicles 21:9). He goes up against Edom and defeats them. However, the victory is not complete, because Edom continues to resist and has not been brought back entirely under the authority of Judah (2 Chronicles 21:10).

Also Libnah, a priest city, withdraws from his power. The reason is: “Because he had forsaken the LORD God of his fathers.” Possibly the priests revolted against this wicked king because he led the people to idolatry. Jehoram also makes high places (2 Chronicles 21:11).

With this he goes further than his ancestors, of whom we read that they have not removed the high places. However, Jehoram not only lets idolatry exist, but even stimulates it, he encourages it. He causes the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the city which the LORD has chosen to make His Name dwell there, to play the harlot, which is idolatry (Exodus 34:15-16). He seduces Judah to do that. This is outright rebellion against the LORD.

Ezra 2:10

Rebellion of Edom and Libnah

Ezra 2:11

Rebellion of Edom and Libnah

Ezra 2:12

Rebellion of Edom and Libnah

Ezra 2:13

A Letter From Elijah

Then Elijah suddenly appears on stage through a letter. Here Elijah must already have gone to heaven, an event described in 2 Kings (2 Kings 2:1; 11). How then anyway a letter from him? It is a prophetic letter in which Elijah writes down events that have been announced to him by the LORD. The letter is handed over to Jehoram at the right time.

This letter from Elijah is noteworthy in the light of the area and the nature of his service. Elijah has served as a prophet in the ten tribes realm. That is the area of his service. The service he does through the letter is directed at the king of Judah and the situation there. His service has always been oral and now we read that he wrote something. It is the first time that we read of the writing of any prophet. It is a letter to this evil king.

The content of the letter does fit in with Elijah’s service, which was not only, but nevertheless mainly a service of judgment. The letter contains a word from the LORD, Who presents Himself to Jehoram as “the LORD God of your father David”. The remembrance to David shows the great contrast between David and Jehoram. This way of presenting also makes it clear that the LORD is not the God of Jehoram.

The content of the letter is the announcement of judgment with its reasons. First the different reasons are given: 1. Jehoram did not go in the ways of his father Jehoshaphat and in the ways of his grandfather Asa; 2. on the contrary, he has gone in the ways of the kings of Israel; 3. he has caused the people to play the harlot as the house of Ahab has done with Israel; 4. moreover, he has killed his brothers, his own family, people who are better than him.

The judgment is in accordance with his grave sins. The list is detailed and leaves nothing to be desired in terms of clarity. There will come great calamity about 1. his people, 2. his children, 3. his wives, 4. his property and 5. himself. He himself will suffer a severe sickness, a disease of his bowels. That disease will be so severe that his bowels come out because of the sickness. That will result in his death.

So first Jehoram is struck in what surrounds him, what he cherishes, where he sees his importance reflected, what serves his honor. Then he is taken out of this life by a two-year lasting terrible sickness.

Ezra 2:14

A Letter From Elijah

Ezra 2:15

A Letter From Elijah

Ezra 2:16

A Letter From Elijah

Ezra 2:17

The Discipline of the LORD

The word of the LORD to and about Jehoram is fulfilled; the judgment comes. The judgment comes first from outside, but comes from the LORD. The LORD stirs up an enemy against Judah (2 Chronicles 21:16). The LORD stirs up the spirit, which means that He stimulates their spirit and sets them in motion to go up against Judah. He uses peoples who do not know Him and do not want to serve Him, and makes them tools to carry out His will. For this he brings together two peoples who live far apart. The Philistines live nearby, it is a neighboring country; the Arabs live on the border of Ethiopia.

The man who has killed his brothers to enjoy everything alone, now experiences that his sons and wives are killed (2 Chronicles 21:17). However, God keeps the lamp burning even now (2 Chronicles 21:7), no matter how weak the glow may be. The youngest son of Jehoram, Jehoahaz, remains. Jehoahaz is the same person as Ahaziah (2 Chronicles 22:1), where in the name the prefix becomes the suffix, without changing the meaning of the name.

Ezra 2:18

The Discipline of the LORD

Ezra 2:19

Death of Jehoram

“So after all this”, that is to say after all the misfortune by means of enemies, the LORD strikes Jehoram with a sickness that runs slowly and for which no cure is possible (2 Chronicles 21:18). As Elijah has predicted, it is a disease of his bowels. The word used here for ‘disease’ is only found in four other texts (Deuteronomy 29:22; Psalms 103:3; Jeremiah 14:18; Jeremiah 16:4). The chronicler, as it were, holds us up as a mirror the end of a wicked man. In the quoted texts in which the word ‘disease’ appears, Psalms 103:3 lights up comfortingly. If we suffer from such a disease and then resort to the LORD, He will provide a solution.

The slowness of the disease can be seen as a proof of God’s grace, giving him time to repent. Asa also fell ill at the end of his life (2 Chronicles 16:12). Asa is a man who is faithful in his heart, but has gone the wrong way at the end of his life. This is illustrated by the fact that he gets sick at his feet. Jehoram is a man who is unfaithful in his heart. That is illustrated by the disease of his bowels. He who, so to speak has had no compassion for his brothers ‘in his bowels’, is struck in his bowels. During his sickness he does not receive any support from wives or children, because they have all been killed. He also receives no pity from the people.

No one has appreciated him during his life, no one regrets him when he dies. He goes, still quite young and after a rather short reign. This is a dark page in the history of God’s people in Judah. There will be a few more of these dark pages, until Joash becomes king and the darkness fades away a little.

Ezra 2:20

Death of Jehoram

Ezra 2:21

Death of Jehoram

Ezra 2:23

Introduction

The consequences of Jehoram’s marriage to Athaliah can be seen in the history of the people, which we have before us in these chapters. These are consequences that cannot be undone. In the genealogy of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 1 three names are missing: Ahaziah, Joash and Amaziah (Matthew 1:8). This are the three generations born out of Athaliah.

Ahaziah King of Judah

When Jehoram has died, the inhabitants of Jerusalem make the youngest son of Jehoram, Ahaziah, king in his place (2 Chronicles 22:1). He is the only candidate. His older brothers were all killed by the band that came with the Arabs (2 Chronicles 21:16-17).

Three times there has been a slaughter of members of the royal family, the royal house of David. First Jehoram killed all his brothers after he himself had taken the reign into his own hands as the eldest son (2 Chronicles 21:4). Then all the sons of Jehoram are murdered by Philistines and Arabs (2 Chronicles 21:16-17). Only Ahaziah – in the previous chapter he is called Jehoahaz – the youngest son, remains, which is repeated here. The third slaughter we see later in this chapter. There the brothers of Joash are murdered, a murder that only Joash escapes from (2 Chronicles 22:10-11). This means three slaughters with one exception each. This is because of the lamp God promised to always keep burning in the house of David.

Ahaziah reigns for only one year. During that one year his wicked mother, whose name is mentioned here, Athaliah, is his counselor (2 Chronicles 22:3). Then nothing good can come.

Athaliah is the daughter of Ahab (2 Chronicles 21:6). The fact that she is called “the granddaughter of Omri” here, shows all the more the malice of her performance, in which there is no respect for the LORD at all. Omri is the father of Ahab and the founder of a wicked reign that through his son has developed further in wickedness. He is the inventor of a religion without God that has been practiced by Ahab, as the prophet Micah tells the people (Micah 6:16a). Athaliah is a fervent supporter of Omri’s statutes and very diligent in performing those statutes.

Ahaziah, through his upbringing, is completely imbued with the wicked atmosphere of the house of Ahab. During his upbringing he was given all the elements to allow him to continue on his evil path. It has deformed his mind. When he is in power, his mother does not stop giving him instructions. On the contrary, she smells the power. Not only his mother, but also the members of Ahab’s house give him evil advice (2 Chronicles 22:4). Everything they whisper to him is to his ruin. For example, Ahaziah has been surrounded by evil people who let him tumble down on the way of and to destruction.

On their advice, Ahaziah commits himself to his uncle Jehoram in his fight against the Syrians (2 Chronicles 22:5). Following this advice leads to his destruction (2 Chronicles 22:4). Jehoram is wounded in the fight against the Syrians, in which he is defeated (2 Chronicles 22:6). Jehoram then goes to Jezreel to heal. When Ahaziah hears about it, he visits him. When Jehoram is restored, Ahaziah connects again with Jehoram, now to meet Jehu together with him (2 Chronicles 22:7).

Jehu is the man anointed by the LORD to exterminate the house of Ahab. The history of Jehu is described in 2 Kings 9-10. Ahaziah will be dragged into ruin because of his ties with Ahab’s house. He has bound himself to a wicked man and will share in the judgment on that wicked man. This is a warning to us that we do not engage in religious wickedness. If we do, we will share in the plagues that have been predicted about it (Revelation 18:4).

That Ahaziah goes with Jehoram is “from God”. We see here that God is above the events. He uses the self-willed actions of man to carry out His purposes. Thus He brings together the object of His anger and the means of the exercise of His anger. First of all, Jehu executes judgment on the house of Ahab (2 Chronicles 22:8). Then he goes in search of Ahazia, who hides in Samaria (2 Chronicles 22:9). Because of the good memory of Jehoshaphat his (grand)son Ahaziah gets a place in the grave.

The final line states that after Ahaziah’s death no direct succession is possible, because there is nobody in his house who is powerful enough to reign. This notice is the introduction to the next section, in which we are told that there is still a successor, but one that is not yet able to reign (2 Chronicles 22:10-12).

The end of Ahaziah as described (2 Chronicles 22:9), does not resemble the way Ahaziah ends according to the historiography in 2 Kings (2 Kings 9:27). These are two different stories. The key is that the chronicler, writing after the exile, does not write about the city of Samaria, but about the entire landscape of Samaria. We must first read the story of 2 Kings and then the story in 2 Chronicles.

Ezra 2:24

Introduction

Ahaziah King of Judah

Ahaziah reigns for only one year. During that one year his wicked mother, whose name is mentioned here, Athaliah, is his counselor (2 Chronicles 22:3). Then nothing good can come.

Ezra 2:25

Introduction

Ahaziah King of Judah

Ahaziah reigns for only one year. During that one year his wicked mother, whose name is mentioned here, Athaliah, is his counselor (2 Chronicles 22:3). Then nothing good can come.

Ezra 2:26

Introduction

Ahaziah King of Judah

Ahaziah reigns for only one year. During that one year his wicked mother, whose name is mentioned here, Athaliah, is his counselor (2 Chronicles 22:3). Then nothing good can come.

Ezra 2:27

Introduction

Ahaziah King of Judah

Ahaziah reigns for only one year. During that one year his wicked mother, whose name is mentioned here, Athaliah, is his counselor (2 Chronicles 22:3). Then nothing good can come.

Ezra 2:28

Introduction

Ahaziah King of Judah

Ahaziah reigns for only one year. During that one year his wicked mother, whose name is mentioned here, Athaliah, is his counselor (2 Chronicles 22:3). Then nothing good can come.

Ezra 2:29

Introduction

Ahaziah King of Judah

Ahaziah reigns for only one year. During that one year his wicked mother, whose name is mentioned here, Athaliah, is his counselor (2 Chronicles 22:3). Then nothing good can come.

Ezra 2:30

Introduction

Ahaziah King of Judah

Ahaziah reigns for only one year. During that one year his wicked mother, whose name is mentioned here, Athaliah, is his counselor (2 Chronicles 22:3). Then nothing good can come.

Ezra 2:31

Introduction

Ahaziah King of Judah

Ahaziah reigns for only one year. During that one year his wicked mother, whose name is mentioned here, Athaliah, is his counselor (2 Chronicles 22:3). Then nothing good can come.

Ezra 2:32

Slaughter by Athaliah; Joash Saved

When Ahaziah is dead, Athaliah kills “all the royal offspring of the house of Judah” (2 Chronicles 22:10). The murderousness of Athaliah must have focused mainly on the sons of her son Ahaziah. After all, there is not much else to eradicate, given the two previous slaughters. That she is out to kill even her own grandchildren, proves once again that she is a daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. She wants to have the power herself and strengthen herself against Jehu to avenge himself against him. All this is the result of the marriage connection Jehoshaphat arranged between his son and the daughter of Ahab (2 Chronicles 18:1).

Then the miracle of God’s grace happens. He has Joash, who is a baby, rescued by his aunt Jehoshabeath (2 Chronicles 22:11). Jehoshabeath is a daughter of Jehoram, but of another mother. She is a special woman. Twice she is referred to as the daughter of the king, while she is also “the wife of Jehoiada the priest”. We can say that she is a ‘royal-priestly’ woman. It gives her a great dignity which makes her far superior to the pretentious person Athaliah. Jehoshabeath is out for salvation, Athaliah is out for destruction. Jehoshabeath serves God’s people, Athaliah serves herself.

There is another God-fearing woman who, together with Jehoshabeath, withstands the wicked woman Athaliah. That is the nurse of Joash. Joash is still so little, that the nurse has to come along to feed and care for him in secret. What an important task this unknown woman, whose name we do not even know, gets!

Joash is raised in the temple for six years (2 Chronicles 22:12). Like Samuel, from his earliest existence he has been in a place where God is present more than anywhere else, and he is formed by the atmosphere that prevails there. Unlike Samuel, Joash lives six years in the deepest secrecy of the temple. No one knows that a descendant of the house of David is alive. The thought that there is no one left of David’s house must be a great trial for the faithful for six years.

Joash passed through death, as it were, because he is kept hidden. The time of the apparition comes and then he starts to reign, along with Jehoiada, the priest. Here we see a reference to the kingdom of peace. After being hidden with God, the Lord Jesus appears to establish His kingdom of peace (Colossians 3:3-4). Moses is also hidden for a time (Exodus 2:2).

While Joash is hidden, Athaliah, the daughter of Jezebel, reigns over the house of David. She is connected in name with God’s people, but she is essentially a great enemy of God. We see this in the great Babylon of which she is a picture. About Babylon we read that she sits as queen and rules over God’s people (Revelation 17-18). Babylon does not tolerate opposition and does not live in the lack of the beloved (Revelation 18:7). But it will not always remain like that.

Ezra 2:33

Slaughter by Athaliah; Joash Saved

Ezra 2:34

Slaughter by Athaliah; Joash Saved

Ezra 2:36

Introduction

The history of Joash here is actually the history of Jehoiada. Jehoiada is the main character in this chapter. He must be over ninety years old here and a venerable appearance at his performance. When he dies, the appreciation for him turns out: he is buried among the kings (2 Chronicles 24:16).

The Covenant With the King

“The seventh year” (2 Chronicles 23:1) is the year after the six years mentioned in the last verse of the previous chapter (2 Chronicles 22:12). Joash has been hidden in the temple for six years. The time of his public performance to accept his kingship has come. During his being hidden two women, Jehoshabeath and the nurse, took care of Joash. Now that he will publicly come forth as king, Jehoiada comes to the fore.

Jehoiada is a careful man. He keeps the boy hidden until the time is ripe to show him. Before that time, he strengthens his position. He begins by involving in a covenant captains of hundred – the army officers, by whom he assures himself of the support of the army – and five named men. If we have a plan to do something for the Lord, it is also important to involve the right people. These are co-workers who share the same goal and who know themselves called by the Lord. Paul also makes careful choices about who he wants to take with him and who he does not want to take along on his missionary journeys.

The next step of Jehoiada is that he makes the five men mentioned travel around in Judah to call upon the Levites and the family heads to come to Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 23:2). It will not be said that the call is to have a protest meeting. Maybe it has been said that it is to have a feast day. Such a thing will arouse the least suspicion in Athaliah.

If we know that the Lord has said something, it is enough to go in faith. A revival begins, just like here with Jehoiada, with an individual, in a small circle, but who has or gets knowledge of the hidden Christ. The circle is getting bigger and bigger and many are involved in it – so there can be chaff under the wheat and the revival fades away. After the captains and the five men follow the Levites, the family heads and all the assembly.

Then the whole gathered assembly enters into a covenant with the king (2 Chronicles 23:3). This happens in the house of God, that is, before God’s face. With the words “behold, the king’s son” Jehoiada turns the eyes of all to Joash. He underlines his action with a reference to what the LORD Himself has said. It is not a selfish act, but in accordance with what “the LORD has spoken concerning the sons of David”.

In this little boy lies the hope for the future. Christ is not of value either, yet He is “the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27). As it was tried to kill Joash, but who escaped by “fleeing” into the house of the LORD, so it was tried to kill the Lord Jesus and He escaped by fleeing to Egypt. Then He grew up in secret, in the things of His Father, until the time of His public performance had come.

So it is with Joash. Until his public appointment as king he dwells “in the shelter of the Most High” and spends the night “in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalms 91:1). He dwells in his younger years “in the house of the Lord all the days” of his life (Psalms 27:4). Let this also be our refuge and our life, for our “life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3).

Ezra 2:37

Introduction

The Covenant With the King

Ezra 2:38

Introduction

The Covenant With the King

Ezra 2:39

Joash Proclaimed King

After the presentation of the king in a closed circle of insiders, the public presentation of the king must now take place. For this presentation Jehoiada also has a plan of approach and gives instructions (2 Chronicles 23:4). He determines that three groups must be formed. One third of the priests and Levites must serve as doorkeepers. They must take the guard at the gates of the temple, where the king is hidden, to ward off all intruders.

Another third is to supervise the course of events relating to the palace, the future residence of the king (2 Chronicles 23:5). The last third must be at the Gate of the Foundation. It is assumed that through this gate the king goes from his house to the temple. Finally, all the people who are in Jerusalem, possibly on the occasion of the proclaimed feast day, must stand “in the courts of the house of the LORD”.

Of all the people, according to the precepts of the LORD, no one may enter the temple (2 Chronicles 23:6). Entering the temple is only allowed to the priests and Levites who serve, “for they are holy”, that is, they are separated from the people for that purpose. Also now, only those who form a holy priesthood may offer up sacrifices to God (1 Peter 2:5).

The Levites, the servants of the priests, must protect the king (2 Chronicles 23:7). They must be armed and have those weapons in their hands to be able to use them directly to repel an attack on the king. They may not for a moment deviate from the king’s side, “when he comes in and when he goes out”. This is about going into the temple and coming out again from the temple. The life of the king is completely connected to the temple. He is God’s representative, and in order to represent Him well, he must regularly seek His presence.

This assignment also applies to us. Each of us is not only a priest, but also a Levite. We must protect our Lord, Jesus Christ, from attacks on His Person. The weapons given to us are spiritual weapons (2 Corinthians 10:4; Ephesians 6:10-17). We are good soldiers when we protect the interests of our Lord. For this it is necessary that we are and stay close to Him. To be close to Him we will have to be wherever He goes or stands, wherever He sends us or wherever He lets us stay.

The Levites and all Judah do exactly what Jehoiada commanded (2 Chronicles 23:8). Obedience is of the utmost importance to truly serve the interests of the king. It is obedience that is connected with service on the sabbath. The rule is that there is one division on duty, while another division is off duty. In this case, Jehoiada has cancelled all leaves. The Levites who will serve and the Levites who will be relieved must remain ready.

With regard to the Lord Jesus, to us obedience is also of the utmost importance. In that obedience there is no time for leave, for there is a fight to fight for Christ. Here the word from Ecclesiastes 8 applies: “There is no discharge in the time of war” (Ecclesiastes 8:8). To us the sabbath speaks of the rest for our souls which the Lord Jesus has worked for us through His work on the cross (Matthew 11:28-30). There must be inner rest in order to be able to obey and fight.

The weapons that Jehoiada hands over to the captains are from the time of King David and come from the sanctuary (2 Chronicles 23:9). To us, this means that we can only fight with weapons that have also been used by the Lord Jesus, of Whom David is a picture. He used the Word of God to defeat the devil (Matthew 4:1-10). The Word of God is the Word that has its home in the house of God, the dwelling place of God. When we read and study the Word of God, if our mind is good, we are in the sanctuary. There we learn through God’s Spirit the meaning of God’s Word and how to use it.

After the instructions to the priests and the Levites regarding their place and task in view of the king, Jehoiada finally stations “all the people, … around the king” (2 Chronicles 23:10). Every member of the people is in contact with the king and every other member. They also each have their weapons in hand, ready for immediate use. The safety cordon stands before the full width of the house. The arrangement is such that they have an eye on the altar and on the house.

This attitude shows us how important each member of the people of God is for the protection of the king. We can apply this to the church and its members. We have to be “united” (1 Corinthians 1:10), no member should be missing or neglecting his task (1 Corinthians 12:14-19). Each member must be able to use the spiritual weapons made available to him.

Together they must stand before the whole house of God, that is the church of the living God, to defend the truth of it. In that house is the Lord Jesus, “the mystery of godliness” (1 Timothy 3:15-16). In doing so, we must keep an eye on the Lord’s Table, of which the altar is a picture, while also keeping an eye on the house, the whole church (1 Corinthians 10:16-18).

When all the preparations have been made and each has taken his place, the great moment is there that the king is presented to the whole people (2 Chronicles 23:11). The crown is put on Joash that gives him royal dignity and symbolizes his power over the people. He also receives “the testimony” in his hands, which is a copy of the law. Every king must have this to attune his reign to it (Deuteronomy 17:18). The law designates his dependence and submission. Authority and power are exercised in God’s mind only when it happens in dependence on and obedience to Him. After that, Jehoiada and his sons – Jehoiada involved his family in this event – anoint Joash king.

For us it is a matter of acknowledging the Lord Jesus as Lord. We are made a kingdom over which He reigns. To behave royally we must read the Bible (Revelation 1:3). It tells us what the Lord Jesus expects of us. Then we will also be preserved for arrogant and autonomous action. It is important that we involve our children in our acknowledging of the Lord Jesus as Lord. If that is our desire, we will give them God’s Word as young as possible to become familiar with it.

Ezra 2:40

Joash Proclaimed King

Ezra 2:41

Joash Proclaimed King

Ezra 2:42

Joash Proclaimed King

Ezra 2:43

Joash Proclaimed King

Ezra 2:44

Joash Proclaimed King

Ezra 2:45

Joash Proclaimed King

Ezra 2:46

Joash Proclaimed King

Ezra 2:47

Athaliah Put to Death

Athaliah hears the sound of the cheers of the people for the just anointed king (2 Chronicles 23:12). She goes out to the sound and comes to the people in the house of the LORD, for there everything is happening so far. The revival that is going on starts there. The opponents are also going there. So she sees what is going on, who it is about, where he stands, who is involved, and how they express themselves (2 Chronicles 23:13).

Her reaction to her observations is that she tears her clothes. She does not do this because she is convinced of her sins in her conscience, but because she has lost her power. Her exclamation “Treason! Treason!” brings out how she is inwardly. She describes what happens as high treason.

If there is a revival in our lives, if we subject our lives completely to the authority of the Lord Jesus and honor Him again, we can count on the interest of our adversaries. They do not want to share it, but see it as treason. The calling of ‘Treason!’ is the typical reaction of religious men and politicians who do not want to give up any of their power when they see that others give themselves completely to the Lord and want to do obediently what He says. We can notice such reactions in personal lives as well as in the life of a church.

We can think of not participating in all kinds of good actions in the world and in the church and point to our submission to the Lord as a motive for this. Of course people who do not have the Spirit cannot understand this. They see us as traitors, because they think that a Christian should work for those good things. We do not have to feel obliged because of their attitude to participate or to donate. The Lord must be our Client and not a charity organization.

Jehoiada orders to put Athaliah to death (2 Chronicles 23:14). However, this must not happen in the house of the LORD. With this house she hasn’t had any bond in her life. That connection must not be there in her death either. She is seized in the king’s house that she has presumptuously occupied and there she is killed (2 Chronicles 23:15). This has put an end to the reign of this wicked woman who claimed this reign for herself at the expense of the lives of many.

Ezra 2:48

Athaliah Put to Death

Ezra 2:49

Athaliah Put to Death

Ezra 2:50

Athaliah Put to Death

Ezra 2:51

Service to God Restored

When the pretentious woman is killed, first a covenant is made (2 Chronicles 23:16). Jehoiada is taking the initiative. It is a covenant between the LORD on the one hand and all the people and the king on the other hand. In this covenant the people and the king commit themselves “that they would be the LORD’s people”. Then the idols are torn down and they kill Mattan, the priest of Baal, at the place where he offered to the idols (2 Chronicles 23:17). It is not possible to acknowledge the king in his rights and God not. Therefore, she who wanted to be queen is killed in favor of the true king, the idols are torn down in favor of the true God, and the imitation priest is killed in favor of the true priests.

When all counterfeiting has been eradicated, there is room for true service to God (2 Chronicles 23:18). Now sacrifices can be made “as it is written in the law of Moses”. To that end, Jehoiada reinstated the offices to do that service. He dedicates the care of the temple to the priests so that they may bring sacrifices. The main purpose is to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD. The burnt offerings are brought “with rejoicing and singing” i.e. with joyful songs. This is done by the Levites, who follow “the order of David” and do not work according to their own insight.

It shows us that a true revival is centered around Christ and that it is about presenting Him to God as a true burnt offering. To us, this is the service of worship, in which we worship the Father “in spirit and truth” (John 4:23), which means in a spiritual manner and in accordance with the truth of God’s Word. There are revivals that bring dedication, or interest in the Word. However, here it is about worship. Unfortunately, Christians in general understand little of what this means.

Jehoiada also makes sure that nobody enters the temple who is unclean (2 Chronicles 23:19). He stations gatekeepers for this purpose. There must be supervision and discipline. On the one hand there is joy and song in the sanctuary and on the other hand there is an awareness of God’s holiness. What Jehoiada does is an indictment of the often light-hearted way in which Christians today can partake of the Supper in many groups. Without any investigation one can partake of the Supper in many places, because one leaves this to no more than the own responsibility of the one who wants to partake. It is not thought that the Supper is celebrated at the Lord’s Table. The Table is the Lord’s Table. He decides who may partake and who may not.

Then it is time for the accession to the throne (2 Chronicles 23:20). A large and diverse group is taken by Jehoiada to the house of the LORD, which until then was the residence of the king. The whole company is united, because they all have the same goal. It’s about giving the king the place where he belongs: the king’s throne. If all believers today have that goal in relation to the Lord Jesus, they will also go up together harmoniously.

When the king has taken his place on the throne, all of the people of the land rejoice (2 Chronicles 23:21; Proverbs 11:10). The city has peace after Athaliah is killed. So there will be peace and joy when we judge evil and separate ourselves from religious corruption because we have given the Lord Jesus the place on the throne of our lives.

Ezra 2:52

Service to God Restored

Ezra 2:53

Service to God Restored

Ezra 2:54

Service to God Restored

Ezra 2:55

Service to God Restored

Ezra 2:56

Service to God Restored

Ezra 2:58

Introduction

Joash’s government clearly shows two parts. These two parts show an opposite situation. Both parts show that Joash has no independent relationship with the LORD, but is influenced by advisers in his direct environment. The first part of his reign (2 Chronicles 24:1-16) is characterized by the influence of a good counselor, Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 24:2; 14), when he does what is right in the eyes of the LORD. The second part of his reign (2 Chronicles 24:17-27) is characterized by the bad influence of the princes of Judah (2 Chronicles 24:17).

Joash King of Judah

Joash is still very young when he becomes king, he is only seven years old (2 Chronicles 24:1). The duration of his reign is forty years. The chronicler mentions his mother’s name: Zibiah, which means ‘gazelle’. He also mentions the place where she comes from: Beersheba, which is situated southerly. Zibiah will certainly have supported her son in advice and deed during the first years of his reign, but the greatest influence on the reign of Joash has been Jehoiada. Joash does, as long as he is under the good guidance of Jehoiada, what is right in the sight of the LORD (2 Chronicles 24:2).

Even when it comes to Joash’s marriage, Jehoiada arranges everything (2 Chronicles 24:3). Jehoiada takes two wives for him. This is the custom of the time, but it is not the original plan of God Who already established monogamous marriage at creation. The motif of Jehoiada with the two wives is that he wants the royal line to continue. This happens, because Joash conceives sons and daughters with his wives.

Ezra 2:59

Introduction

Joash King of Judah

Ezra 2:60

Introduction

Joash King of Judah

Ezra 2:61

Joash Wants to Restore the Temple

It is nice to read that Joash’s heart goes out to the house of the LORD already in his younger years (2 Chronicles 24:4). He lived in it for six years and knows the house from the inside like no other. The impressions a child gains up to the age of six largely determine his further development. In the course of time, God’s house has decayed and Joash wants to restore it, that is to say restore it to its original state.

We can learn from this for the local church where we must also have an eye for decay. This decay can take place by the creeping in of individuals and teachings or worldliness that weaken the functioning of the church. We can think, for example, of a weakening of fellowship with each other, of a change in the behavior of believers through conforming to this world, of an adaptation of the doctrine of God’s Word to what the members of the church like to hear, of the introduction of worldly elements into the church.

Joash orders the priests and the Levites to go and collect money in the cities of Judah and in all Israel (2 Chronicles 24:5). He wants to use this money to restore the house of “your God”. By speaking of “your God”, he points out to priests and the Levites the responsibility they have toward God. They owe it to God because they must perform the priesthood and Levite service for Him in His house. Joash also wants them to do what he said quickly.

However, we read that the Levites do not act quickly. One reason may be that they are not really involved in the temple service with their hearts. It is possible that their interest in it has weakened over the years. We will not commit ourselves to God’s house, to us the church of God, if this house does not have the deep interest of our hearts. We will not even do it if others remind us of our responsibilities.

Joash calls Jehoiada to account. He accuses him of negligence. Jehoiada, according to Joash, has been negligent in ensuring that the Levites “bring in … the levy [fixed by] Moses the servant of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 24:6; Exodus 30:16). It remains to be seen whether this reproach is justified. What Joash wants is commendable. But the way in which he has worked raises questions. He has not sent the Levites with an appeal to Moses. All he has told them is that they need to collect money to restore the house of God. A heart that is not fully involved in a work for the Lord will not quickly be tempted to ask others to give for that work.

That his accusation may not be justified can also be inferred from the silence of the spiritual-minded Jehoiada. There is no defense to the criticism. This is not weakness or admitting that the saying is true, but rather speaks of spiritual strength. Silence on unjustified accusations often says more than speaking. We also see this silence with the Lord Jesus in all the accusations made against Him.

Joash says why the house of the LORD has ended up in a state that necessitates restoration (2 Chronicles 24:7). It is Athaliah’s fault. She is the embodiment of wickedness. Political power exercised for its own sake will always see service to God as an abhorrent matter. That power will do everything in its power to destroy the service to God. Such an evil power is not only about neglecting the church, but it will attack the church and take away all that is valuable for the service to God.

An evil power dictates that “the holy things of the house of the LORD” will be used “for the Baals”. We see this, for example, in the popular interpretation of the suffering of Christ, of which a Dutch Christian broadcasting made a spectacle disgusting to faith (The Passion). The same goes for the St. Matthew Passion which is visited by the members of the Dutch cabinet because of its impressive performance. Heart and conscience remain completely off the hook. Thus the holy things that stand in God’s house, the church, central, are thrown as pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6). The tearing consequences for the church need not be guessed, for they are perceptible to anyone who has enlightened eyes of the heart.

Then Joash starts a new action for the collection of money (2 Chronicles 24:8). On his command a chest is made which is placed “outside by the gate of the house of the LORD”. Then, this time with an appeal to the levy of Moses, a proclamation is made in Judah and Jerusalem to bring the money (2 Chronicles 24:9). The response to this proclamation is very different from last time. All leaders and all people are happy to contribute to the restoration of the temple (2 Chronicles 24:10). They all like to give and keep giving until the restoration work is completed.

The chest is supervised by the Levites (2 Chronicles 24:11). Whenever there is much money in the chest, they take it to the king’s officer. The scribe of the king and the chief priest’s officer empty the chest. A representative of the king and a representative of the high priest are involved. The testimony of two persons confirms a matter (2 Corinthians 13:1). It is important to be able to account reliably for the money collected (2 Corinthians 8:20-21).

This is also about the combination of king and priest. There is a close relationship and cooperation between the two. We also see this with the Lord Jesus, the true King-Priest (Zechariah 6:13). After the money is taken out of the chest in this responsible way, the chest is taken up again and put back to its place at the temple. In this way money is collected in abundance.

Ezra 2:62

Joash Wants to Restore the Temple

Ezra 2:63

Joash Wants to Restore the Temple

Ezra 2:64

Joash Wants to Restore the Temple

Ezra 2:65

Joash Wants to Restore the Temple

Ezra 2:66

Joash Wants to Restore the Temple

Ezra 2:67

Joash Wants to Restore the Temple

Ezra 2:68

Joash Wants to Restore the Temple

Ezra 2:69

The Restoration of the Temple

The king and Jehoiada – here again we see the close connection between king and priest – make the money available to those who do the restoration work (2 Chronicles 24:12). The money is used to hire workers. Masons, carpenters, workers in iron and bronze are needed to restore the house of the LORD. They work closely together, while everyone does what their capacities are.

The Lord Jesus, as the King-Priest, is busy giving us the means to build His house. The different workers who did the repair work point to the different tasks that believers have in building God’s house. Masons we can see as a picture of evangelists. They bring living stones into the house of God. Carpenters work with wood. They give structure to God’s house. In them we can see a picture of teachers. The workers in iron represent shepherds. They ensure that the believers remain well connected. The workers in bronze are busy with bronze. Bronze is a picture of God’s righteousness. Workers in bronze can be seen as a picture of believers who help others to live in accordance with God’s righteousness.

All these workers work with what is given to them by the king and Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 24:13). It is nice to read that the repair work is progressing in their hands. The goal is to restore the house of God to its original state. To be able to work in this way, the workers must know what the original state is. Bringing God’s house back to its original state also means that the house will be strengthened.

This also applies to all work that is done for the church. The blueprint of the church, and its local expression, is in the Word of God. We must consult God’s Word when we work on the building of God’s house. To us, working on God’s house means showing fellow believers their position in Christ (Colossians 1:28-29) and that they are firmly established in Him (2 Corinthians 1:21; Colossians 2:6-7).

After the repair work on the temple there appears to be money left (2 Chronicles 24:14). That money is brought to the king and Jehoiada. Joash, probably on the advice of Jehoiada, makes all kinds of utensils out of it that can be used for the service in the temple. As a result, as long as Jehoiada lives, “they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually”. Here we find the great goal of the restoration of God’s house: offering burnt offerings.

The restoration of God’s house with the result of offering burnt offerings suggests to us that the service of worship is once again central in the church. That is not programmed worship with song and music led by a worship leader, but worship led by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit wants to direct the heart of every member of the church to the Lord Jesus Who is the true burnt offering for God.

The burnt offering is the sacrifice that is for God in its entirety (Leviticus 1:9; 13). God desires that the believers come as a church with burnt offerings. Jehoiada is a picture of the Lord Jesus Who is the “great priest over the house of God” (Hebrews 10:21). Through Him we may approach God in the sanctuary to bring our sacrifices (Hebrews 10:19-22).

Ezra 2:70

The Restoration of the Temple

KingComments on the Whole Bible

Ger de Koning is a Dutch Bible teacher associated with the Plymouth Brethren whose KingComments provides a complete verse-by-verse commentary on every book of the Bible. Written in accessible language with a devotional, Christ-centered approach, KingComments is freely available online and has been …

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Old Testament

GEN EXO LEV NUM DEU JOS JDG RUT 1SA 2SA 1KI 2KI 1CH 2CH EZR NEH EST JOB PSA PRO ECC SOS ISA JER LAM EZK DAN HOS JOL AMO OBA JON MIC NAH HAB ZEP HAG ZEC MAL

New Testament

MAT MRK LUK JHN ACT ROM 1CO 2CO GAL EPH PHP COL 1TH 2TH 1TI 2TI TIT PHM HEB JAS 1PE 2PE 1JN 2JN 3JN JUD REV

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