UNROLL
First light at the porch of the temple: on a folded white linen cloth on a low stone ledge beside the bronze base of one pillar lie a small plain gold circlet and a rolled scroll tied with a cord; pale stone and clear sky above.

The Book of

2 Chronicles 23

After six years in hiding, the boy is brought out and crowned with the Law in his hands, and the queen who seized the throne cries treason.

21 verses≈ 5 min3 peopleBSB

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1SolomonWisdom asked at Gibeon
  2. 2–5The templeBuilt on Mount Moriah
  3. 6–7DedicationIf My people humble themselves
  4. 8–9Solomon's gloryThe queen of Sheba
  5. 10–16DivisionRehoboam to Asa
  6. 17–20JehoshaphatThe battle is God's
  7. 21–24Dark yearsJehoram to JoashChapter 23
  8. 25–28Proud kingsAmaziah to Ahaz
  9. 29–32HezekiahDoors opened, Passover kept
  10. 33–35Manasseh to JosiahMercy and the Book found
  11. 36Exile and returnMay he go up

Joash Anointed King of Judah

Then in the seventh year, Jehoiada strengthened himself and made a covenant with the commanders of hundreds—with Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zichri.

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So they went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah and the heads of the families of Israel.

Morning in the paved temple court: before the porch steps the very old, white-bearded priest Jehoiada stands with his hand on the shoulder of a solemn seven-year-old boy in white linen; facing them, seen partly from behind, Levites, heads of families and commanders raise their right hands in oath.

And when they came to Jerusalem, the whole assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God.

“Behold, the king’s son!” said Jehoiada. “He must reign, just as the LORD promised concerning the descendants of David.

2 Chronicles 23:3

Jehoiada’s orders

Guarding the king

  1. Sabbath

    A third at the doors

    This is what you are to do: A third of you priests and Levites who come on duty on the Sabbath shall keep watch at the doors,

  2. The palace, the gate, the courts

    a third shall be at the royal palace, and a third at the Foundation Gate, while all the others are to be in the courtyards of the house of the LORD.

  3. Holy

    Only the consecrated may enter

    No one is to enter the house of the LORD except the priests and those Levites who serve; they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the people are to obey the requirement of the LORD.

  4. Weapons around the king

    The Levites must surround the king with weapons in hand, and anyone who enters the temple must be put to death.

  5. Stay close to the king

    You must stay close to the king wherever he goes.”

So the Levites and all Judah did everything that Jehoiada the priest had ordered. Each of them took his men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—for Jehoiada the priest had not released any of the divisions.

Reflect

Waiting for the seventh year

For six years Jehoiada kept a secret and waited. Then, “in the seventh year,” he acted with care and courage, and brought a whole people with him. Is there something God has put in your keeping that needs patient waiting, or something that now needs courage to act on? Write down what it is.

The temple court from among the crowd: men and women of Jerusalem raise their hands, clap and shout with bright faces; far back by a bronze pillar at the temple porch stands the small crowned figure of the boy king within a line of guards, in morning sun.

They anointed him and shouted, “Long live the king!”

The Death of Athaliah

When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and cheering the king, she went out to them in the house of the LORD.

Bright morning in the temple court: Levite singers in fine white linen play lyres, harps and bronze cymbals with faces lifted in song, priests blow long silver trumpets, and far behind at the porch the small crowned boy king stands by a bronze pillar among officers.

And she looked and saw the king standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, while the singers with musical instruments were leading the praises.

Athaliah

Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason, treason!”

Jehoiada

And Jehoiada the priest sent out the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, saying, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the house of the LORD.”

So they seized Athaliah as she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate on the palace grounds, and there they put her to death.

Question

Quick question

Jehoiada armed the commanders of hundreds from what was kept in the house of God.

Whose spears and shields did Jehoiada give the commanders?

Jehoiada Restores the Worship of the LORD

Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and the king and the people that they would be the LORD’s people.

2 Chronicles 23:16

So all the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.

Early morning at the great square bronze altar in the temple court: a burnt offering burns with a column of smoke rising straight up, priests in white linen tend the fire, and on the steps below Levite singers in fine linen sing with lyres and cymbals.

Moreover, Jehoiada put the oversight of the house of the LORD into the hands of the Levitical priests, whom David had appointed over the house of the LORD, to offer burnt offerings to the LORD as written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and song, as ordained by David.

He stationed gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the LORD, so that no one who was in any way unclean could enter.

Morning in Jerusalem: the crowned boy king, in a blue-purple robe too long for him, walks down a broad stone stair and road between two lines of royal guards toward a plain stone palace gateway, the white-bearded priest Jehoiada beside him and people crowding the road and roofs; clear sky above.

And he took with him the commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD and entered the royal palace through the Upper Gate. They seated King Joash on the royal throne, and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been put to the sword.

0:23

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Pray

The LORD’s people

Give yourself back to the Lord, as Judah did when they promised “that they would be the LORD’s people.” Thank Him for worship “with rejoicing and song.” Ask Him for courage to tear down whatever you have set up in His place, and for a heart that guards what is holy.

You’ve experienced

2 Chronicles 23

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A verse to carry with you

Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and the king and the people that they would be the LORD’s people.

2 Chronicles 23:16

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