2 Chronicles 23:18

Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the LORD by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(18) Also Jehoiada appointed.—This and the next verse are a thoroughly characteristic expansion of the brief notice: “And the priest set officers over the house of the Lord” (Kings). Render, “And Jehoiada put the offices of the house of the Lord into the hand of the priests the Levites.” Syriac, “And Jehoiada made prefects (shallîtônê) in the house of the Lord, and the priests and Levites.” The LXX. renders: “And Jehoiada the priest took in hand the works of the house of the Lord, by the hand of priests and Levites.”

Whom David had distributed.—Divided into courses or classes (1Chronicles 23:6; 1Chronicles 23:24-25).

In the house.—For the house.

As it is written.—A reference to the Pentateuch. (Comp. Ezra 3:2.)

With rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David.—See the margin, and comp. the Notes on 1Chronicles 25:2; 1Chronicles 25:6; 1Chronicles 23:5.

The meaning of all this is that the high priest now restored the regular services of the Temple, as arranged by David, which had been neglected or at least irregularly conducted during the six years of Athaliah’s usurpation.

Benson Commentary

2 Chronicles 23:18. Jehoiada appointed the offices, &c. — Or rather, restored, for there was no new appointment of offices or officers, but the old officers were restored to their respective offices. The Hebrew literally translated is, He put the offices of the house of the Lord into the hand of the priests, &c. For in the time of the idolatrous kings, and of Athaliah, those offices had probably been disposed of to persons of other tribes, partly to gratify their wicked friends, and partly to bring God’s house and worship into disgrace.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The priests the Levites - Rather, with the versions, "the priests and the Levites." It was the duty of the priests alone to offer the burnt offerings Numbers 18:1-7, and of the Levites alone to praise God with singing and music 1 Chronicles 23:5; 1 Chronicles 25:1-7.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

2Ch 23:16. Jehoiada Restores the Worship of God, and Settles the King.

16. Jehoiada made a covenant—(See on [449]2Ki 11:17).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Appointed the offices of the house of the Lord by the hand or, as it is in the Hebrew, put the offices of the house of the Lord into the hand, i.e. he restored the priests and Levites, either,

1. To their places and offices, which possibly in the time of the idolatrous kings, and of Athaliah, had been disposed of to persons of other tribes, partly to gratify their wicked friends, and partly to bring God’s house and worship into disgrace; or,

2. To the exercise of their offices, from which they had been in a great measure hindered.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

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.

Geneva Study Bible

Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the LORD by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

18. And Jehoiada appointed, etc.] This whole ver. is represented in Kings simply by the words, “And the priest appointed officers (‘offices,’ mg.) over the house of the Lord” (i.e. officers for the care of the Temple, e.g. to see to cleaning and repairing it).

by the hand] R.V. under the hand.

as it was ordained by David] R.V. according to the order of David.

Note that the Chronicler ascribes all sacrificial arrangements to the law of Moses, but all musical arrangements to David.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 18. - Jehoiada appointed; i.e. reappointed or restored. The offices; פְקֻדות. Numbers 3:32, 36; Numbers 4:16; Numbers 16:29; 1 Chronicles 23:11; 1 Chronicles 24:3, 19; 1 Chronicles 26:30; 2 Chronicles 17:14; 2 Chronicles 23:18; 2 Chronicles 24:11; 2 Chronicles 26:11; see also Psalm 109:8; Isaiah 10:3 (comp. Job 10:12). The priests. There should, no doubt, be found the conjunction "and" after this word and before "the Levites," whom David had distributed (so 1 Chronicles 24:1-19; 1 Chronicles 25:8-31). In the Law of Moses (Numbers 18:1-7; 38:2). With rejoicing... singing... David (1 Chronicles 23:5; 1 Chronicles 25:1, 2, 5-7; and our 2 Chronicles 29:25-30). 2 Chronicles 23:18

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

The renewal of the covenant, extirpation of Baal-worship, and the solemn entry of the king into his palace, as in 2 Kings 11:17-20, and already commented on in that place. The remark as to the renewal of the covenant is in 2 Chronicles 23:16 (Chron.) somewhat more brief than in 2 Kings 11:17; and בּינו, between himself, the same as between himself, the high priest, as representative of Jehovah. In 2 Kings 11:17, the matter is more clearly expressed. In 2 Kings 11:18., the statement, "the priest set overseers over the house of Jahve," is expanded by the addition of the words, "by means of the Levitic priests whom David had distributed for the house of Jahve to offer sacrifices;...and he placed doorkeepers at the doors of the house of Jahve," etc. The meaning is: Jehoiada again introduced the old arrangement of the public worship in the temple as David had settled it, it having either fallen into decay or wholly ceased under the rule of the idolatrous Athaliah. As to the remainder, see on 2 Kings 11:19 and 2 Kings 11:20.