THE FALL OF ATHALIAH, AND SUCCESSION OF JOASH.

(Comp. 2Kings 11:4-20.)

(1) Jehoiada strengthened himself.—Showed himself strong or courageous, behaved boldly (1Samuel 4:9). The chronicler has substituted a favourite expression (hithchazzaq) for the term used in Kings, “Jehoiada sent.”

The captains of hundreds.—Their names, added here, are not given in 2Kings 11:4. On the other hand, Kings reads, “the captains of the hundreds of the Carians (or body-guard) and the Runners (or couriers, i.e., royal messengers) “—terms which were probably obscure to the chronicler.

Azariah . . . and Azariah.—Heb.,’Azaryāh . . . and ‘Azaryāhû. (Comp. 2Chronicles 21:2.) These names are introduced in the chronicler s well-known manner (by the prefix le, marking the object of the verb). His style is very visible in the additions to the narrative as compared with Kings.

The chief of the fathers.—The heads of the clans, or chiefs of houses.

This and the next verse are added by the chronicler. In Kings the narrative passes at once to the charge of 2Chronicles 23:4 : “This is the thing that ye shall do,” which is there addressed to the “captains of the hundreds,” or centurions of the royal guard. In fact, the parallel text is nearly if not altogether silent as to the part played by the Levites in the Restoration; and the chronicler appears to have supplemented that account with materials derived from other authorities, and perhaps from Levitical traditions. That he should have done so, is only consistent with his general practice and the special purpose of his history. At the same time, allowing for certain characteristic additions, interpretations, and substitutions of phrase for phrase, which will be specified in these Notes, the narrative of the chronicler absolutely coincides with that of Kings, treating of the same events, and rigidly observing the same limits, as well as maintaining a general identity of language. We conclude, therefore, that in this case, as elsewhere, the chronicler has used as the groundwork of his relation a historical text which contained sections substantially identical with the present narratives of Kings, but accompanied by numerous details not found in those books.

Made a covenant with the king.—Comp. 2Kings 11:4 : “And he made a covenant for them,” i.e., imposed a compact on them, made them swear fidelity to the young prince. (Comp. also 2Samuel 3:21; 2Samuel 5:3.)

The king’s son shall reign.—Or, Behold the king’s son! Let him be king.

As the Lord hath said.—Spake concerning the sons of David, in the oracle delivered by the prophet Nathan (2Samuel 7:4-17).

A third.—The third. So 2Chronicles 23:5. “The third of you who come in on the Sabbath” is read also in 2Kings 11:5. The chronicler has added the explanatory words: “belonging to the priests and to the Levites.” This can hardly be harmonised with 2Kings 12:4-12 - The chronicler may have misunderstood the words, which in the older account designate the royal guard; and it might have appeared to him impossible that any but members of the sacred orders would be called together in the Temple by the high priest. (Comp. 2Chronicles 23:5-6 with 2Kings 11:4 : “brought them into the house of the Lord.”) But he may also have had before him an account in which the part taken by the sacerdotal caste in the revolution was made much more of than m the account of Kings. Moreover the priests and Levites would be likely to play a considerable part in a movement tending to the overthrow of a cultus antagonistic to their own, especially when that movement originated with their own spiritual head, and was transacted in the sanctuary to which they were attached. The chronicler, therefore, cannot with fairness be accused of “arbitrary alterations,” unless it be presupposed that his sole authority in writing this account was the Second Book of Kings. The priests and Levites used to do duty in the Temple from Sabbath to Sabbath, so that one course relieved another at the end of each week. (See 1 Chronicles 24; Luke 1:5.) That the companies of the royal guards succeeded each other on duty in the same fashion is clear from the parallel narrative.

Shall be porters of the doors.—Warders of the thresholds, that is, of the Temple (1Chronicles 9:19; 1Chronicles 9:22). 1Kings 11:5 says: “The third of you that come in on the Sabbath, they shall keep the guard of the king’s house; “the latter part of which answers to the first sentence of the next verse: “And the third part (shall be) at the king’s house.” The king’s “house” in Kings means the royal palace; the chronicler appears to mean by it his temporary dwelling within the Temple precincts.

And all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord.—This appears to be written from the point of view of a strict legalist, according to which none might enter the holy house itself save the priests. It looks like a protest against 2Kings 11:4, where it is said that Jehoiada brought the centurions of the royal guard into the house of the Lord.

Cometh into the house.—2Kings 11:8 has, “into the ranks;” a rare word (sedērôth), occurring only four times, viz., in this narrative thrice, and once in 1Kings 6:8 (in a different sense).

But be ye.—So Kings. But some MSS. and the LXX., Vulg., Targ., and Arab. read here: “and let them (i.e., the Levites) be.” (See Note on 2Kings 11:8.)

For Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.—The companies of priests and Levites, whose weekly duties had been fulfilled, and who under ordinary circumstances would have been formally “dismissed” by the high priest, were detained at the present emergency as auxiliaries to their brethren who were “coming in.”

Instead of this clause Kings has: “And they came to Jehoiada the priest,” i.e., the captains of the hundreds came, to him; a remark which quite naturally preludes the statement of the next verse both there and here.

Spears, and bucklers, and shields.—Each word has the article in the Hebrew.

That had been king David’s.—Comp. 1Chronicles 18:7; 1Chronicles 18:11; also 1Samuel 22:10; 1Samuel 17:7.

His weapon.—Or, his missiles, arms. LXX., ὅπλοα. (Comp. 2Chronicles 32:5.) Kings has a commoner word. The remainder of the verse is identical with its parallel.

Along by.—Towards the altar.

They brought out . . . and put.—2Kings 11:12 : “he (Jehoiada) brought out . . . and put.”

Put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony.—Literally, put upon him the crown (nēzer; Exodus 29:6; 2Samuel 1:10) and the law (ha-’êdûth; Exodus 25:21-22; Exodus 31:18). Was a scroll of the ten words wrapped round the diadem, or laid on the king’s shoulder? (Comp. Vulg., “imposuerunt ei diadema testimonium dederuntque in manu ejus tenendam legem;” as if a copy of the law was solemnly presented to the newly-crowned king.)

Jehoiada and his sons.—The chronicler adds this to make it clear that it was the priests who anointed the king. (Comp. 1Kings 1:39.)

(See 2Kings 11:13-20.)

(12) Now when Athaliah . . . she came.—And Athaliah heard . . . and she came.

The noise of the people running and praising the king.—Or, the noise of the people, the Couriers, and those who were acclaiming the king. (1Kings 11:13, “the noise of the runners, the people;” where the people may be an inadvertent repetition, as the same expression follows directly. The rest of the verse is the same as here.)

At his pillar.—On his stand. So 2Kings 23:3. Kings here has, “on the stand;” LXX., ἐπὶ τῆς στάσεως αὐτοῦ; Vulg., “stantem super gradum.”

At the entering in.—In the entry. LXX., ἐπὶ τῆς εἰσόδου. Kings reads, “according to the custom.” So the Syriac and Arabic here.

And the princes.—See Note on 2Kings 11:14. Some Hebrew MSS. here also read “singers;” one MS. has “Couriers.”

Rejoiced.—Were rejoicing and sounding.

Also the singers with instruments of music, and such as taught to sing praise.—And the minstrels (or musicians) with the instruments of music, and men leading the chanting (literally, teaching to praise). This is one of the writer’s characteristic additions to the older text.

Said.—Kings, “cried,” which is more original.

Brought out.—Kings, “commanded.” The Heb. words are so nearly alike that one may easily be a corruption of the other. The Syriac and Arabic agree with Kings. The LXX. gives both readings.

Have her forth of the ranges.—Make her go out between the ranks of guards.

Let him be slain.—An explanation of the form used in Kings (the infinitive).

Slay her not.—Ye must not slay her. Kings, “Let her not be slain.” So the Syriac here.

To the entering of the horse gate.—Kings reads: “And she went by the way of the entry of the horses into the king’s house.” Syriac, “And she entered into the way of the entry of the horses, and was killed there.”

(2Chronicles 23:16-21).

(16) A covenant between . . . the king.—A slight but characteristic variation from 2Kings 11:17 : “the covenant between Jehovah and the king and the people, that they should become a people for Jehovah.”

Between him.—Or rather, himself. The high priest is thus regarded as representing Jehovah in the transaction; and the apparent irreverence of making the Deity a direct co-partner with men in a compact is avoided.

Be the Lord’s people.—Literally, become a people for Jehovah. Kings adds: “and between the king and the people,” a not unimportant clause, for it relates to certain limitations of the royal prerogative, which were usually agreed upon at the beginning of a reign (2Samuel 3:21; 2Samuel 5:3; 1Samuel 10:25).

And brake.—And its altars, &c., they broke in pieces. Kings adds, “thoroughly.” (See 2Kings 11:18.)

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.

At the gates.—Or, over the gates. (See 1Chronicles 23:5; 1Chronicles 26:1-19.)

That none which was unclean . . . should enter.—Comp. 2Chronicles 23:6, and Leviticus 5:7; Numbers 5:19; Deuteronomy 24:1-3; Deuteronomy 24:10-11.

The nobles, and the governors of the people.—Kings has: “And the Carians and the Couriers.” (See Note on 2Chronicles 23:1.)

The nobles.—Comp. Psalm 16:3.

Governors of the people.—Comp. Isaiah 28:14. These “nobles and governors” are perhaps “the heads of the clans” of 2Chronicles 23:2, and “the princes of 2Chronicles 23:13; though the phrase certainly looks like an attempt at explaining the obscure titles of the royal guard.

And they came through the high gate.—Kings, “And they came by the way of the Couriers’ Gate.” (See Note on 2Chronicles 23:5, supra.) The Couriers’ Gate may have been called the High Gate, as being the grand entrance to the palace. A gate of the Temple has the same designation in 2Chronicles 27:3.