2 Chronicles 23
Expanded Bible
23 In the seventh year Jehoiada ·decided to do something [summoned his courage/strength]. He made an ·agreement [covenant; pact] with the ·commanders [officers] of the groups of a hundred men: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zicri. 2 They went throughout Judah and ·gathered [summoned; assembled] the Levites from all the towns, and they gathered the ·leaders [heads] of the ·families [clans] of ·Judah [L Israel; 12:6]. Then they went to Jerusalem. 3 All the people together made an ·agreement [covenant; pact] with the king in the ·Temple [L house] of God.
Jehoiada said to them, “The king’s son will ·rule [reign], as the Lord ·promised [has spoken] about David’s ·descendants [sons]. 4 Now this is what you must do: You priests and Levites ·go [or who go…] on duty on the Sabbath. A third of you will ·guard the doors [be gatekeepers]. 5 A third of you will be at the king’s ·palace [L house], and a third of you will be at the Foundation Gate. All the other people will stay in the courtyards of the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord. 6 Don’t let anyone ·come into [enter] the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord except the priests and Levites ·who serve [on duty]. They may come because they ·have been made ready to serve the Lord [are holy/consecrated/set apart], but all the others must ·do the job the Lord has given them [obey the Lord’s instructions]. 7 The Levites must ·stay near [surround] the king, each man with his weapon in his hand. If anyone tries to enter the ·Temple [L house], kill him. Stay close to the king when he goes in and when he goes out.”
Joash Becomes King
8 The Levites and all the people of Judah obeyed everything Jehoiada the priest ·had commanded [ordered]. He did not ·excuse [dismiss; release] anyone from the ·groups [divisions] of the priests. So each commander took his men who came on duty on the Sabbath ·with [as well as] those who went off duty on the Sabbath. 9 Jehoiada gave the ·commanders [officers] of a hundred men the spears and the large and small shields that had belonged to King David and that were kept in the ·Temple [L house] of God. 10 Then Jehoiada ·told the soldiers where to stand [stationed/positioned all the people] with weapon in hand. There were guards from the ·south [L right] side of the ·Temple [L house] to the ·north [L left] side. They stood by the altar and the ·Temple [L house] and around the king.
11 Jehoiada and his sons brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him and gave him a copy of the ·agreement [covenant; treaty]. Then they ·appointed [anointed] him king and shouted, “Long live the king!”
12 When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and ·praising [cheering] the king, she ·went to them [joined the crowd] at the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord. 13 She looked, and there was the king standing by his pillar at the entrance [C a symbolic place of authority]. The ·officers [commanders] and the trumpeters were standing beside him, and all the people of the land were ·happy [rejoicing] and blowing trumpets. The singers were playing musical instruments and leading the ·praises [celebration]. Then Athaliah tore her clothes [C a sign of mourning or distress] and screamed, “·Traitors! Traitors! [Treason! Treason!]”
14 Jehoiada the priest sent out the ·commanders [officers] of a hundred men, who ·led [were in charge of] the army. He said, “Surround her with soldiers and take her out of the ·Temple [L house] area. Kill with a sword anyone who follows her.” He had said, “Don’t put Athaliah to death in the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord.” 15 So they ·caught [seized] her ·when she came [or and took her] to the entrance of the Horse Gate near the ·palace [L house]. There they put her to death.
16 Then Jehoiada made an ·agreement [covenant; treaty] with the people and the king that they would be ·the Lord’s special people [L a people for the Lord]. 17 All the people went to the ·Temple [L house] of Baal and tore it down, ·smashing [demolishing] the altars and ·idols [images]. They killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars.
18 Then Jehoiada chose the priests, who were Levites, to be ·responsible for [in charge of] the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord. David had ·given [assigned] them duties in the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord. They were to ·offer [sacrifice] the burnt offerings [Lev. 1:1–17] to the Lord as the ·Teachings [law] of Moses commanded, and they were to ·offer [sacrifice] them with much joy and singing as David had ·commanded [ordered; instructed]. 19 Jehoiada ·put [stationed; positioned] guards at the gates of the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord so that anyone who was ·unclean [defiled; C ritually] in any way could not enter.
20 Jehoiada took with him the ·commanders [officers] of a hundred men, the ·important men [nobles], the rulers of the people, and all the people of the land to ·take [lead; escort] the king out of the ·Temple [L house] of the Lord. They went through the Upper Gate into the ·palace [L house], and then they seated the king on the throne. 21 So all the people of the land ·were very happy [rejoiced], and Jerusalem ·had peace [was quiet], because Athaliah had been put to death with the sword.
2 Chronicles 23
New American Standard Bible
Jehoiada Sets Joash on the Throne of Judah
23 (A)Now in the seventh year, Jehoiada gathered his courage, and took captains of hundreds: Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Johanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, and they entered into a covenant with him. 2 And they went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the heads of the fathers’ households of (B)Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. 3 Then all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And [a]Jehoiada said to them, “Behold, the king’s son shall reign, (C)as the Lord has spoken concerning the sons of David. 4 This is the thing which you shall do: a third of you, of the priests and Levites (D)who come in on the Sabbath, shall be gatekeepers, 5 and a third shall be at the king’s house, and a third at the Gate of the Foundation; and all the people shall be in the courtyards of the house of the Lord. 6 But no one is to enter the house of the Lord except the priests and (E)the ministering Levites; they may enter, for they are holy. And all the people are to keep the command of the Lord. 7 The Levites will surround the king, each man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever enters the house is to be put to death. Therefore be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.”
8 The Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each one of them took his men who were to come in on the Sabbath, with those who were to go out on the Sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest did not dismiss any of (F)the divisions. 9 Then Jehoiada the priest gave the captains of hundreds the spears and the shields and quivers which had been King David’s, which were in the house of God. 10 He stationed all the people, each man with his weapon in his hand, from the right [b]side of the house to the left [c]side of the house, by the altar and by the house, around the king. 11 Then they brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him, and gave him (G)the testimony and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and said, “(H)Long live the king!”
Athaliah Murdered
12 When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she went into the house of the Lord to the people. 13 She looked, and behold, the king was standing by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the [d]trumpeters were beside the king. And all the people of the land rejoiced and blew trumpets, the singers with their musical instruments [e]leading the praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and said, “Conspiracy! Conspiracy!” 14 And Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who were appointed over the army, and said to them, “Bring her out [f]between the ranks, and whoever follows her is to be put to death with the sword.” For the priest said, “You shall not put her to death in the house of the Lord.” 15 So they [g]seized her, and when she arrived at the entrance of (I)the Horse Gate of the king’s house, they (J)put her to death there.
Reforms Carried Out
16 Then (K)Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king, that they would be the Lord’s people. 17 And all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down, and they broke in pieces his altars and his images, and (L)killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. 18 Moreover, Jehoiada placed the offices of the house of the Lord under the [h]authority of (M)the Levitical priests, (N)whom David had assigned over the house of the Lord, to offer the burnt offerings of the Lord, as it is written in the Law of Moses—(O)with rejoicing and singing according to the [i]order of David. 19 He stationed (P)the gatekeepers of the house of the Lord, so that no one would enter who was in any way unclean. 20 (Q)He took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the house of the Lord, and went through the upper gate to the king’s house. And they seated the king upon the royal throne. 21 So (R)all of the people of the land rejoiced and the city was at rest. For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword.
Footnotes
- 2 Chronicles 23:3 Lit he
- 2 Chronicles 23:10 Lit shoulder
- 2 Chronicles 23:10 Lit shoulder
- 2 Chronicles 23:13 Lit trumpets
- 2 Chronicles 23:13 Lit and leading for praising
- 2 Chronicles 23:14 Lit from within
- 2 Chronicles 23:15 Lit put hands to her
- 2 Chronicles 23:18 Lit hand
- 2 Chronicles 23:18 Lit hands of
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New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
