2 CHRONICLES LESSON 23


     We will begin this lesson in II Chronicles 23:1 "And in the
seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of
hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of
Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of
Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him."

     In the last lesson, Athaliah had killed all of her grandchildren
{except one}, so that she could be queen. Joash had been hidden in the
temple. He was the rightful heir to the throne. Jehoiada was the high
priest who had hidden the baby, Joash. Now, he had strengthened his
courage enough that he called the leaders of the army to him to anoint
Joash king. These were leaders of various segments of the troops. We
may assume that Jehoiada knew them well enough to know that he could
trust them. Jehoiada had risked his own life, and the life of his
family, to hide the baby these years.

     II Chronicles 23:2 "And they went about in Judah, and gathered
the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the
fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem."

     They had to do this secretly not to arouse the suspicion of this
evil queen. The decision to anoint this youngster as king and
overthrow the queen would need to be sanctioned by the Levitical
tribe. All of these who came were people in authority.

     II Chronicles 23:3 "And all the congregation made a covenant with
the king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the
king's son shall reign, as the LORD hath said of the sons of David."

     This covenant was an unbreakable agreement of these men of
authority gathered in the temple. It is explained to everyone that the
LORD had promised David that his lineage would sit on the throne of
Judah. This young boy, Joash, is the only living heir to the throne.
It appears, that all were in agreement.

     II Chronicles 23:4 "This [is] the thing that ye shall do; A third
part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the
Levites, [shall be] porters of the doors;"

     It was not unusual for Levites to come to the temple on sabbath.
1/3 of them shall be keepers of the door. They could not take a chance
on someone entering who was not aware of what is going on.

     II Chronicles 23:5 "And a third part [shall be] at the king's
house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the
people [shall be] in the courts of the house of the LORD."

     This is just explaining that Joash, the king to be, would be
guarded every step of the way. No one would be able to get to him.

     II Chronicles 23:6 "But let none come into the house of the LORD,
save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall go
in, for they [are] holy: but all the people shall keep the watch of
the LORD."

     The people,  who are not the Levites, are to guard from the
outside all of the entrances to the place where the young boy will be
anointed king. Only the priests, who have been anointed of God
themselves to take place in the services in the temple would be in the
near vicinity of Joash {Jehoash}.

     II Chronicles 23:7 "And the Levites shall compass the king round
about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whosoever [else]
cometh into the house, he shall be put to death: but be ye with the
king when he cometh in, and when he goeth out."

     The Levites had swords in their hands, ready to kill anyone who
came near the boy. They made a human wall around Joash. Anyone trying
to enter who was not part of the anointing service would be killed.

     II Chronicles 23:8 "So the Levites and all Judah did according to
all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man
his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go
[out] on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the
courses."

     It would appear to be a normal sabbath at the temple. Everyone
did just as Jehoiada had planned.

     II Chronicles 23:9 "Moreover Jehoiada the priest delivered to the
captains of hundreds spears, and bucklers, and shields, that [had
been] king David's, which [were] in the house of God."

     It appears, these weapons of David's had been kept in the temple.
Now, they were distributed out to the leaders of the groops of men who
would protect the young king. We must remember that the temple was
like a complex. The temple, itself, was surrounded by other buildings.

     II Chronicles 23:10 "And he set all the people, every man having
his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left
side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king
round about."

     The weapon being in their hand showed their readiness to use it.
These men covered the entire wall, so that no one could possibly get
through to Joash.

     II Chronicles 23:11 "Then they brought out the king's son, and
put upon him the crown, and [gave him] the testimony, and made him
king.  And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save the
king."

     The high priest, Jehoiada, and his sons, the priests did the
actual anointing of Joash as king. They put a crown on his head, and
put the book of the law into his hands. He had been trained by the
high priest in the temple. They gave him God's law as a guide to judge
by.

     II Chronicles 23:12  "Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the
people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the
house of the LORD:"

     It is interesting that all of this went on without her knowing it
was happening. The people could not contain their joy, when Joash was
anointed king. Athaliah came to see for herself what was happening.

     II Chronicles 23:13 "And she looked, and, behold, the king stood
at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by
the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with
trumpets, also the singers with instruments of music, and such as
taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said,
Treason, Treason."

     She was shocked, when she saw the young boy crowned king in her
stead. She immediately understood what had happened, and she began to
tear her clothes in mourning. The treason was not against the land,
but against her as queen.

     II Chronicles 23:14 "Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the
captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them,
Have her forth of the ranges: and whoso followeth her, let him be
slain with the sword. For the priest said, Slay her not in the house
of the LORD."

     Jehoiada reminded them not to kill her in the house of the LORD,
but to take her away from the temple to kill her. Anyone who was with
her was to be slain along with her. It would be hard to see why anyone
would follow so evil a woman.

     II Chronicles 23:15 "So they laid hands on her; and when she was
come to the entering of the horse gate by the king's house, they slew
her there."

     They killed her by the horse gate, because she was no more than
an animal. She had no conscience at all. She would be killed in
disgrace.

     II Chronicles 23:16 "And Jehoiada made a covenant between him,
and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be
the LORD'S people."

     Jehoiada had taught the new king the ways of the LORD, while he
was in his care. The queen was evil, and had led the country away from
God. The agreement that the people, the officials, Jehoiada, and the
king made would succeed only, if they returned to the LORD. The
covenant with the LORD in this would be a special effort to get back
into good relationship with the LORD.

     II Chronicles 23:17 "Then all the people went to the house of
Baal, and brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in
pieces, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars."

     Ahab and Jezebel had brought the worship of Baal into Israel.
Their daughter, Athaliah, had introduced it in Judah. It appears, she
had actually built a building to this false god. The very first thing
to do to show the LORD they were sincere, would be to tear down the
building, the images, and to do away with the priest of Baal. This was
the first step in bringing Judah into fellowship with the LORD. We
must remember, that Jehoiada had been like a father to Joash while he
was in hiding. Joash would do what Jehoiada wanted him to do.

     II 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."

     It appears, that the worship in the temple had been limited
during the reign of Athaliah. Now, the worship in the temple would be
re-established. Jehoiada would go by the example that David started in
the temple. He would be high priest, his sons, the priests, and all of
the others who serve in any capacity in the temple would be
established according to their families. We have discussed before,
that musicians and singers are ministers called of God, as well as the
priests.

     II Chronicles 23:19 "And he set the porters at the gates of the
house of the LORD, that none [which was] unclean in any thing should
enter in."

     Even these porters had to be of the Levites. They were to guard
the entrance against intruders.

     II Chronicles 23:20 "And he took the captains of hundreds, and
the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the
land, and brought down the king from the house of the LORD: and they
came through the high gate into the king's house, and set the king
upon the throne of the kingdom."

     The anointing of the king was done by the priests, but the
placing of the king on his throne in his house, was a joint
participation. All of the officials in the land were involved in this.
Partially for the king's safety, and partially showing their approval
of Joash as king, they accompanied him to his throne.

     II Chronicles 23:21 "And all the people of the land rejoiced: and
the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the
sword."

     We can see that the tyrant, Athaliah, was gone, now all the
people rejoiced, again. The young king would rule pleasing unto God,
as long as the high priest was living to guide him.

                      2 Chronicles 23 Questions


1.  When did Jehoiada strengthen himself?
2.  Who had Athaliah killed, so that she might be queen?
3.  Where had Joash been hidden?
4.  Who was the high priest in the temple at the time?
5.  Who does Jehoiada call to the temple?
6.  Who did they gather out of Judah to come to Jerusalem to the
    temple?
7.  Why had Jehoida called these men of authority?
8.  Why was it important that Joash reign as king?
9.  What was this covenant?
10. What shall 1/3 of the Levites do, when they enter on the chosen
    sabbath?
11. Where will the others be stationed?
12. Who are the only ones to enter into the house of the LORD?
13. Where will the Levites' weapons be?
14. Why did the queen not suspicion something was going on?
15. Where did they find weapons to use?
16. What did the weapon being in their hands show?
17. They brought out the young man, and crowned him, and put the
    ________ __ ____ ____ in his hand.
18. Who actually anointed Joash king?
19. What did Athaliah do, when she heard the noise of praise?
20. What did she do, when she saw what was going on?
21. Where did they kill her?
22. In verse 16, we read they made a covenant to be what?
23. What did they do with the altars of Baal?
24. Who had brought the worship of Baal into Israel?
25. Jehoiada had been like a _________ to Joash.
26. Who were the porters at the gate?
27. Who went with Joash to the house of the king, to set him on his
    throne?
28. How long did Joash reign righteously in the land?