JEHOIDA AND JOASH 2 CHRONICLES 23:1-21

Transcription

1 1 JEHOIDA AND JOASH 2 CHRONICLES 23:1-21

2 2 Text: 2 Chronicles 23:1-21, JEHOIDA AND JOASH 1. In the seventh year Jehoiada made a bold move. He made a pact with the officers of the units of hundreds: Azariah son of Jehoram, Ishmael son of Jehochanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zikri. 2. They traveled throughout Judah and assembled the Levites from all the cities of Judah, as well as the Israelite family leaders. They came to Jerusalem, 3. and the whole assembly made a covenant with the king in the temple of God. Jehoiada said to them, The king s son will rule, just as the Lord promised David s descendants. 4. This is what you must do. One third of you priests and Levites who are on duty during the Sabbath will guard the doors. 5. Another third of you will be stationed at the royal palace and still another third at the Foundation Gate. All the others will stand in the courtyards of the Lord s temple. 6. No one must enter the Lord s temple except the priests and Levites who are on duty. They may enter because they are ceremonially pure. All the others should carry out their assigned service to the Lord. 7. The Levites must surround the king. Each of you must hold his weapon in his hand. Whoever tries to enter the temple must be killed. You must accompany the king wherever he goes.

3 The Levites and all the men of Judah did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each of them took his men, those who were on duty during the Sabbath as well as those who were off duty on the Sabbath. Jehoiada the priest did not release his divisions from their duties. 9. Jehoiada the priest gave to the officers of the units of hundreds King David s spears and shields that were kept in God s temple. 10. He placed the men at their posts, each holding his weapon in his hand. They lined up from the south side of the temple to the north side and stood near the altar and the temple, surrounding the king. 11. Jehoiada and his sons led out the king s son and placed on him the crown and the royal insignia. They proclaimed him king and poured olive oil on his head. They declared, Long live the king! 12. When Athaliah heard the royal guard shouting and praising the king, she joined the crowd at the Lord s temple. 13. Then she saw the king standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and trumpeters stood beside the king and all the people of the land were celebrating and blowing trumpets, and the musicians with various instruments were leading the celebration. Athaliah tore her clothes and yelled, Treason! Treason! 14. Jehoiada the priest sent out the officers of the units of hundreds, who were in charge of the army, and ordered them, Bring her outside the temple to the guards. Put the sword to anyone who follows her. The priest gave this order because he had decided she should not be executed in the Lord s temple.

4 They seized her and took her into the precincts of the royal palace through the horses entrance. There they executed her. 16. Jehoiada then drew up a covenant stipulating that he, all the people, and the king should be loyal to the Lord. 17. All the people went and demolished the temple of Baal. They smashed its altars and idols. They killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. 18. Jehoiada then assigned the duties of the Lord s temple to the priests, the Levites whom David had assigned to the Lord s temple. They were responsible for offering burnt sacrifices to the Lord with joy and music, according to the law of Moses and the edict of David. 19. He posted guards at the gates of the Lord s temple, so no one who was ceremonially unclean in any way could enter. 20. He summoned the officers of the units of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people, and all the people of land, and he then led the king down from the Lord s temple. They entered the royal palace through the Upper Gate and seated the king on the royal throne. 21. All the people of the land celebrated, for the city had rest now that they had killed Athaliah. (NET) Introduction: I. Parallel passages: A. 2 Chronicles 22:10-12, When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she was determined to destroy the entire royal line of Judah. So Jehosha-beath, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Ahaziah s son Joash and sneaked him away

5 5 from the rest of the royal descendants who were to be executed. She hid him and his nurse in the room where the bed covers were stored. So Jehoshabeath the daughter of King Jehoram, wife of Jehoiada the priest and sister of Ahaziah, hid him from Athaliah so she could not execute him. He remained in hiding in God s temple for six years, while Athaliah was ruling over the land. (NET) B. 2 Chronicles 23:1-21, In the seventh year Jehoiada made a bold move. He made a pact with the officers of the units of hundreds: Azariah son of Jehoram, Ishmael son of Jehochanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zikri. They traveled throughout Judah and assembled the Levites from all the cities of Judah, as well as the Israelite family leaders. They came to Jerusalem, and the whole assembly made a covenant with the king in the temple of God. Jehoiada said to them, The king s son will rule, just as the Lord promised David s descendants. This is what you must do. One third of you priests and Levites who are on duty during the Sabbath will guard the doors. Another third of you will be stationed at the royal palace and still another third at the Foundation Gate. All the others will stand in the courtyards of the Lord s temple. No one must enter the Lord s temple except the priests and Levites who are on duty. They may enter because they are ceremonially pure. All the others should carry out their assigned service to the Lord. The Levites must surround the king. Each of you must hold his weapon in his hand. Whoever tries to enter the temple must be killed. You must accompany the

6 6 king wherever he goes. The Levites and all the men of Judah did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each of them took his men, those who were on duty during the Sabbath as well as those who were off duty on the Sabbath. Jehoiada the priest did not release his divisions from their duties. Jehoiada the priest gave to the officers of the units of hundreds King David s spears and shields that were kept in God s temple. He placed the men at their posts, each holding his weapon in his hand. They lined up from the south side of the temple to the north side and stood near the altar and the temple, surrounding the king. Jehoiada and his sons led out the king s son and placed on him the crown and the royal insignia. They proclaimed him king and poured olive oil on his head. They declared, Long live the king! When Athaliah heard the royal guard shouting and praising the king, she joined the crowd at the Lord s temple. Then she saw the king standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and trumpeters stood beside the king and all the people of the land were celebrating and blowing trumpets, and the musicians with various instruments were leading the celebration. Athaliah tore her clothes and yelled, Treason! Treason! Jehoiada the priest sent out the officers of the units of hundreds, who were in charge of the army, and ordered them, Bring her outside the temple to the guards. Put the sword to anyone who follows her. The priest gave this order because he had decided she should not be executed in the Lord s temple. They seized her and took her into the precincts of the royal palace through the horses entrance. There they executed her. Jehoiada then drew up a covenant

7 7 stipulating that he, all the people, and the king should be loyal to the Lord. All the people went and demolished the temple of Baal. They smashed its altars and idols. They killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. Jehoiada then assigned the duties of the Lord s temple to the priests, the Levites whom David had assigned to the Lord s temple. They were responsible for offering burnt sacrifices to the Lord with joy and music, according to the law of Moses and the edict of David. He posted guards at the gates of the Lord s temple, so no one who was ceremonially unclean in any way could enter. He summoned the officers of the units of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people, and all the people of land, and he then led the king down from the Lord s temple. They entered the royal palace through the Upper Gate and seated the king on the royal throne. All the people of the land celebrated, for the city had rest now that they had killed Athaliah. (NET) C. 2 Kings 11:1-21, Josiah was eight years old when he became king, and he reigned for thirty-one years in Jerusalem. His mother was Jedidah, daughter of Adaiah, from Bozkath. He did what the Lord approved and followed in his ancestor David s footsteps; he did not deviate to the right or the left. In the eighteenth year of King Josiah s reign, the king sent the scribe Shaphan son of Azaliah, son of Meshullam, to the Lord s temple with these orders: Go up to Hilkiah the high priest and have him melt down the silver that has been brought by the people to the Lord s temple and has been collected by the guards at the door. Have them hand it over to the construction

8 8 foremen assigned to the Lord s temple. They in turn should pay the temple workers to repair it, including craftsmen, builders, and masons, and should buy wood and chiseled stone for the repair work. Do not audit the foremen who disburse the silver, for they are honest. Hilkiah the high priest informed Shaphan the scribe, I found the law scroll in the Lord s temple. Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan and he read it. Shaphan the scribe went to the king and reported, Your servants melted down the silver in the temple and handed it over to the construction foremen assigned to the Lord s temple. Then Shaphan the scribe told the king, Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll. Shaphan read it out loud before the king. When the king heard the words of the law scroll, he tore his clothes. The king ordered Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Achbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the king s servant, Go, seek an oracle from the Lord for me and the people for all Judah. Find out about the words of this scroll that has been discovered. For the Lord s fury has been ignited against us, because our ancestors have not obeyed the words of this scroll by doing all that it instructs us to do. So Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Achbor, Shaphan, and Asaiah went to Huldah the prophetess, the wife of Shullam son of Tikvah, the son of Harhas, the supervisor of the wardrobe. (She lived in Jerusalem in the Mishneh district.) They stated their business, and she said to them: This is what the Lord God of Israel says: Say this to the man who sent you to me: This is what the Lord says: I am about to bring disaster on this place and its residents, the details of which are recorded in

9 9 the scroll which the king of Judah has read. This will happen because they have abandoned me and offered sacrifices to other gods, angering me with all the idols they have made. My anger will ignite against this place and will not be extinguished! Say this to the king of Judah, who sent you to seek an oracle from the Lord: This is what the Lord God of Israel says concerning the words you have heard: You displayed a sensitive spirit and humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard how I intended to make this place and its residents into an appalling example of an accursed people. You tore your clothes and wept before me, and I have heard you, says the Lord. Therefore I will allow you to die and be buried in peace. You will not have to witness all the disaster I will bring on this place. Then they reported back to the king. (NET) Note: 2 Chronicles places emphasis on the Levites while 2 Kings emphasizes the military leaders. (See Hicks.) II. Jehoiada initiates a coup d`etat against Queen Athaliah and installs Joash as the rightful king of Judah. (Hicks) A. The underlying significance of the coup is the restoration of Yahweh worship and covenant renewal, Selman via Hicks wrote. B. Until this time Jehoiada evidently had done a remarkable job of keeping secret the fact that Joash was alive.

10 10 Commentary: 2 Chronicles 23:1, In the seventh year Jehoiada made a bold move. He made a pact with the officers of the units of hundreds: Azariah son of Jehoram, Ishmael son of Jehochanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zikri. (NET) I. In the seventh year Jehoiada showed his strength (strengthened himself). A. Jehoiada was high priest and prime caregiver for Joash. B. Jehoiada had consolidated his influence by combining religious, political and military support. (See Hicks.) 1. 2 Chronicles 12:1, After Rehoboam s rule was established and solidified, he and all Israel rejected the law of the Lord. (NET) 2. 2 Chronicles 13:7, Lawless good-for-nothing men gathered around him and conspired against Rehoboam son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was an inexperienced young man and could not resist them. (NET) 3. The time had come for Jehoida to act. 4. Joash was only seven (7) years old when he became king, unable to manage the affairs of state himself.

11 11 a. Jehoiada, until his death, was the positive guiding influence that kept Joash in the paths of righteousness. II. He made a covenant with the commanders of units of a hundred:... A. The captains of hundreds were centurions of the royal guard Kings 11:5-7, He ordered them, This is what you must do. One third of the unit that is on duty during the Sabbath will guard the royal palace. Another third of you will be stationed at the Foundation Gate. Still another third of you will be stationed at the gate behind the royal guard. You will take turns guarding the palace. The two units who are off duty on the Sabbath will guard the Lord s temple and protect the king. (NET) 2. There appears to have been five (5) units of onehundred (100) soldiers each. III. Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zieri. A. Azariah (the Lord has helped), the name of twenty-eight (38) men in the Old Testament, the son of Jeroham, was an army officer who helped overthrow Queen Athaliah and make Joash king of Judah. (Youngblood)

12 12 B. Azariah the son of Obed was another military officer who also helped overthrow Queen Athaliah and make Joash king of Judah. (Youngblood) C. Elishaphat (My God is judge) the son of Zichri supported the overthrow of Queen Athaliah and the installation of Joash as king. (Youngblood) D. Ishmael (God Hears), the name of six men in the Old Testament, son of Jehohanan, was one of five (5) military officers recruited by Jehoiada to help overthrow Queen Athaliah in favor of the rightful heir Joash. (Youngblood) E. Maaseiah, the name of several men in the Old Testament, was a commander who helped Jehoiada overthrow Queen Athaliah and bring Joash to the throne of Judah. Note: Of these honored men, nothing more is known than what is said in regard to their support of Jehoiada and Joash, David s heir. For this their names are inscribed with honor in God s everlasting sacred Word. (See The Pulpit Commentary.) 2 Chronicles 23:2, They traveled throughout Judah and assembled the Levites from all the cities of Judah, as well as the Israelite family leaders. They came to Jerusalem, (NET) I. They went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites and the heads of Israelites families from all the towns. A. The underlying major reason for this widespread action was to ensure the devotion of Judah exclusively to the Lord God, Yahweh, the elimination of idol worship, the severance

13 13 of relations with Israel and, secondarily, the return of the throne of Judah to its rightful occupant of the lineage of David. B. Notice that restoring David s heir to the throne began with two (2) people, Jehosheba and Jehoiada. 1. This small beginning led to the support of all of Judah, the restoration of Jehovah as the God of Judah, the destruction of Baal worship and the restoration of the house of David to the throne. (The Pulpit Commentary) i. What great things can develop from small beginnings! 2 Chronicles 23:2b, 3, They came to Jerusalem, and the whole assembly made a covenant with the king in the temple of God. Jehoiada said to them, The king s son will rule, just as the Lord promised David s descendants. (NET) II. When they came to Jerusalem, the whole assembly made a covenant with the king at the temple of God. A. Jehoiada will now specify the terms of the covenant which were to be ratified by Judah s leaders, the fathers of Israel. III. Jehoiada said to them, The king s son shall reign, as the Lord promised concerning the descendants of David.

14 14 A. Yahweh s covenant with David means that his sons should reign over Judah. (Hicks) B. The Lord had said David s descendants would reign perpetually on the throne of His people Chronicles 6:16, Now, O Lord God of Israel, keep the promise you made to your servant, my father David, when you said, You will never fail to have a successor ruling before me on the throne of Israel, provided that your descendants watch their step and obey my law as you have done. (NET) 2. 2 Chronicles 8:18, Huram sent him ships and some of his sailors, men who were well acquainted with the sea. They sailed with Solomon s men to Ophir, and took from there 450 talents of gold, which they brought back to King Solomon. (NET) 3. 2 Samuel 7:12, When the time comes for you to die, I will raise up your descendant, one of your own sons, to succeed you, and I will establish his kingdom. (NET) 4. 1 Kings 2:4, and the Lord will fulfill his promise to me, If your descendants watch their step and live faithfully in my presence with all their heart and being, then, he promised, you will not fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel. (NET)

15 Kings 9:5, Then I will allow your dynasty to rule over Israel permanently, just as I promised your father David, You will not fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel. (NET) 2 Chronicles 23:4, This is what you must do. One third of you priests and Levites who are on duty during the Sabbath will guard the doors. (NET) I. Now this is what you are to do: A. The respected High Priest has the complete attention of the entire assembly. B. The future of Judah was being here determined. II. A third of your priests and Levites who are going on duty on the sabbath are to keep watch at he doors,... A. One third of the Levites would guard the temple doors, another third would be stationed at the royal palace, and another third in the courtyards of the temple of the Lord. (Hicks) B. Only the priests and Levites who were on duty were to enter the temple of the Lord. (Hicks) C. An inner circle of armed Levites protected the kings. (Hicks) D. This alludes to the weekly courses of the Levites, The Pulpit Commentary states.

16 Chronicles 9:25, Their relatives, who lived in their settlements, came from time to time and served with them for seven-day periods. (NET) 2. Porters of the doors, keepers of the doors of the temple were to keep watch, guard the temple doors. a. 1 Chronicles 9:19, Shallum son of Kore, son of Ebiasaph, son of Korah, and his relatives from his family (the Korahites) were assigned to guard the entrance to the sanctuary. Their ancestors had guarded the entrance to the Lord s dwelling place. (NET) 2 Chronicles 23:5, Another third of you will be stationed at the royal palace and still another third at the Foundation Gate. All the others will stand in the courtyards of the Lord s temple. (NET) I. a third of you at the royal palace (the king s house) and a third at the Foundation Gate,... A. The Pulpit commentary takes the position that the king s house refers to the place Joash had been living rather than the royal palace in which Athaliah had been residing. B. The Foundation Gate is supposed to have stood at that corner of the area which was strengthened by additional works, where the ravine separated Mount Moriah and the hill to the south, The Pulpit Commentary reads. II. and all the other men are to be in the courtyards of the temple of the Lord.

17 Chronicles 23:6, No one must enter the Lord s temple except the priests and Levites who are on duty. They may enter because they are ceremonially pure. All the others should carry out their assigned service to the Lord. (NET) I. No one is to enter the temple of the Lord except the priests and Levites on duty;... A. This assured the safety of Joash from infiltrators and the sanctity of the temple from things ceremonially unclean. II. they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the other men are to guard what the Lord has assigned to them. A. Each was to discharge his duties with great diligence. 1. There were to be no sleeping guards on duty!... no dozing or lack of due diligence! 2 Chronicles 23:7, The Levites must surround the king. Each of you must hold his weapon in his hand. Whoever tries to enter the temple must be killed. You must accompany the king wherever he goes. (NET) I. The Levites are to station themselves around the king, each man with his weapons in his hand. A. The King was to be protected at all costs, by armed guards ready to fight.

18 18 B. If Joash had been killed, all hopes of the restoration of the house of David to the throne would have been destroyed. 1. The stakes were extremely high! II. Anyone who enters the temple must be put to death. A. No unauthorized and/or ceremonially unclean person was to enter the temple on penalty of death. B. No person, not so much as one, who posed a threat or was otherwise unqualified was to be permitted to enter the temple. 1. Security was extremely tight! III. Stay close to the king wherever he goes. A. The king was to be protected at all costs. 1. There was to be no lapse in protecting Joash. 2. No doubt many would have killed Joash at the bidding of Athaliah if they had had such an opportunity. 2 Chronicles 23:8, The Levites and all the men of Judah did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each of them took his men, those who were on duty during the Sabbath as well as those who were off duty on the Sabbath. Jehoiada the priest did not release his divisions from their duties. (NET)

19 19 I. The Levites and all the men of Judah did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. A. The Levites obeyed the high priest, but they also responded with enthusiasm and heart felt devotion to the task. B. All the men of Judah who had been summoned to Jerusalem followed precisely Jehoiada s orders. 1. All knew the seriousness of their actions and realized they must not fail. II. Each one took his men those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were off duty for Jehoiada the priest had not released any of the divisions. A. During this crucial time, wisely selected, two divisions of Levites were on duty, those whose tenures were ending and those whose tenures were beginning, doubling the on duty personnel. 1. The provincial Levites cooperated with the regulars of Jerusalem, The Pulpit Commentary reads. 2 Chronicles 23:9, Jehoiada the priest gave to the officers of the units of hundreds King David s spears and shields that were kept in God s temple. (NET) I. Then he (Jehoiada) gave the commanders of units of a hundred the spears and the large and small shields that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of God.

20 20 A. The military commanders were armed with highly symbolic weaponry, David s spears and shields, now being used to preserve the Davidic dynasty. B. The Pulpit commentary states, Some think these may have been the shields of gold that King David took from the servants of Hadadezer Samuel 8:7, 11, David took the golden shields that belonged to Hadadezer s servants and brought them to Jerusalem. King David dedicated these things to the Lord, along with the dedicated silver and gold that he had taken from all the nations that he had subdued, (NET) 2 Chronicles 23:10, He placed the men at their posts, each holding his weapon in his hand. They lined up from the south side of the temple to the north side and stood near the altar and the temple, surrounding the king. (NET) 2 Chronicles 23:10, He placed the men at their posts, each holding his weapon in his hand. They lined up from the south side of the temple to the north side and stood near the altar and the temple, surrounding the king. (NET) I. He stationed all the men, each with his weapon in his hand, around the king A. With everyone in his place, Joash is presented to the assembly.

21 21 B. All the trusted men who had been summoned from throughout Judah were on duty to protect the king. (See The Pulpit Commentary.) II. near the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple. A. These guards protected the temple s southern and northern sides so that no adversary could encroach. 1. Facing the temple from the east would place the north side on the right and the south side on the left. B. The altar of burnt offerings in front of the porch on the east of the temple was the area in which the young king stood at his pillar or on his pedestal. (See The Pulpit Commentary.) 2 Chronicles 23:11, Jehoiada and his sons led out the king s son and placed on him the crown and the royal insignia. They proclaimed him king and poured olive oil on his head. They declared, Long live the king! (NET) I. Jehoiada and his sons brought out the king s son and put the crown on him;... A. Hicks wrote that the coronation involved four (4) steps; viz., 1. Jehoiada as high priest crowned (consecrated) Joash king.

22 Jehoiada presented Joash with the covenant, testimony, which may have been a record/copy of the king s duties and responsibilities. a. 1 Samuel 10:25, Then Samuel talked to the people about how the kingship would work. He wrote it all down on a scroll and set it before the Lord. Then Samuel sent all the people away to their homes. (NET) b. 1 Chronicles 29:19, Make my son Solomon willing to obey your commands, rules, and regulations, and to complete building the palace for which I have made preparations. (NET) 3. The people proclaimed him king of Judah. a. Long live the king! 4. Joash was formally anointed king of Judah. II. they presented him with a copy of the covenant (testimony) and proclaimed him king. III. They anointed him and shouted, Long live the king! A. 1 Samuel 10:24, Then Samuel said to all the people, Do you see the one whom the Lord has chosen? Indeed, there is no one like him among all the people! All the people shouted out, Long live the king! (NET)

23 23 B. 2 Samuel 16:16, When David s friend Hushai the Arkite came to Absalom, Hushai said to him, Long live the king! Long live the king! (NET) C. 1 Kings 1:25, 31, 34, 39, For today he has gone down and sacrificed many cattle, steers, and sheep and has invited all the king s sons, the army commanders, and Abiathar the priest. At this moment they are having a feast in his presence, and they have declared, Long live King Adonijah! Bathsheba bowed down to the king with her face to the floor and said, May my master, King David, live forever! There Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet will anoint him king over Israel; then blow the trumpet and declare, Long live King Solomon! Zadok the priest took a horn filled with olive oil from the tent and poured it on Solomon; the trumpet was blown and all the people declared, Long live King Solomon! (NET) 2 Chronicles 23:12, When Athaliah heard the royal guard shouting and praising the king, she joined the crowd at the Lord s temple. (NET) I. When Athaliah heard the noise (the voices) of the people running and cheering the king, (singing out the praises of the king)... A. The people had certainly kept their activities from Athaliah which clearly shows she did not have public support.

24 It is amazing that all this preparatory activity had been kept secret from Athaliah until after Joash had been anointed king Kings 11:13-16, When Athaliah heard the royal guard shout, she joined the crowd at the Lord s temple. Then she saw the king standing by the pillar, according to custom. The officers stood beside the king with their trumpets and all the people of the land were celebrating and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, Treason, treason! Jehoiada the priest ordered the officers of the units of hundreds, who were in charge of the army, Bring her outside the temple to the guards. Put the sword to anyone who follows her. The priest gave this order because he had decided she should not be executed in the Lord s temple. They seized her and took her into the precincts of the royal palace through the horses entrance. There she was executed. (NET) II. she went to them at the temple of the Lord. A. Athaliah went to the site of all the activity to face her adversaries head on. B. Athaliah could have run although it is doubtful she would have gotten very far. 2 Chronicles 23:13, Then she saw the king standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and trumpeters stood beside the king and all the people of the land were

25 25 celebrating and blowing trumpets, and the musicians with various instruments were leading the celebration. Athaliah tore her clothes and yelled, Treason! Treason! (NET) I. She looked, and there was the king, standing by his pillar at the entrance. A. 2 Kings 11:14, Then she saw the king standing by the pillar, according to custom. The officers stood beside the king with their trumpets and all the people of the land were celebrating and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, Treason, treason! (NET) B. 2 Kings 23:3, The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant before the Lord, agreeing to follow the Lord and to obey his commandments, laws, and rules with all his heart and being, by carrying out the terms of this covenant recorded on this scroll. All the people agreed to keep the covenant. (NET) C. 2 Chronicles 34:31, The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant before the Lord, agreeing to follow the Lord and to obey his commandments, laws, and rules with all his heart and being, by carrying out the terms of this covenant recorded on this scroll. (NET) II. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and singers with musical instruments were leading the praises.

26 26 A. Joash had the strong support of the priests, Levites, the officers/ leaders of the people and the population as a whole. B. Athaliah was approaching a very hostile crowd with no chance of altering their decision. III. Then Athaliah threw a fit ; that is, tore her robes and shouted, Treason! Treason! A. Athaliah charged her opposition with treason, conspiracy to overthrow her rightful reign. 1. Her history, past actions, hardly qualify Athaliah to charge anyone with conspiratory and treason! B. References to treason: 1. 2 Samuel 15:12, While he was offering sacrifices, Absalom sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David s adviser, to come from his city, Giloh. The conspiracy was gaining momentum, and the people were starting to side with Absalom. (NET) 2. 1 Kings 16:20, The rest of the events of Zimri s reign, including the details of his revolt, are recorded in the scroll called the Annals of the Kings of Israel. (NET)

27 Isaiah 8:12, Do not say, Conspiracy, every time these people say the word. Don t be afraid of what scares them; don t be terrified. (NET) 4. Jeremiah 11:9, The Lord said to me, The people of Judah and the citizens of Jerusalem have plotted rebellion against me! (NET) 5. Ezekiel 22:25, Her princes within her are like a roaring lion tearing its prey; they have devoured lives. They take away riches and valuable things; they have made many women widows within it. (NET) 2 Chronicles 23:14, Jehoiada the priest sent out the officers of the units of hundreds, who were in charge of the army, and ordered them, Bring her outside the temple to the guards. Put the sword to anyone who follows her. The priest gave this order because he had decided she should not be executed in the Lord s temple. (NET) I. Jehoiada the priest sent out the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of the troops, and said to them:... A. Jehoiada, the high priest, was clearly in charge. B. He now gives orders regarding what his forces were to do regarding Athaliah. III. Bring her out between the ranks and put to the sword anyone who follows her.

28 28 A. Jehoiada orders the execution of Athaliah and the deaths of all who stand with Athaliah against the coronation of Joash. 1. All residual opposition was to be eliminated! B. The ranks (ranges, boards, planks, rows) are commonly supposed to mean the ranks or rows of soldiers. (Pulpit Commentary) 1. Jehoiada may have been ordering the arrest of Athalia where she was within the precincts of the temple, to do her no harm within the temple area, but to take her elsewhere and there execute her. III. For the priest had said, Do not put her to death at the temple of the Lord. A. The sanctity of the temple was to be carefully preserved. B. Athaliah would be killed away from God s temple. 1. Wicked, unclean Athaliah of the house of Ahab, a Baal worshiper and a murderer was about to receive her just desserts. 2 Chronicles 23:15, They seized her and took her into the precincts of the royal palace through the horses entrance. There they executed her. (NET) I. So they seized her as she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate on the palace grounds, and...

29 29 A. The Horse Gate was a gate in the wall of Jerusalem through which the king s horses passed from the stables at Millo. (Clarke) 1. Jeremiah 31:40, The whole valley where dead bodies and sacrificial ashes are thrown and all the terraced fields out to the Kidron Valley on the east as far north as the Horse Gate will be included within this city that is sacred to the Lord. The city will never again be torn down or destroyed. (NET) 2. 2 Chronicles 23:15, They seized her and took her into the precincts of the royal palace through the horses entrance. There they executed her. (NET) II. there they put her to death (by the sword). A. Athaliah was seized and executed at the entrance of the Horse Gate on the palace grounds. 2 Chronicles 23:16, Jehoiada then drew up a covenant stipulating that he, all the people, and the king should be loyal to the Lord. (NET) I. Jehoiada then made a covenant that he and the people and the king would be the Lord s people. A. Hicks wrote, The king and temple are united. 1. The rightful king was restored to the throne.

30 30 a. 2 Chronicles 23:1-15, In the seventh year Jehoiada made a bold move. He made a pact with the officers of the units of hundreds: Azariah son of Jehoram, Ishmael son of Jehochanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zikri. They traveled throughout Judah and assembled the Levites from all the cities of Judah, as well as the Israelite family leaders. They came to Jerusalem, and the whole assembly made a covenant with the king in the temple of God. Jehoiada said to them, The king s son will rule, just as the Lord promised David s descendants. This is what you must do. One third of you priests and Levites who are on duty during the Sabbath will guard the doors. Another third of you will be stationed at the royal palace and still another third at the Foundation Gate. All the others will stand in the courtyards of the Lord s temple. No one must enter the Lord s temple except the priests and Levites who are on duty. They may enter because they are ceremonially pure. All the others should carry out their assigned service to the Lord. The Levites must surround the king. Each of you must hold his weapon in his hand. Whoever tries to enter the temple must be killed. You must accompany the king wherever he goes. The Levites and all the men of Judah did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each of them

31 31 took his men, those who were on duty during the Sabbath as well as those who were off duty on the Sabbath. Jehoiada the priest did not release his divisions from their duties. Jehoiada the priest gave to the officers of the units of hundreds King David s spears and shields that were kept in God s temple. He placed the men at their posts, each holding his weapon in his hand. They lined up from the south side of the temple to the north side and stood near the altar and the temple, surrounding the king. Jehoiada and his sons led out the king s son and placed on him the crown and the royal insignia. They proclaimed him king and poured olive oil on his head. They declared, Long live the king! When Athaliah heard the royal guard shouting and praising the king, she joined the crowd at the Lord s temple. Then she saw the king standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and trumpeters stood beside the king and all the people of the land were celebrating and blowing trumpets, and the musicians with various instruments were leading the celebration. Athaliah tore her clothes and yelled, Treason! Treason! Jehoiada the priest sent out the officers of the units of hundreds, who were in charge of the army, and ordered them, Bring her outside the temple to the guards. Put the sword to anyone who follows her. The priest gave this order because he had decided she

32 32 should not be executed in the Lord s temple. They seized her and took her into the precincts of the royal palace through the horses entrance. There they executed her. (NET) 2. The temple was renovated. a. 2 Chronicles 23:16-21, Jehoiada then drew up a covenant stipulating that he, all the people, and the king should be loyal to the Lord. All the people went and demolished the temple of Baal. They smashed its altars and idols. They killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. Jehoiada then assigned the duties of the Lord s temple to the priests, the Levites whom David had assigned to the Lord s temple. They were responsible for offering burnt sacrifices to the Lord with joy and music, according to the law of Moses and the edict of David. He posted guards at the gates of the Lord s temple, so no one who was ceremonially unclean in any way could enter. He summoned the officers of the units of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people, and all the people of land, and he then led the king down from the Lord s temple. They entered the royal palace through the Upper Gate and seated the king on the royal throne. All the people of the land celebrated, for the city had rest now that they had killed Athaliah. (NET)

33 33 B. Jehoiada represents the priesthood and Joash the royal interests. (Hicks) 1. Together they celebrate a covenant renewal where God s faithfulness is invoked and their commitment is affirmed. (Hicks) 2 Chronicles 23:17, All the people went and demolished the temple of Baal. They smashed its altars and idols. They killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. (NET) I. All the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. A. Baal worship was all too popular in Judah even to having a temple for Baal worship in direct competition with Solomon s temple and worship of Jehovah. B. Jehovah is a jealous God who allows no competitors. 1. Worship of God then and now is exclusive. 2. All other gods were excluded! II. They smashed the altars and idols and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. A. Baal s high priest was killed. 1. Deuteronomy 13:5-10, As for that prophet or dreamer, he must be executed because he encouraged rebellion against the Lord your God

34 34 who brought you from the land of Egypt, redeeming you from that place of slavery, and because he has tried to entice you from the way the Lord your God has commanded you to go. In this way you must purge out evil from within. Suppose your own full brother, your son, your daughter, your beloved wife, or your closest friend should seduce you secretly and encourage you to go and serve other gods that neither you nor your ancestors have previously known, the gods of the surrounding people (whether near you or far from you, from one end of the earth to the other). You must not give in to him or even listen to him; do not feel sympathy for him or spare him or cover up for him. Instead, you must kill him without fail! Your own hand must be the first to strike him, and then the hands of the whole community. You must stone him to death because he tried to entice you away from the Lord your God, who delivered you from the land of Egypt, that place of slavery. (NET) B. Jehoiadas forces broke, destroyed the images which had been used in Baal s worship services. 2 Chronicles 23:18, Jehoiada then assigned the duties of the Lord s temple to the priests, the Levites whom David had assigned to the Lord s temple. They were responsible for offering burnt sacrifices to the Lord with joy and music, according to the law of Moses and the edict of David. (NET)

35 35 I. Then Jehoiada placed the oversight of the temple of the Lord in the hands of the priests, who were Levites,... A. Jehoiada appointed or restored the temple officers as the Law of Moses had prescribed. 1. Numbers 3:32, 36, Now the head of all the Levitical leaders was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible for the sanctuary. The appointed responsibilities of the Merarites included the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, its posts, its sockets, its utensils, plus all the service connected with these things, (NET) 2. Numbers 4:16, The appointed responsibility of Eleazar son of Aaron the priest is for the oil for the light, and the spiced incense, and the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil; he also has the appointed responsibility over all the tabernacle with all that is in it, over the sanctuary and over all its furnishings. (NET) 3. Numbers 16:29, If these men die a natural death, or if they share the fate of all men, then the Lord has not sent me. (NET) 4. 1 Chronicles 23:11, Jahath was the oldest and Zizah the second oldest. Jeush and Beriah did not have many sons, so they were considered one family with one responsibility. (NET)

36 Chronicles 24:3, 19, David, Zadok (a descendant of Eleazar), and Ahimelech (a descendant of Ithamar) divided them into groups to carry out their assigned responsibilities. This was the order in which they carried out their assigned responsibilities when they entered the Lord s temple, according to the regulations given them by their ancestor Aaron, just as the Lord God of Israel had instructed him. (NET) 6. Psalm 109:8, May his days be few! May another take his job! (NET) 7. Isaiah 10:3, What will you do on judgment day, when destruction arrives from a distant place? To whom will you run for help? Where will you leave your wealth? (NET) 8. Numbers 18:1-7, The Lord said to Aaron, You and your sons and your tribe with you must bear the iniquity of the sanctuary, and you and your sons with you must bear the iniquity of your priesthood. Bring with you your brothers, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, so that they may join with you and minister to you while you and your sons with you are before the tent of the testimony. They must be responsible to care for you and to care for the entire tabernacle. However, they must not come near the furnishings of the sanctuary and the altar, or both they and you will die. They must join with you, and they will be responsible for the care of

37 37 the tent of meeting, for all the service of the tent, but no unauthorized person may approach you. You will be responsible for the care of the sanctuary and the care of the altar, so that there will be no more wrath on the Israelites. I myself have chosen your brothers the Levites from among the Israelites. They are given to you as a gift from the Lord, to perform the duties of the tent of meeting. But you and your sons with you are responsible for your priestly duties, for everything at the altar and within the curtain. And you must serve. I give you the priesthood as a gift for service, but the unauthorized person who approaches must be put to death. (NET) B. Jehoiada had primary responsibility for Joash s care, protection and for decisions made by the young king who certainly was not able to do these things himself. 1. Joash was only seven (7) years of age at this time. 2. As long as Jehoiada lived, Joash walked in the ways of the Lord and followed the examples of his godly forefathers. II. to whom David had made assignments in the temple, to present the burn offerings of the Lord as written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and singing, as David had ordered. A. Davidic worship and purity of service were restored Chronicles 23:5, 4,000 are to be gatekeepers; and 4,000 are to praise the Lord

38 38 with the instruments I supplied for worship. (NET) 2. 1 Chronicles 25:1, 2, 5-7, David and the army officers selected some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy as they played stringed instruments and cymbals. The following men were assigned this responsibility: From the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. The sons of Asaph were supervised by Asaph, who prophesied under the king s supervision. All these were the sons of Heman, the king s prophet. God had promised him these sons in order to make him prestigious. God gave Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. All of these were under the supervision of their fathers; they were musicians in the Lord s temple, playing cymbals and stringed instruments as they served in God s temple. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman were under the supervision of the king. They and their relatives, all of them skilled and trained to make music to the Lord, numbered two hundred eighty-eight. (NET) 3. 2 Chronicles 29:15-30, They assembled their brothers and consecrated themselves. Then they went in to purify the Lord s temple, just as the king had ordered, in accordance with the word of the Lord. The priests then entered the Lord s temple to purify it; they brought out to the courtyard of the Lord s temple every ceremonially unclean thing they discovered

39 39 inside. The Levites took them out to the Kidron Valley. On the first day of the first month they began consecrating; by the eighth day of the month they reached the porch of the Lord s temple. For eight more days they consecrated the Lord s temple. On the sixteenth day of the first month they were finished. They went to King Hezekiah and said: We have purified the entire temple of the Lord, including the altar of burnt sacrifice and all its equipment, and the table for the Bread of the Presence and all its equipment. We have prepared and consecrated all the items that King Ahaz removed during his reign when he acted unfaithfully. They are in front of the altar of the Lord. Early the next morning King Hezekiah assembled the city officials and went up to the Lord s temple. They brought seven bulls, seven rams, seven lambs, and seven goats as a sin offering for the kingdom, the sanctuary, and Judah. The king told the priests, the descendants of Aaron, to offer burnt sacrifices on the altar of the Lord. They slaughtered the bulls, and the priests took the blood and splashed it on the altar. Then they slaughtered the rams and splashed the blood on the altar; next they slaughtered the lambs and splashed the blood on the altar. Finally they brought the goats for the sin offering before the king and the assembly, and they placed their hands on them. Then the priests slaughtered them. They offered their blood as a sin offering on the altar to make atonement for all Israel, because the king had decreed that the burnt

40 40 sacrifice and sin offering were for all Israel. King Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the Lord s temple with cymbals and stringed instruments, just as David, Gad the king s prophet, and Nathan the prophet had ordered. (The Lord had actually given these orders through his prophets.) The Levites had David s musical instruments and the priests had trumpets. Hezekiah ordered the burnt sacrifice to be offered on the altar. As they began to offer the sacrifice, they also began to sing to the Lord, accompanied by the trumpets and the musical instruments of King David of Israel. The entire assembly worshiped, as the singers sang and the trumpeters played. They continued until the burnt sacrifice was completed. When the sacrifices were completed, the king and all who were with him bowed down and worshiped. King Hezekiah and the officials told the Levites to praise the Lord, using the psalms of David and Asaph the prophet. So they joyfully offered praise and bowed down and worshiped. (NET) 2 Chronicles 23:19, He posted guards at the gates of the Lord s temple, so no one who was ceremonially unclean in any way could enter. (NET) I. He also stationed doorkeepers at the gates of the Lord s temple so that no one who was in any way unclean might enter. A. 1 Chronicles 26:1-12, The divisions of the gatekeepers: From the Korahites: Meshelemiah, son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph. Meshelemiah s