2 Crônicas 24
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
2 Crônicas 24
NJB (LXX versing) Young Joash Influenced by Jehoiada Joash Repairs the Temple The Good Beginning of Joash; His Later Apostasy and Subsequent Punishment King Joash of Judah 24:1-3 24:1-3 24:1-3 24:1-3 Faithless Priests Joash Repairs the Temple 24:4-7 24:4-7 24:4-7 24:4-6 24:4-10 Temple Repaired 24:7 24:8-14 24:8-14 24:8-14 24:8-11 24:11-14 24:12-14a Apostasy of Joash Jehoiada's Policies are Reversed 24:14b-16 24:15-16 24:15-16 24:15-16 24:15-16 Joash's Decline and Death 24:17-19 24:17-22 24:17-19 24:17-22 24:17-22 Joash Murders Son of Jehoiada 24:20-22 24:20-22 Aram Invades and Defeats Judah Death of Joash The End of Joash's Reign 24:23-24 24:23-25 24:23-24 24:23-27 24:23-24a 24:24b-27 24:25-27 24:25-27 24:26-27 Etc.
2 Crônicas 24:1-3
24:1 "Joash" In 2 Kgs. 11:21; 12:1-21, he is called "Jehoash." Both mean "YWHW supports (BDB 219). "he reigned forty years in Jerusalem" This is one of the longest reigns besides Manasseh. The tragic pattern of initial godliness (2 Chr. 24:2) followed by end-of-life rebellion continues. As long as Jehoiada the priest was alive things went well (i.e., v. 12). 24:2 "did what was right in the sight of the Lord" This is an idiomatic expression for the kings of Judah (and possibly of Israel, i.e., Jeroboam I) who acted faithfully, like David (1 Kgs. 15:3) in keeping and promoting obedience to the Mosaic Law (cf. Deut. 6:16-18; 12:28; 13:18). Jeroboam I of Israel ‒ condition of YHWH's blessing: obedience to His covenant ‒ 1 Kgs. 11:33,38; 14:8, but he did not Asa (initially) ‒ 1 Kgs. 15:11; 2 Chr. 14:2 Jehoshaphat (mostly) ‒ 1 Kgs. 22:43; 2 Chr. 20:32 Jehu ‒ 2 Kgs. 10:30 Jehoash (initially) ‒ 2 Kgs. 12:2 Joash (initially) ‒ 2 Chr. 24:2 Amaziah ‒ 2 Kgs. 14:2; 2 Chr. 25:2 Jotham ‒ 2 Kgs. 15:33; 2 Chr. 27:2 Ahaz ‒ 2 Kgs. 16:2; 2 Chr. 28:1 (negative) Hezekiah ‒ 2 Kgs. 18:3; 2 Chr. 29:2; 31:20 Josiah ‒ 2 Kgs. 22:2 24:3 The godly High Priest, Jehoiada (cf. 2 Chr. 24:6, i.e., "head") chose wives for the young king. Although the text does not give any details, one assumes they were not of the line of Ahab (i.e., Jezebel and Athaliah) they were worshipers of YHWH from Judah the text does not mention additional wives or concubines One of the two wives is named in 2 Chr. 25:1.
2 Crônicas 24:4-7
24:4 YHWH's temple had deteriorated from non-use and the ransacking and theft by Athaliah's people (cf. 2 Chr. 24:7). The purpose of restoration was the restart of YHWH's worship in its Mosaic form (i.e.., 2 Chr. 24:5,6,9). 24:5 "cities of Judah. . .all Israel" It is obvious that the Chronicler considered Judah to be the true covenant people, "Israel" (cf. vv. 9,16). The NASB Study Bible, p. 613, mentions that this verse only mentions one source of revenue (i.e., the census tax, cf. Exod. 30:14; 38:26) 2 Kgs. 12:4-5 lists three sources a census tax (i.e., "each man's assessment") freewill offering (i.e., "which any man's heart prompts him," cf. Exod. 35:5,22,29) payments from personal vows (cf. Lev. 27:1-8; Num. 18:15-16) "But the Levites did not act quickly" The reason for the delay is not stated but from the context, one wonders if they, too, had become followers of Ba'al. They had allowed YHWH's temple to be ransacked and looted. The other option is the parallel in 2 Kgs. 12:6-8 which mentions the date of the request, which may denote a time when Jehoiada had little influence (NASB Study Bible, p. 613). A third option is expressed by Josephus, Antiq. 9.8.2., "but the high priest did not do this, as concluding that no one would willingly pay the money." 24:6 Joash wants to restore Mosaic guidelines for the sacrificial system. SPECIAL TOPIC: SACRIFICES IN MESOPOTAMIA AND ISRAEL AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE "the levy fixed by Moses" See Exod. 30:12-16. "the servant of the Lord" In 2 Chr. 24:9 this is changed to "the servant of God." The Chronicler must have viewed these as synonymous statements. SPECIAL TOPIC: MY SERVANT "the tent of testimony" This is one of several titles for the tabernacle of the wilderness (i.e., Num. 1:50). The "testimony" would be the two tablets of stone commandments given to Moses by God on Mt. Sinai/Horeb. 24:7 This verse reveals the people's continuing worship of Ba'al and Asherah. Notice the recurrent elements. There was a temple and priesthood to Ba'al in Jerusalem, 2 Chr. 23:17. Followers (lit. "sons") of Athaliah invaded the temple of YHWH and took some holy things to Ba'al's temple, 2 Chr. 24:7. The people returned to Ba'al worship even after the temple of YHWH was restored, 2 Chr. 24:18. "the Baals" The reason Ba'al is plural is because every village and high place (naturally raised place) had its own Ba'al and Asherah shrine. Ba'al was symbolized by an uplifted, elongated stone and Asherah by a live tree or carved stake, symbolizing the tree of life.
2 Crônicas 24:8-14
24:8 "set it outside by the gate of the house of the Lord" This would be where all the Judeans could place their offerings. 2 Kings 12:9 says it was placed next to the altar of sacrifice, which would limit access to the priest and Levites. 2 Chronicles makes more sense. Obviously Kings and Chronicles have their own unique sources. 24:10 This verse is surprising because in 2 Chr. 24:18 the people revert to Ba'al worship. Either there was a group of faithful followers all along or the whole population was religiously fickle. "the people rejoiced. . .dropped" Here is a good example of how context determines meaning. Words have meaning only in a context (i.e., sentence, paragraph). The VERB (BDB 1020, KB 1527, Hiphil IMPERFECT with waw) usually means "throw," but here, "dropped" fits best. Their giving was a joy not a burden to be resented. 24:11 The large amount of money collected in the chest was not tallied nor dispensed by the Levites but by several special leaders only. King's scribe High Priest's officer The reason is never stated. It may relate to 2 Chr. 24:5, "they did not act quickly" 2 Chr. 24:17-18, bad counselors and a return to Ba'al worship "the king's scribe" Kings uses royal documents often but Chronicles uses prophetic writings more often. SPECIAL TOPIC: SCRIBES 24:13 "according to its specifications" This meant the guidelines from King David and King Solomon. 24:12-14 Notice the different metals used. See parallel in 2 Kgs. 12:13. iron, 2 Chr. 24:12 (probably for support, i.e., "strengthened it," v. 13) bronze, 2 Chr. 24:12 (for the sacrificial altar) gold, 2 Chr. 24:14 (for the Holy of Holies and Holy Place) silver, 2 Chr. 24:14 (for the Holy Place) 24:14 "utensils" Apparently most of the sacred utensils had been stolen and taken to the temple of Ba'al in Jerusalem (cf. 2 Chr. 23:17; 24:7).
2 Crônicas 24:15-16
24:15 Death was not seen as an enemy. The time of death was the concern. Life taken early, violently or by sickness, was seen as the problem. 24:16 This priest was buried among the kings in Jerusalem because of his faithful, life-long service.
2 Crônicas 24:17-19
24:17 This shows the problem of faithless counselors the people's devotion to Ba'al (cf. 2 Kgs. 12:3) Joash listened to them, as he had previously listened to Jehoiada. It shows his weak personality. 24:18 Again, the Chronicler asserts that judgment came because of disobedience to YHWH's covenant. YHWH wanted to bless His people as a witness to the world but because of the curses involved in "the two ways" (cf. Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28; 30; Psalm 1; Proverbs 1), only judgment was seen. The Chronicler saw all history in YHWH's hand. Judgment (temporal) was meant to turn His people back to Him (cf. 2 Chr. 24:19). SPECIAL TOPIC: APOSTASY 24:19 "He sent prophets" Prophets, their message, and their writings were very important to the Chronicler! YHWH had not abandoned His people. They just would not listen (cf. Isa. 6:9-13). See Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart, How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth, pp. 184-189.
2 Crônicas 24:20-22
24:20 "the Spirit of God came on" This is literally "clothed" (BDB 527, KB 519, Qal PERFECT, cf. Jdgs. 6:34; 1 Chr. 12:18). See full note at 2 Chr. 20:14. SPECIAL TOPIC: PREDESTINATION VS. HUMAN FREE WILL 24:21-22 This is so shocking. Resistence to God's word blinded their minds to the service of Jehoiada and his family. They conspired (BDB 905, KB 1153, Qal IMPERFECT with waw; "plot to kill," cf. 1 Sam. 22:8,13; 1 Kgs. 15:27; 16:9; 2 Kgs. 10:9; 15:10,25; 21:23,24; 2 Chr. 33:24-25) stoned him in the court of the Lord (i.e., a holy place, cf. 2 Chr. 23:14) SPECIAL TOPIC: THE DEATH PENALTY IN ISRAEL SPECIAL TOPIC: STONE TO DEATH 24:21 This murder is mentioned by Jesus in Matt. 23:35; Luke 11:51. There is some confusion over the name of the father. Zechariah of 2 Chronicles, father is Jehoiada Zechariah, the writer of canonical book, Zechariah's father is Berechiah Luke 11:51 does not give the father's name. If "Abel" was the first, then the second reference should be the last. This does not fit 2 Chronicles 24 well. We do not know how, where, or when Zechariah, son of Berechiah, died, but he is a better option for a late death. See Gleason Archer, Encyclopedia of Bible Difficulties, pp. 337-338. 24:22 "May the Lord see and avenge!" The "he" must refer to Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada. This phrase has two IMPERFECTS used as JUSSIVES. They are a prayer to YHWH. The VERB (BDB 205, KB 233, Qal IMPERFECT) is "seek" with no stated object. Instead of YHWH's people "seeking" Him, He will seek them for judgment!
2 Crônicas 24:23-24
24:23-26 These verses record how the curse of 2 Chr. 24:22 was fulfilled. the Syrians invaded with a small force killed all officials (same title as 2 Chr. 24:17) took all the spoil of Jerusalem to Damascus (cf. 2 Kgs. 12:18) Joash was sickened or wounded (NIDOTTE, vol. 2, p. 142, #6) Joash's foreign servants (2 Chr. 24:26; names different in 2 Kgs. 12:21) "conspired" against him and killed him ("beware of foreigners" was surely a concern of the small post-exilic Judah of the Chronicler's day) he was not buried in the royal tombs
2 Crônicas 24:25-27
24:25 Again, the Chronicler explains historical events in light of the "two ways" (see note at 2 Chr. 24:18). "sons" The MT is PLURAL (also Peshitta). Possibly the people tried to wipe out the whole family. The LXX has "son," followed by the Vulgate. "murdered him on his bed" It is hard to reconcile the account here with the parallel in 2 Kgs. 12:20. See John H. Walton and D. Brent Sandy, The Lost World of Scripture, which documents how oral cultures passed down their traditions. Here, it seems to be two written sources which differ. 24:27 Usually the written records used by the Chronicler are prophetic writings (i.e., 2 Chr. 13:22), but here, royal archives. See Introduction, IV. Authorship, #2.