Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 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:
12 15 (= 2Ki 11:13-16). Death of Athaliah
12. Now when ] R.V. And when.
praising the king ] Perhaps verses were extemporised in praise of a king at his coronation just as over a maiden at her marriage; cp. Psa 78:63 (A.V. mg. and R.V.).
she came ] Athaliah was allowed to pass the palace guard, but now it was too late for her to save her crown.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
12. Athaliah heard the noise of thepeopleThe unusual commotion, indicated by the blast of thetrumpets and the vehement acclamations of the people, drew herattention, or excited her fears. She might have flattered herselfthat, having slain all the royal family, she was in perfect security;but it is just as likely that, finding on reflection, one had escapedher murderous hands, she might not deem it expedient to institute anyenquiries; but the very idea would keep her constantly in a state ofjealous suspicion and irritation. In that state of mind, the wickedusurper, hearing across the Tyropoeligon the outburst of popular joy,rushed across the bridge to the temple grounds, and, penetrating froma single glance the meaning of the whole scene, raised a shriek of”Treason!”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
[See comments on 2Ch 23:1].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Slaughter of Athaliah, as in 2Ki 11:13-16. In 2Ch 23:13 of the Chronicle, the statement that the assembled people played on instruments is expanded by the addition, “and singing with instruments of song, and proclaiming aloud to praise,” i.e., and praising. , 2Ch 23:14, is an orthographical error for (Kings).
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
| Joash Crowned and Athaliah Slain. | B. C. 878. |
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: 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 21 And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword.
Here we have, I. The people pleased, 2Ch 23:12; 2Ch 23:13. When the king stood at his pillar, whose right it was to stand there, all the people of the land rejoiced to see a rod sprung out of the stem of Jesse, Isa. xi. 1. When it seemed a withered root in a dry ground, to see what they despaired of ever seeing–a king of the house of David, what a pleasing surprise was it to them! They ran in transports of joy to see this sight, praised the king, and praised God, for they had with them such as taught to sing praise.
II. Athaliah slain. She ran upon the point of the sword of justice; for, imagining her interest much better than it was, she ventured into the house of the Lord at that time, and cried, Treason, treason! But nobody seconded her, or sided with her. The pride of her heart deceived her. She thought all her own, whereas none were cordially so. Jehoiada, as protector in the king’s minority, ordered her to be slain (v. 14), which was done immediately (v. 15), only care was taken that she should not be slain in the house of the Lord, that sacred place must not be so far disgraced, nor that wicked woman so far honoured.
III. The original contract agreed to, v. 16. In the Kings it is said that Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, the people, and the king, 2 Kings xi. 17. Here it is said to be between himself, the people, and the king; for he, as God’s priest, was his representative in this transaction, or a sort of mediator, as Moses was. The indenture was tripartite, but the true intent and meaning of the whole was that they should be the Lord’s people. God covenanted by Jehoiada to take them for his people; the king and people covenanted with him to be his; and then the king covenanted with the people to govern them as the people of God, and the people with the king to be subject to him as the Lord’s people, in his fear and for his sake. Let us look upon ourselves and one another as the Lord’s people, and this will have a powerful influence upon us in the discharge of all our duty both to God and man.
IV. Baal destroyed, v. 17. They would not have done half their work if they had only destroyed the usurper of the king’s right, and not the usurper of God’s right–if they had asserted the honour of the throne, and not that of the altar. The greatest grievance of Athaliah’s reign was the bringing in of the worship of Baal, and supporting of that; therefore that must be abolished in the first place. Down with Baal’s house, his altars, his images; down with them all, and let the blood of his priests be mingled with his sacrifices; for God had commanded that seducers to idolatry should be put to death, Deu 13:5; Deu 13:6.
V. The temple service revived, 2Ch 23:18; 2Ch 23:19. This had been neglected in the last reigns, the priest and people wanting either power or zeal to keep it up when they had princes that were disaffected to it. But Jehoiada restored the offices of the house of the Lord, which in the late times had been disturbed and invaded, to the proper course and proper hands. 1. He appointed the priests to their courses, for the due offering of sacrifices, according to the law of Moses. 2. The singers to theirs, according to the appointment of David. The sacrifices (it should seem) were offered with rejoicing and singing, and with good reason. We joy in God when we receive the atonement, Rom. v. 11. 3. The porters were put in their respective posts as David ordered (v. 19), and their office was to take care that none who were upon any account ceremonially unclean should be admitted into the courts of the temple.
VI. The civil government re-established, v. 20. They brought the king in state to his own palace, and set him upon the throne of the kingdom, to give law, and give judgment, either in his own person or by Jehoiada his tutor. Thus was this happy revolution perfected. The generality of the people rejoiced in it, and the rest were quiet and made no opposition, v. 21. When the Son of David is enthroned in the soul all is quiet and springs of joy are opened.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
See note on 2Ki 11:13
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
THE EXECUTION OF ATHALIAH (2Ch. 23:12-21).
(See 2Ki. 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. (1Ki. 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.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Athaliah Slain
v. 12. Now, when Athaliah, v. 13. and she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar, at the entering in, v. 14. Then Jehoiada, the priest, brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the hosts, v. 15. So they laid hands on her,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
When the day of judgment, even in this life, comes to the wicked, what an awful day it is! And what will that tremendous day of God be, when it shall arrive in another! The rejoicing of the people at the sight of their king, may serve to give us some faint idea how lovely the sight of Jesus is to a poor soul who hath long groaned under the tyranny of Satan, as Judah had under the tyranny of Athaliah. And, Reader! let your imagination conceive, if it can, what will he the bursts of joy when Jesus shall appear on his throne of glory, and the redeemed surrounding him in the realms above.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ch 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:
Ver. 12. Now when Athaliah. ] See 2Ki 11:13 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ch 23:12-15
2Ch 23:12-15
THE EXECUTION OF ATHALIAH
“And when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of Jehovah: and she looked, and, behold, the king stood by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the trumpets by the king; and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew trumpets; the singers also played on instruments of music, and led the singing of p raise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason! treason! And Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth between the ranks; and whoso followeth her, let him be slain with the sword: for the priest said, Slay her not in the house of Jehovah. So they made way for her; and she went to the entrance of the horse gate to the king’s house: and they slew her there.”
E.M. Zerr:
2Ch 23:12. While the foregoing actions were proceeding, Athaliah was in the palace which she was occupying unlawfully. The sound made by the people caught her ears, and she came to the temple to investigate.
2Ch 23:13. When she arrived at the house of the Lord an imposing scene met her. The young king, whom she thought she had murdered, was at his post by the entrance, wearing the royal crown. Nearby was the retinue of chief men, ready to support him by force if necessary. At the same time, the mighty chorus of singers and trumpeters, accompanied by various instruments of music, all sounded in the ears of the wicked usurper like a death knell. She rent her clothes, which was a custom when people were under great tension from grief or anxiety. With a despairing wail, like a, swan song, she impudently shouted, Treason, Treason. There is an old saying that a thief sometimes tries to divert attention from himself by crying, “Stop thief.” Such an attitude was manifested by this wicked woman.
2Ch 23:14-15. Ranges means the rows of soldiers. Forth. of the ranges means to bring her out through or between the rows of soldiers, to conduct her from where she was to some other place for execution. He had told them not to slay her in the house of God. She was such a wicked woman, and did not deserve even to have the honor of being slain in such a holy place. As they began their death march, the priest gave orders to kill any who would try to follow. Curiosity alone might be the motive for following, yet it might be for the purpose of interfering with the execution. But whatever the motive, such persons must be killed. The place selected for the execution was very appropriate for such an unworthy person. It was at the horse gate, “by the way by which the horses came into the king’s house.” (2Ki 11:16.)
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
Now when: 2Ki 11:13-16
she came: 2Ki 9:32-37