Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of 2 Chronicles
Chapter 23: Behold, the King's Son Shall Reign
After six years of the usurper Athaliah, the faithful priest Jehoiada acts. He reveals the hidden king's son, gathers the people, and crowns Joash the rightful heir of David, 'as the LORD hath said of the sons of David.' The usurper is put down, and the people covenant to be the LORD's people and tear down the house of Baal. The true king enthroned brings the renewal of covenant and the end of idolatry, a bright picture of the reign of Christ.
About This Commentary
This is a verse-by-verse study of 2 Chronicles chapter 23. For each section you will find the KJV text, the Hebrew words that sharpen the meaning, plain explanation, and a Gospel Focus. Every Scripture quotation is from the King James Version.
They Made Him King (2 Chronicles 23:11)
The hidden heir of David is brought out, crowned, and proclaimed the rightful king.
God Save the King
"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."
Word Study
"the testimony," Hebrew ha'edut (הָעֵדוּת), the testimony, likely a copy of the law given to the king (Deuteronomy 17:18-20). After six years of the usurper Athaliah, the faithful priest Jehoiada moved to restore the rightful king. He had gathered the leaders "into covenant" and declared the principle at stake: "the king's son shall reign, as the LORD hath said of the sons of David" (verse 3), that is, the throne belonged by God's covenant to David's line, not to the usurper. Now the climactic moment: "they brought out the king's son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony (ha'edut), and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save the king." Notice what accompanied the crown: "the testimony", the king was given God's law, for the king of Israel was to reign under the word of God, writing out and reading the law all his days. The rightful, hidden heir is at last revealed, crowned, anointed, and acclaimed. What Athaliah thought she had destroyed, God had preserved, and now the true king of David's line, long hidden, is openly enthroned. The cry "God save the king" rings out over the restoration of the rightful reign. Where the usurper had ruled by murder, the true king comes by covenant, anointing, and the law of God.
Explanation
At the moment Jehoiada had planned, the priests and Levites brought out the young prince Joash, who had been hidden in the temple, and publicly crowned him king. They placed the crown on his head, gave him a copy of God's law (the "testimony"), anointed him, and the people shouted, "God save the king." The rightful heir of David, whom Athaliah had tried to destroy, was now revealed and enthroned according to God's covenant with David. The true king had come into his own, and the people rejoiced.
Gospel Focus
The crowning of the hidden heir of David is a striking picture of the gospel. For years a usurper reigned while the rightful king lay hidden; then, at the appointed time, the true son of David was revealed, crowned, and proclaimed. So it is with Christ. This present age lies under a usurper, "the prince of this world" (John 14:30), while the true King, the Son of David, has come, was rejected, and now reigns hidden from the world's eyes, seated at the right hand of God. But at the appointed time He will be revealed openly, and every knee shall bow, "God save the King" become the shout of all creation, "the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ" (Revelation 11:15). Notice, too, that Joash was crowned with "the testimony", the true king reigns under and by the word of God, and Christ is the King who perfectly delighted in and fulfilled God's law. And it was a faithful priest who revealed and enthroned the king, a beautiful hint that in Christ the offices of King and Priest are joined, our Priest-King "after the order of Melchisedec" (Hebrews 7:17). Rejoice that the rightful King, hidden for a season, will surely be revealed and reign, and give Him now the crown of your heart's allegiance: God save the King.
The LORD's People (2 Chronicles 23:16-17)
With the true king enthroned, the people covenant to be the LORD's and tear down the house of Baal.
That They Should Be the LORD's People
"And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD'S people. 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."
Word Study
"covenant," Hebrew berit (בְּרִית), a binding agreement, a solemn bond. With the rightful king enthroned, the very next act is spiritual renewal: "Jehoiada made a covenant (berit)... that they should be the LORD'S people." The restoration of the true king led at once to the recommitment of the nation to God. And true covenant with God meant the end of idolatry: "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." Athaliah's reign had promoted Baal-worship in Judah; now, under the godly king and priest, the people zealously tore it down. Note the order and the logic: first the true king is enthroned, then the people covenant to be the LORD's, then the idols are destroyed. Right worship follows rightful rule. When God's king reigns, His people renew their devotion, and the false gods must go. The purging of Baal was not mere iconoclasm but the necessary fruit of covenant: you cannot be "the LORD'S people" and keep the house of Baal standing. Genuine return to God always involves both a positive commitment ("that they should be the LORD's people") and a decisive break with idols.
Explanation
Once Joash was crowned, Jehoiada led the king and all the people into a covenant committing themselves to be the LORD's people. Flowing directly from that renewed devotion, the people went to the temple of Baal that had flourished under Athaliah, tore it down, smashed its altars and idols, and killed Baal's priest. The enthronement of the rightful king brought both a recommitment to God and the destruction of idolatry. True covenant with the LORD meant turning wholly to Him and decisively away from every false god.
Gospel Focus
The pattern here is the pattern of true conversion and revival: the rightful King is enthroned, the people covenant to belong wholly to the LORD, and the idols are torn down. Right worship follows rightful rule. When Christ is truly made King of a life, two things follow: a wholehearted covenant to be His, "ye are... a peculiar people... the people of God" (1 Peter 2:9-10), and the pulling down of idols, "ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God" (1 Thessalonians 1:9). You cannot enthrone the true King and keep the house of Baal standing; genuine devotion to God demands a decisive break with everything that rivals Him. "Little children, keep yourselves from idols" (1 John 5:21), and an idol is anything, not only carved images, that claims the allegiance owed to God alone. The gospel is not merely forgiveness; it is the enthronement of Christ as Lord, the covenant of belonging to Him, and the demolition of every idol of the heart. Has the rightful King been enthroned in you? Then covenant to be wholly His, and tear down whatever Baal still stands, that you may be truly the LORD's people, devoted to Him alone.
Chapter in Review
Second Chronicles 23 tells how the faithful priest Jehoiada ended the reign of the usurper Athaliah and restored the rightful king. After careful preparation, he brought out the hidden heir Joash, crowned him, gave him "the testimony" of God's law, anointed him, and the people cried, "God save the king", the true son of David enthroned "as the LORD hath said of the sons of David." Athaliah was put to death, and Jehoiada led the king and people into a covenant "that they should be the LORD'S people," upon which they tore down the house of Baal and its idols. The chapter is a bright picture of the gospel: the rightful King, long hidden and once threatened with destruction, is revealed and enthroned, and His reign brings covenant renewal and the demolition of idols. It points to Christ, the true Son of David and our Priest-King, whose enthronement in a life brings wholehearted devotion to God and the tearing down of every rival.
Key Takeaways
- The rightful King is revealed at the appointed time. The hidden heir of David was crowned; Christ, now hidden, will be revealed to reign.
- The king reigns under God's word. Joash was given "the testimony"; Christ perfectly fulfilled and honors God's law.
- King and Priest joined. The priest Jehoiada enthroned the king, hinting at Christ our Priest-King after Melchizedek.
- Rightful rule brings covenant renewal. The people covenanted "that they should be the LORD's people."
- True devotion tears down idols. They broke down the house of Baal; enthroning Christ means demolishing every rival.
Questions for Reflection
- Have you crowned the rightful King, Jesus, as Lord of your life?
- Do you gladly live under the King who reigns by the word of God?
- Does your commitment to Christ include a wholehearted covenant to be His people?
- What "house of Baal" still stands in your life that must be torn down?
- Do you long for the day when the hidden King is revealed and all cry, "God save the King"?
References
- Scripture: 2 Chronicles 23:1-21, King James Version (commentary focuses on verses 11 and 16-17; see also verse 3).
- Cross-references: Deuteronomy 17:18-20; John 14:30; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 1 Peter 2:9-10; Hebrews 7:17; 1 John 5:21; Revelation 11:15.
- Hebrew word meanings: standard lexical sources (Strong's, BDB) for edut ("testimony") and berit ("covenant"); background on Jehoiada, the crowning of Joash, and the fall of Athaliah.