The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 278

plllllB. In tbe seventh yeRr he judged that the hour had struck for an nttempt to liberate the country from the yoke of Atbaliah, and to restore the crown of David to its rightful heir. Many projects otherwise promising are lost by being launched forth rrematurely, and many fail through want of "striking while the iron is hot" (Eccles. iii. 1-8). (2) The persons. Jehoiada called to his aid five centmions of the queen's body-1!;1.lard, whom he probably knew to be disaffected towards the queen and favourable to a change in the government (2 Kings xi. 4), and whose names are given-Azariah, "whom Jehovah aids;" the son of Jeroham, "who is loved;" Ishmael," whom God hears," the son of J ehohanan, " Jehovah is gracious; " Azariah, the son of Obed, "worshiP,pinii;;" Maaseiah, "work of Jehovah," the son of Adaiah, "whom Jehovah adorns; ' Elishapha.t, " whom God judges," the son of Zichri, " famous; "-all men of renown; good, if their characters were reflected in their names; capable, as their civil rank showed. (3) The object.. To depose Athalia.h-trebly la.wful, because, as a usurper, she bad climbed into the throne by bloodshed and violence, a.nd ha.d therefore no just title to the sceptre; because, as a. wicked ruler, her longer continuance in power would cndama.ge the best interests, a.nd even endanger the existence of the state; and because, so long as she wore the crown, the real heir to the throne wa.s defr1mded of bis rights. "Whether, in the fin;t instance, Jehoiada mentioned tbe existence of Joa.sh is doubtful. 2. The nation's cavenant with the king. (1) The representatives of the people sum- moned. The captains to whom this work wa.s entrusted went about (ver. 2), no doubt priva.tely in Judah, a.nd invited all the Levites and heads of fathers' houses in every city to a secret convention in Jerusalem .. (2) The people's representatives couvened. In obedience to the high priest's call, those invited by his messengers ea.me. 'l'he con- gregation consisted of the priests and Levites, the heads of fathers' houses, and the captains of the guards, with their men (?). (3) The people's legitimate sovereign pro- duced. The meeting was held in the temple court. At the proper moment Joash was produced (ver. 3; 2 Kings xi. 4), and the story of his preservation rehearsed. (4) The people's duty pointed out. Skilfully done by Jehoiada, who simply said," Behold, the king's son shall reign, as the Lord hath said of the sons of David;" it was an inti- mation that the crown belonged to Joash by Divine appointment, and a hint to them to see that Jehovah's promise to their ancestor should not fa.iL (5) The people's assent given. The effect of Jeboiada's action in producing Joash and in citing the MessiRnic promise (2 Sam. viL 12) was electrical. With one hea.rt and voice the people pledged themselves to the revolution, to depose Atha.liah and to crown Joash. 3. The arrange- ments for the coup d'etat. (1) The disposition of the priests and Levites. These should be divided into two main bodies, those who entered on their temple duties (ver. 4; 2 Kings xi. 5) on the sabbath (the day fixed for the revolution), and those who retired from them (ver. 8; 2 Kings xi 7). The former should again divide themselves into three companies. Of these, the first should act as" porters of the doors," or "keepers of the thresholds," i.e. were to mount guard at the ga.tes of the temple (cf. 1 Chron. ix. 19); the second should stand "at the king's house," which may have been the apart- ments or cloister in which Joash was concealed (Keil), but more probably signified the palace (ver. 15), the approach from which to the temple it was desirable to guard; the third should take up a position" at the gate of the foundation," or "the gate Jesod "-whether a temple gate (Stanley, Keil) or a palace gate (Bertheau) is uncertain, (On the discrepancies between these appointments and those in Kings, consult the Exposition.) 'l'he latter, i.e. the priests and Levites retiring from duty, should act as the king's body-guard when he entered into and departed from the temple. 'l'his work should he deputed to them alone, since they only as "holy" persons could pass into the temple. .AJJ their duty wonld be to ensure the safety of the king's person, they would be armed-"every man with hie weapons in hie hand." To them also should be entrusk..od the task of seeing that no unauthorized person came within the precincts of the sacred edifice, and of executing judgment on such as without warrant did, (2) The disposition of the people. These should be sta.tioned in the court in which stood the brazen altar of Solomon. (3) The disposition of the "captains of hundreds" and their men. These, whom the Chronicler does not overlook while assigning the principal part in the forthcoming ceremony to the priests antl Levites, should be employed to preserve ord~r amongst the people, and guard against the possibility of attack from any of the 4ueen's pa.rLy who might become cognizant of what was going on. cu. xxm. 1-21.] TIIE SECOND BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. 279