The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Chronicles — Section 279

II. PROCEEDINGS IN TIIE CEREMONY, (Vere. 8-11.) 1. The carrying out of the abo110 arrangements. When the sBhbBth fixed for the execution of the plot arrived, •• the Levites and 1111 the men of Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada. had commBndod. 11 Each priest, with his assistant Levites, went to his appointed place-- those that entered on their temple duties to their different guards, as above explained; those tho.t retired from service, instead of departing to their homes-" for Jehoiada dis- missed not the courses "-to the new work of guarding the king's person, also as above explained. The former mounted guard at the temple gates, the latter ai;sumed their places inside the temple (inner) court," from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, along by the altar and the temple," so as to be "by the king round about." The people generally stood in the outer court, the centurions and their hundreds forming a circle round the inner court, between it and the people, so as to prevent any unauthorized person from passing within the house. 2. The arming of the captains. "Jehoiada delivered to them the spears, bucklers, and shields, that bad been King David's, which were in the house of God 11 (ver. 9). These were intended for themselves and their men (Bertheau), either because they had come into the temple unarmed (Keil), having left their weapons in the palace on leaving duty (Bahr), or because Jehoiada wished David's crown to be won back by David's weapons (Ewald, Stanley), or perhaps he judged that, as the work they were about to be employed in was God's, so the weapons they should use should also be God's. 3. The production of the boy-prince. When everything was ready, Joash, encompassed by armed Levites, marched from the priest's house into the temple court, and took up his station at one of the pillars leading into the inner court (eh. xxiii. 13; 2 Kings xi. 14), so as to be seen by the priests and Levites in the inner, and the captains and people in the out&r court. 4. The coronation of the heir to the throne. Jehoiada. (with the people assent- ing) placed upon the brow of Joash the royal diadem, "probably a band studded with jewels-the first direct example of a coronation" (Stanley). 5. The delivering to him of the testimony. Not the insignia regia, i.e. the regalia of the kingdom (Clericus), or the phylacteries of Deut. vi. 8 (Grotius), or Samuel's laws of the kingdom (1 Sam. viii. 10); but the Law of Moses, often called the "testimony" (Exod. xxv. 16; xxvii. 21; Numb. ix. 15; :x. 11 ; xvii. 4), which was now presented to the young king in the form of a roll, to indicate that his life and government both should be regulated by its precepts (Deut. xvii. 18-20). 6. The anointing of the new sovereign. Done by Jehoiada and his sons, this symbolized Joash's consecration to a theocratic or holy office, that of ruling over Jehovah's people. So Saul (1 Sam. x. 1) and David (1 Sam. xvi. 11) were anointed by Samuel, Solomon by Zadok the priest (1 Kings i. 3~). and Jehu by Elisha's messenger (2 Kings ix. 6). 7. ThR acclamation of the people. When the coronation ceremony ended, the people clapped their hands (2 Kings :ri. 12) in expression of their joy (Ps. xlvii. 1), and shouted, as their wont was at coronations, "God save the king!" or, "Let the king live!" (1 Sam. x. 24; 2 Sam. xvi. 16). (On "'_clapping of hands," see the 7.'heological Monthly, February, 1889, p. 135.) Learn: 1. It is not always wrong for ministers of religion to take part in politics. 2. There are times when rebellion against the powers that be is a solemn duty. 3. Neither God's house nor God's day can be put to a better use than to set a crown upon ,the head of God's anointed. 4. In Church and state alike each man has his own place and work. 5. Kings may expect their thrones to be stable if these are erected on the good will of their subjects. 6. No sovereign can rule well who takes not the Law of God for his guide, 7. A great and good man in troubled times invaluable to Church or state. What could Judah have done without Jehoiada? 8. No man can miss the destiny God has in store for him.-W. Vers. 12-15.-The fall of Athaliah. I. A STARTLED QUEEN, (Vers. 12, 13.) 1. An unusual sound. Secretly as the coronation of Joash had been conducted, Athaliah's quick ear caught the noise of trampling feet, clapping hands, and shou_tirtg voic~s that issued from the temple on the other side of tho Tyroprnan valley. Gmlty consc10nces, of sovereigns, as of common sinners, are prone to be startled by strnnge sounds (Job xviii. 11, 12); cf. •Macbeth' (act ii. sc. 2), "I have done the deed: di_dst thou not hear a noise?" 2. An unexpected sight. Mustering her guards, Athaliah proceeded from her palace across the bridge that spanned the valley, and entered the templu court,  ::!80 THE SEOOND BOOK OF TII& CHRONICLES. [on. nm. 1-IH.