2 chronicles 23 and 24

Read 2 Chronicles 23 and 24 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions:

2 Chr 23:1-11 {s} Jehoiada revealed Joash when he was 7 years old/ made him king in the house of God
2 Chr 23:12-13 {s} Athaliah heard the tumult, and saw the king, and cried, Treason
2 Chr 23:14-15 {p} The captains siezed her, escorted her from the temple, and killed her
2 Chr 23:16-24:2 {s} Jehoiada, people, king made a covenant to be the LORD’s people/ the king reigned
2 Chr 23:16-24:2 {s} Jehoiada, people, king made a covenant to be the LORD’s people/ the king reigned
2 Chr 24:3-14 {p} Joash commanded the repair and restoration of the house of the LORD
2 Chr 24:15-16 {p} Jehoiada the chief priest lived 130 years, died, and was buried with the kings
2 Chr 24:17-19 {s} After Jehoiada’s death, the leaders of Judah petitioned Joash to restore idolatry in Judah
2 Chr 24:20-22 {p} Zechariah the son of Jehoiada stoned for the word of the LORD in the outer court
2 Chr 24:23-27 {p} Judah defeated before Syria/ Joash killed by his servants, and was buried

The strong themes:

2 Chr 23:1-15 {s+s+p} Joash Ahaziah’s son crowned king at 7 years old/ Athaliah executed
2 Chr 23:16-24:14 {s+p} Jehoiada, people, king returned to the LORD/ the king restored the LORD’s temple
2 Chr 24:15-16 {p} Jehoiada the chief priest lived 130 years, died, and was buried with the kings
2 Chr 24:17-12 {s+p} Joash forsook YHVH after Jehoiada’s death/ stoned Zechariah his son for YHVH’s word
2 Chr 24:23-27 {p} Judah defeated before Syria/ Joash killed by his servants, and was buried

The chiastic structure:

1a.1) 2 Chr 23:16-19, Jehoiada + people + king made a covenant to be YHVH’s people/ His worship restored;
1a.2) 2 Chr 23:20-24:2 {s} Joash sat upon the throne of the kingdom + he reigned 40 years in Jerusalem;

1b) 2 Chr 24:3, And Jehoiada took two wives for him, and he had sons and daughters;

1c) 2 Chr 24:4-14 {p} Joash commanded the repair and restoration of the house of YHVH;

central axis) 2 Chr 24:15-16 {p} Jehoiada the chief priest lived 130 years, died, and was buried with the kings;

2c) 2 Chr 24:17-19 {s} After Jehoiada’s death, Joash + Judah’s leaders forsook the house of YHVH + His worship;

2b) 2 Chr 24:20-22 {p} Joash did not remember Jehoiada’s kindness, but killed his son for the word of YHVH;

2a.1) 2 Chr 24:23-24, Because they had forsaken their covenant, they were defeated before Syria;
2a.2) 2 Chr 24:25-27 {p} Joash killed + Amaziah his son reigned in his place.

How is it that someone can serve the LORD nearly all his days, and yet forsake the LORD to such a degree that he even has the LORD’s priest killed for the word of the LORD? And Zechariah was not just any priest; Jehoiada was Joash’s uncle, for Jehoiada’s wife was the sister of Joash’s father. Since his aunt and uncle raised him, they were the only parents Joash knew. Zechariah was not only his cousin, but they were raised up together, and he must have been like a brother to him!

I find it interesting that the text says that after the death of Jehoiada, the leaders of Judah came and bowed down to Joash. Joash, suddenly, instead of looking to Jehoiada as elder and counselor, all of the sudden found himself as the top dog, even if he had been king. It must have went to his head — that is the only thing that makes sense to me. He let himself be exalted above his brethren:

“Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.” Deu 17:18-20

Pride, the especially deep pit and snare for all who are in authority, and the snare which has entrapped the sons of David (even David himself, but from which he was freed through repentance) again and again! Keeping ourselves in the word of God, not neglecting Torah, but continuing in it, all the days of our lives, to do its commandments, is the safeguard God has provided, for us and our children. May we heed it Father!