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Commentary on 2 Chronicles 24 verses 15–27
We have here a sad account of the degeneracy and apostasy of Joash. God had done great things for him; he had done something for God; but now he proved ungrateful to his God and false to the engagements he had laid himself under to him. How has the gold become dim, and the most fine gold changed! Here we find,
I. The occasions of his apostasy. When he did that which was right it was not with a perfect heart. He never was sincere, never acted from principle, but in compliance to Jehoiada, who had helped him to the crown, and because he had been protected in the temple and rose upon the ruins of idolatry; and therefore, when the wind turned, he turned with it. 1. His good counsellor left him, and was by death removed from him. It was a mercy to him and his kingdom that Jehoiada lived so long-130 years (Ch2 24:15), by which it appears that he was born in Solomon's time, and had lived six entire reigns before this. It was an encouragement to him to go on in that good way which Jehoiada had trained him up in to see what honour was done to Jehoiada at his death: They buried him among the kings, with this honourable encomium (perhaps it was part of the inscription on his grave-stone), that he had done good in Israel. Judah is called Israel, because, the other tribes having revolted from God, they only were Israelites indeed. Note, It is the greatest honour to do good in our generations, and those who do that which is good shall have praise of the same. He had done good towards God; not that any man's goodness can extend unto him, but he had done good towards his house, in reviving the temple service, Ch2 23:8. Note, Those do the greatest good to their country that lay out themselves in their places to promote religion. Well, Jehoiada finished his course with honour; but the little religion that Joash had was all buried in his grave, and, after his death, both king and kingdom miserably degenerated. See how much one head may sustain, and what a great judgment to any prince or people the death of godly, zealous, useful men is. See how necessary it is that, as our Saviour speaks, we have salt in ourselves, that we act in religion from an inward principle, which will carry us on through all changes. Then the loss of a parent, a minister, a friend, will not involve the loss of our religion. 2. Bad counsellors got about him, insinuated themselves into his affections, wheedled him, flattered him, made obeisance to him, and, instead of condoling, congratulated him upon the death of his old tutor, as his release from the discipline he had been so long under, unworthy a man, a king. They tell him he must be priest-ridden no longer, he is now discharged from grave lessons and restraints, he may do as he pleases: and (would you think it?) the princes of Judah were the men that were so industrious to debauch him, Ch2 24:17. His father and grandfather were corrupted by the house of Ahab, from whom no better could be expected. But that the princes of Judah should be seducers to their king was very sad. But those that incline to the counsels of the ungodly will never want ungodly counsellors. They made obeisance to the king, flattered him into an opinion of his absolute power, promised to stand by him in making his royal will and pleasure pass for a law, any divine precept or institution to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding. And he hearkened to them: their discourse pleased him, and was more agreeable than Jehoiada's dictates used to be. Princes and inferior people have been many a time thus flattered into their ruin by those who have promised them liberty and dignity, but who have really brought them into the greatest servitude and disgrace.
II. The apostasy itself: They left the house of God, and served groves and idols, Ch2 24:18. The princes, it is likely, had a request to the king, which they tell him they durst not offer while Jehoiada lived; but now they hope it will give no offence: it is that they may set up the groves and idols again which were thrown down in the beginning of his reign, for they hate to be always confined to the dull old-fashioned service of the temple. And he not only gave them leave to do it themselves, but he joined with them. The king and princes, who, a little while ago, were repairing the temple, now forsook the temple; those who had pulled down groves and idols now themselves served them. So inconstant a thing is man and so little confidence is to be put in him!
III. The aggravations of this apostasy and the additions of guilt to it. God sent prophets to them (Ch2 24:19) to reprove them for their wickedness, and to tell them what would be in the end thereof, and so to bring them again unto the Lord. It is the work of ministers to bring people, not to themselves, but to God - to bring those again to him who have gone a whoring from him. In the most degenerate times God left not himself without witness; though they had dealt very disingenuously with God, yet he sent prophets to them to convince and instruct them, and to assure them that they should find favour with him if yet they would return; for he would rather sinners should turn and live than go on and die, and those that perish shall be left inexcusable. The prophets did their part: they testified against them; but, few or none received their testimony.
1.They slighted all the prophets; they would not give ear, were so strangely wedded to their idols that no reproofs, warnings, threatenings, nor any of the various methods which the prophets took to convince them would reclaim them. Few would hear them, fewer would heed them, but fewest of all would believe them or be governed by them.
2.They slew one of the most eminent, Zechariah the son of Jehoiada, and perhaps others. Concerning him observe,
(1.)The message which he delivered to them in the name of God, Ch2 24:20. The people were assembled in the court of the temple (for they had not quite left it), probably on occasion of some solemn feast, when this Zechariah, being filled with the spirit of prophecy, and known (it is likely) to be a prophet, stood up in some of the desks that were in the court of the priests, and very plainly, but without any provoking language, told the people of their sin and what would be the consequences of it. He did not impeach any particular persons, nor predict any particular judgments, as sometimes the prophets did, but as inoffensively as possible reminded them of what was written in the law. Let them but look into their Bibles, and there they would find, [1.] The precept they broke: "You transgress the commandments of the Lord, you know you do so, in serving groves and idols: and why will you so offend God and wrong yourselves?" [2.] The penalty they incurred: "You know, if the word of God be true, you cannot prosper in this evil way; never expect to do ill and fare well. Nay, you find already that because you have forsaken the Lord he hath forsaken you, as he told you he would," Deu 29:25; Deu 31:16, Deu 31:17. This is the work of ministers, by the word of God, as a lamp and a light, to expose the sin of men and expound the providences of God.
(2.)The barbarous treatment they gave him for his kindness and faithfulness in delivering this message to them, Ch2 24:21. By the conspiracy of the princes, or some of their party, and by the commandment of the king, who thought himself affronted by this fair warning, they stoned him to death immediately, not under colour of law, accusing him as a blasphemer, a traitor, or a false prophet, but in a popular tumult, in the court of the house of the Lord - as horrid a piece of wickedness as perhaps any we read of in all the history of the kings. The person was sacred - a priest, the place sacred - the court of the temple (the inner court, between the porch and the altar), the message yet more sacred, and we have reason to think that they knew it came from the spirit of prophecy. The reproof was just, the warning fair, both backed with scripture, and the delivery very gentle and tender; and yet so impudently and daringly do they defy God himself that nothing less than the blood of the prophet can satisfy their indignation at the prophecy. Be astonished, O heavens! at this, and tremble, O earth! that ever such villany should be committed by men, by Israelites, in contempt and violation of every thing that is just, honourable, and sacred - that a king, a king in covenant with God, should command the murder of one whom it was his office to protect and countenance! The Jews say there were seven transgressions in this; for they killed a priest, a prophet, a judge, they shed innocent blood, and polluted the court of the temple, the sabbath, and the day of expiation: for on that day, their tradition says, this happened.
(3.)The aggravation of this sin, that this Zechariah, who suffered martyrdom for his faithfulness to God and his country, was the son of Jehoiada, who had done so much good in Israel, and particularly had been as a father to Joash, Ch2 24:22. The affront done by it to God, and the contempt put on religion, are not so particularly taken notice of as the ingratitude there was in it to the memory of Jehoiada. He remembered not the kindness of the father, but slew the son for doing his duty, and what the father would have done if he had been there. Call a man ungrateful, and you can call him no worse.
(4.)The dying martyr's prophetic imprecation of vengeance upon his murderers: The Lord look upon it, and require it! This came not from a spirit of revenge, but a spirit of prophecy: He will require it. This would be the continual cry of the blood they shed, as Abel's blood cried against Cain: "Let the God to whom vengeance belongs demand blood for blood. He will do it, for he is righteous." This precious blood was quickly reckoned for in the judgments that came upon this apostate prince; it came into the account afterwards in the destruction of Jerusalem by the Chaldeans - their misusing the prophets was that which brought upon them ruin without remedy (Ch2 36:16); nay, our Saviour makes the persecutors of him and his gospel answerable for the blood of this Zechariah; so loud, so long, does the blood of the martyrs cry. See Mat 23:35. Such as this is the cry of the souls under the altar (Rev 6:10), How long ere thou avenge our blood? For it shall not always go unrevenged.
IV. The judgments of God which came upon Joash for this aggravated wickedness of his. 1. A small army of Syrians made themselves masters of Jerusalem, destroyed the princes, plundered the city, and sent the spoil of it to Damascus, Ch2 24:23, Ch2 24:24. God's people, while they kept in with God, had often been conquerors when the enemy had the advantage of the greater number; but now, on the contrary, an inconsiderable handful of Syrians routed a very great host of Israelites, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers, and then they were not only put upon the level with their enemies, but opposed them with the utmost disadvantage; for their God not only departed from them, but turned to be their enemy and fought against them. The Syrians were employed as instruments in God's hand to execute judgments against Joash, though they little thought so, Isa 10:6, Isa 10:7, and see Deu 32:30. 2. God smote him with great diseases, of body, or mind, or both, either like his grandfather (Ch2 21:18), or, like Saul, an evil spirit from God troubling him. While he was plagued with the Syrians he thought that, if he could but get clear of them, he should do well enough. But, before they departed from him, God smote him with diseases. If vengeance pursue men, the end of one trouble will but be the beginning of another. 3. His own servants conspired against him. Perhaps he began to hope his disease would be cured - he was but a middle-aged man and might recover it; but he that cometh up out of the pit shall fall into the snare. When he thought he should escape death by sickness he met it by the sword. They slew him in his bed for the blood of the sons of Jehoiada, by which it should seem that he did not only slay Zechariah, but others of the sons of Jehoiada for his sake. Perhaps those that slew him intended to take vengeance for that blood; but, whether they did or not, this was what God intended in permitting them to slay him. Those that drink the blood of the saints shall have their own blood given them to drink, for they are worthy. The regicides are here named (Ch2 24:26), and it is observable that the mothers of them both were foreigners, one an Ammonitess and the other a Moabitess. The idolatrous kings, it is likely, countenanced those marriages which the law prohibited for the prevention of idolatry; and see how they resulted in their own destruction. 4. His people would not bury him in the sepulchres of the kings because he had stained his honour by his mal-administration. Let him not be written with the righteous, Psa 69:28. These judgments are called the burdens laid upon him (Ch2 24:27), for the wrath of God is a heavy burden, too heavy for any man to bear. Or it may be meant of the threatenings denounced against him by the prophets, for those are called burdens. Usually God sets some special marks of his displeasure upon apostates in this life, for warning to all to remember Lot's wife.
But if there are some who think that they can return to the Church not with prayers but with threats, or suppose that they can make a way for themselves, not with lamentation and atonements, but with terrors, let them take it for certain that against such the Church of the Lord stands closed; nor does the camp of Christ, unconquered and firm with the Lord's protection, yield to threats. The priest of God holding fast the Gospel and keeping Christ's precepts may be slain; he cannot be conquered. Zacharias, God's priest, suggests and furnishes to us examples of courage and faith, who, when he could not be terrified with threats and stoning, was slain in the temple of God, at the same time crying out and saying, what we also cry out and say against the heretics, "Thus saith the Lord, Ye have forsaken the ways of the Lord, and the Lord will forsake you."
Some such thing we read of in the book of Chronicles. For Joash the king of Judah at the age of seven was summoned by Jehoiada the priest to the kingdom and by the witness of Scripture is commended for all his actions as long as the aforesaid priest lived. But hear what Scripture relates of him after Jehoiada’s death and how he was puffed up with pride and given over to a most disgraceful state. “But after the death of Jehoiada the princes went in and worshiped the king: and he was soothed by their services and hearkened to them. And they forsook the temple of the Lord, the God of their fathers, and served groves and idols, and great wrath came on Judah and Jerusalem because of this sin.” And after a little: “When a year was come about, the army of Syria came up against him: and they came to Judah and Jerusalem and killed all the princes of the people, and they sent all the spoils to the king to Damascus. And whereas there came a very small number of the Syrians, the Lord delivered into their hands an infinite multitude, because they had forsaken the Lord the God of their fathers; and on Joash they executed shameful judgments. And departing they left him in great diseases.” You see how the consequence of pride was that he was given over to shocking and filthy passions. For he who is puffed up with pride and has permitted himself to be worshiped as God, is (as the apostle says) “given over to shameful passions and a reprobate mind to do those things that are not convenient.” And because, as Scripture says, “everyone who exalts his heart is unclean before God,” he who is puffed up with swelling pride of heart is given over to most shameful confusion to be deluded by it, that when thus humbled he may know that he is unclean through impurity of the flesh and knowledge of impure desires, a thing that he had refused to recognize in the pride of his heart; and also that the shameful infection of the flesh may disclose the hidden impurity of the heart, which he contracted through the sin of pride, and that through the patent pollution of his body he may be proved to be impure, who did not formerly see that he had become unclean through the pride of his spirit.
Zechariah was son of high priest Jehoiada, a man who was likewise very holy. They stoned Zechariah between the temple and the altar, as the Lord himself bore witness when he made mention of the blessed martyrs in the Gospel.
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SUMMARY
2 Chronicles 24:23 marks a profound and tragic turning point in the reign of King Joash of Judah, detailing the swift and devastating divine judgment that befell the kingdom. This verse vividly recounts the invasion of Judah and Jerusalem by a Syrian army, which, despite its seemingly inferior strength, was divinely empowered to execute judgment. The invasion resulted in the targeted destruction of Judah's leadership and the plundering of its wealth, serving as a stark and somber testament to the severe consequences of national apostasy, the rejection of God's prophetic warnings, and the shedding of innocent blood.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: This verse is strategically placed within the narrative of King Joash's reign, immediately following a period of significant spiritual decline and culminating in a heinous act of apostasy. Joash's early years were characterized by faithfulness under the tutelage of the high priest Jehoiada, even leading to a significant restoration of the temple 2 Chronicles 24:1-14. However, upon Jehoiada's death, Joash succumbed to the corrupting influence of Judah's officials, abandoning the Lord and re-embracing idolatry 2 Chronicles 24:17-18. Despite God's persistent warnings delivered through prophets, both the king and the people stubbornly refused to repent. The narrative reaches its tragic climax with Joash's deplorable command to stone Zechariah, Jehoiada's son, who faithfully rebuked their disobedience 2 Chronicles 24:20-22. Thus, 2 Chronicles 24:23 is not an isolated incident but the direct, immediate, and divinely ordained retribution for this profound betrayal and the shedding of innocent blood, explicitly fulfilling Zechariah's dying imprecation, "The Lord look upon it, and require it" 2 Chronicles 24:22.
Historical & Cultural Context: The "host of Syria" refers to the Aramean army under the command of King Hazael of Damascus, a formidable and aggressive regional power during the late 9th and early 8th centuries BC. Historical records, including those in the book of Kings, corroborate Hazael's extensive military campaigns against both Israel and Judah, noting his capture of Gath and his subsequent advance towards Jerusalem, which was initially averted by Joash's payment of tribute 2 Kings 12:17-18. The Chronicler, however, uniquely emphasizes the divine agency behind this specific attack on Judah, portraying it primarily as a punitive act of God rather than merely a geopolitical conflict. The phrase "at the end of the year" (Hebrew: tequphat ha-shanah) typically denotes the turn of the year, often corresponding to the spring, which was the conventional season for military campaigns, as famously noted in other biblical accounts 2 Samuel 11:1. This specific timing underscores a deliberate, perhaps divinely appointed, moment for the invasion. The targeted destruction of "all the princes of the people" was a strategically devastating and culturally significant blow, effectively decapitating Judah's leadership and military command, thereby rendering the kingdom vulnerable, demoralized, and ripe for further subjugation.
Key Themes: This verse powerfully encapsulates several foundational theological and narrative themes central to the book of Chronicles. Foremost among these is the principle of immediate divine retribution for national disobedience and apostasy. The Chronicler consistently emphasizes that Judah's prosperity and peace were directly contingent upon their covenant faithfulness; their turning away from God, particularly after Jehoiada's death, directly invited severe divine judgment. Secondly, the passage highlights God's absolute sovereignty over nations. Despite the Syrian army potentially being numerically inferior to Judah's forces, God empowered them as an instrument of His justice, executing judgment against the rebellious kingdom. This aligns with the Chronicler's overarching theological framework of immediate divine recompense for national sin, ensuring that no act of rebellion goes unpunished. Thirdly, the targeted destruction of "all the princes of the people" underscores the catastrophic vulnerability of ungodly leadership and the profound impact when a nation's leaders abandon divine principles. This specific attack crippled Judah's political and military structure, leaving the kingdom weak and susceptible to further decline. Finally, the narrative implicitly reinforces the grave cost of rejecting God's messengers. The murder of Zechariah, a prophet delivering God's truth, is explicitly linked to the onset of this devastating invasion, emphasizing the seriousness of ignoring divine warnings and persecuting those who deliver them 2 Chronicles 24:19-22.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The Chronicler expertly employs several literary devices in 2 Chronicles 24:23 to convey its profound theological message. Irony is powerfully evident: King Joash, miraculously preserved as an infant and nurtured by Jehoiada, ultimately betrays his benefactor's legacy by orchestrating the murder of Zechariah, Jehoiada's son. This act then directly precipitates the divine retribution that cripples his own kingdom, demonstrating the tragic reversal of fortune for a king who turned from God. The passage is a prime example of Retribution Theology, a hallmark of the Chronicler's work, which establishes a direct and immediate cause-and-effect relationship between Judah's corporate sin (apostasy, murder of Zechariah) and the ensuing divine judgment (Syrian invasion, destruction of leadership). This serves as a clear theological statement about God's unwavering justice and covenant faithfulness. Furthermore, the event functions as a form of Foreshadowing, hinting at the future, more comprehensive exiles and destructions that would ultimately befall Judah due to persistent disobedience, culminating in the Babylonian captivity. The targeted destruction of the "princes" also serves as a potent Symbolic Act, representing the dismantling of the nation's spiritual and political integrity, which had been corrupted by idolatry and rebellion.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
2 Chronicles 24:23 stands as a stark biblical testament to the principle that divine favor and national well-being are inextricably linked to covenant faithfulness. The swift and brutal judgment meted out by the Syrian host against Judah serves as a powerful reminder that God holds His people accountable for their choices, particularly when they abandon His commands and reject His prophetic warnings. This event underscores God's absolute sovereignty over nations, demonstrating His willingness to use even external, seemingly pagan forces as instruments of His righteous judgment when His people persist in rebellion. It highlights the profound seriousness of apostasy and the devastating consequences of rejecting the truth, especially when delivered by God's appointed messengers. The destruction of Judah's leadership also points to the critical role of righteous governance and the inherent vulnerability of a society when its spiritual and political foundations are compromised.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The grim account of 2 Chronicles 24:23 offers profound and timeless lessons for believers and communities today. It serves as a powerful cautionary tale against spiritual complacency and the insidious nature of apostasy. Just as Joash, once faithful, succumbed to corrupt influences after the death of his mentor, we are reminded that our spiritual vitality cannot solely depend on the presence or influence of others. Each individual is called to cultivate a personal and unwavering commitment to God's Word and His ways, ensuring our faith is rooted in a direct relationship with Him. The severity of Judah's judgment underscores the holiness of God and the profound seriousness of sin, particularly the rejection of divine truth and the persecution of those who faithfully proclaim it. We are challenged to examine our own lives and communities: Are we truly heeding God's warnings, whether through the clear teaching of Scripture, faithful preaching, or the conviction of the Holy Spirit? Do we value and protect those who speak uncomfortable truths, or do we, like Joash, silence them for our own comfort or convenience? This passage calls us to a posture of humility, sincere repentance, and vigilant obedience, recognizing that genuine peace and flourishing, both individually and corporately, are found only in steadfast devotion to the Lord and His covenant.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why did God use the Syrian army, a pagan nation, to punish Judah?
Answer: God's sovereignty extends over all nations, even those that do not acknowledge Him. In biblical history, God frequently used pagan empires and armies as instruments of His judgment against His disobedient people, or even against other wicked nations. In this case, the Syrian army under Hazael was a powerful regional force, but their success against Judah was not merely a military triumph; it was a divinely orchestrated act of retribution. This demonstrates that God is not limited to using only righteous means or people to accomplish His purposes. He can turn the hearts of kings and direct the course of battles to bring about His righteous judgments, as seen in other instances where nations like Assyria were described as God's "rod of anger" Isaiah 10:5 or Babylon as His "servant" Jeremiah 27:6. This highlights God's absolute control over human history and His ability to use any means necessary to uphold His justice and bring about His will.
What was the significance of destroying "all the princes of the people" rather than just the general populace?
Answer: The targeted destruction of the "princes of the people" was highly significant for several profound reasons. Firstly, it represented a direct and specific judgment on the leadership that had led the nation astray. These were the very officials who had enticed Joash into idolatry after Jehoiada's death 2 Chronicles 24:17-18. God's judgment often begins with the house of God and its leaders, as seen in other biblical contexts 1 Peter 4:17. Secondly, it was a strategic blow that crippled Judah's political, military, and administrative infrastructure. By decapitating the leadership, the kingdom was left vulnerable, demoralized, and incapable of effective resistance or governance. This act served as a powerful symbol of the nation's spiritual and moral decay, reflecting the loss of divine protection and the catastrophic consequences of abandoning God's covenant. It underscored that when leadership fails to uphold righteousness, the entire nation suffers.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The devastating judgment upon Judah in 2 Chronicles 24:23, a direct consequence of their profound apostasy and the murder of Zechariah, powerfully foreshadows the ultimate divine judgment on sin and the world's rejection of God's ultimate Messenger, Jesus Christ. Just as Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada, was unjustly slain for his prophetic witness, so too was Jesus, the Son of God, rejected and crucified by His own people who refused to heed His warnings and embrace His truth Matthew 23:37-39. The "spoil" taken by the Syrians symbolizes the spiritual desolation and bondage that sin brings, leading to separation from God and the loss of His blessing. Yet, in Christ, we find the perfect fulfillment and reversal of this tragic narrative. The Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world John 1:29, bore the full weight of divine judgment that our sins deserved 2 Corinthians 5:21. Through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, Christ delivers us from the "spoil" of spiritual death and offers redemption, reconciliation, and the promise of eternal life, transforming the curse of sin into the blessing of salvation for all who believe Romans 5:8. He is the true King who, unlike Joash, never falters in His faithfulness, and through His perfect reign, offers true and lasting peace to all who submit to Him Isaiah 9:6-7.