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2 Chronicles 24:3

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And Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he begat sons and daughters.

And Jehoiada {H3077} took {H5375} for him two {H8147} wives {H802}; and he begat {H3205} sons {H1121} and daughters {H1323}.

Y'hoyada chose two wives for him, and he became the father of sons and daughters.

Jehoiada took for him two wives, and he had sons and daughters.

And Jehoiada took for him two wives; and he begat sons and daughters.

Commentary

Context of 2 Chronicles 24:3

This verse is part of the narrative concerning King Joash of Judah, who ascended the throne at the tender age of seven. His life was miraculously preserved from the murderous hand of Queen Athaliah by his aunt Jehoshabeath and her husband, Jehoiada the high priest. Jehoiada served as Joash's guardian and regent, providing spiritual and political guidance throughout his early reign. As 2 Chronicles 24:2 notes, Joash 'did that which was right in the sight of the Lord all the days of Jehoiada the priest'. This verse highlights Jehoiada's personal involvement in securing the royal lineage and stability of the kingdom by arranging for Joash to marry and also mentions Jehoiada's own marital status, underscoring his significant influence.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Jehoiada's Paternal and Political Influence: Jehoiada's action of finding wives for Joash underscores his comprehensive role as guardian, spiritual mentor, and political strategist. His authority was immense, and he used it to strengthen the Davidic line. This act was part of his broader effort to restore godly order after Athaliah's idolatrous reign, as seen in the covenant he made with Joash and the people.
  • Securing the Davidic Line: By arranging for Joash to have wives and children, Jehoiada ensured the continuation of the royal lineage. This was crucial for the stability of Judah and for the fulfillment of God's promises concerning the throne of David, from which the Messiah would eventually come.
  • Cultural Practice of Polygamy: The verse notes that Jehoiada himself 'took for him two wives.' While polygamy was a common practice in ancient Israelite society, it was not God's original design for marriage, which was established as a union between one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24). The Bible records these cultural practices without endorsing them, often showing their complex and problematic consequences in other narratives.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "took for him" is a common biblical idiom for taking a wife. There are no complex Hebrew terms or phrases in this verse that require detailed linguistic explanation beyond their straightforward meaning in the KJV text.

Practical Application and Reflection

  • The Power of Godly Mentorship: Jehoiada's life exemplifies the profound impact a wise and righteous mentor can have on a young leader. His guidance enabled Joash to begin his reign righteously, underscoring the importance of surrounding oneself with godly counsel. This also serves as a poignant contrast to Joash's later decline after Jehoiada's death, highlighting the lasting influence of good instruction.
  • Leadership and Legacy: The verse subtly points to the leader's responsibility not only for immediate governance but also for ensuring continuity and stability for future generations, including securing a stable succession.
  • Navigating Cultural Norms: The mention of Jehoiada having two wives reminds us that biblical narratives record cultural practices of the time, some of which do not align with God's ultimate ideal. Yet, God works within and through these historical and cultural contexts to fulfill His overarching purposes.
Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash (May 20, 2025) using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 24:15 (2 votes)

    ¶ But Jehoiada waxed old, and was full of days when he died; an hundred and thirty years old [was he] when he died.

  • Matthew 19:4 (2 votes)

    And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made [them] at the beginning made them male and female,

  • Matthew 19:8 (2 votes)

    He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so.

  • Genesis 21:21 (2 votes)

    And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.

  • Genesis 4:19 (2 votes)

    ¶ And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one [was] Adah, and the name of the other Zillah.

  • Genesis 24:4 (2 votes)

    But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.