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2 Chronicles 23:17

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Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in pieces, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.

Then all the people {H5971} went {H935} to the house {H1004} of Baal {H1168}, and brake it down {H5422}, and brake {H7665} his altars {H4196} and his images {H6754} in pieces {H7665}, and slew {H2026} Mattan {H4977} the priest {H3548} of Baal {H1168} before {H6440} the altars {H4196}.

Then all the people went to the house of Ba'al and broke it down; they smashed his altars and images and killed Mattan the priest of Ba'al in front of the altars.

So all the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.

And all the people went to the house of Baal, and brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in pieces, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.

Commentary

2 Chronicles 23:17 describes a pivotal moment of religious purification in Judah following the overthrow of the idolatrous Queen Athaliah and the coronation of young King Joash (Jehoash).

Context

This verse immediately follows the covenant made between the Lord, the king, and the people, orchestrated by the high priest Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 23:16). For six years, Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, had reigned, promoting the worship of Baal in Jerusalem. Her reign was characterized by apostasy and violence. The people's actions in this verse represent a dramatic and decisive turning point, a national cleansing from the corrupting influence of Baal worship, driven by a renewed commitment to the God of Israel.

Key Themes

  • Religious Reformation and Zeal: The swift and thorough destruction of Baal's temple, altars, and images demonstrates the people's fervent commitment to restoring true worship. This was not a passive reform but an active, zealous cleansing of the land.
  • Rejection of Idolatry: The house of Baal, its altars, and images (likely matztzevah or asherim, pagan pillars and sacred poles) were utterly demolished. This act fulfilled the Mosaic law's command to destroy all remnants of idolatry (Deuteronomy 12:2-3).
  • Consequences for False Priesthood: Mattan, the priest of Baal, was slain before his altars. This severe judgment underscores the gravity of leading God's people into false worship and highlights the consequences for those who actively promote idolatry against the true God.

Linguistic Insights

The term "Baal" refers to a prominent Canaanite deity, often associated with storm, fertility, and rain. His worship was a constant temptation for Israel, leading to spiritual prostitution and moral decay. The "images" mentioned were likely cultic objects or pillars used in Baal worship, designed to represent or honor this false god.

Practical Application

While we no longer literally tear down physical temples of Baal, this verse offers powerful lessons for believers today. It calls us to:

  • Examine Our Own Lives: Identify and ruthlessly dismantle anything that takes God's rightful place in our hearts or lives. This could be materialism, ambition, entertainment, or anything that becomes an "idol" we serve instead of the Creator.
  • Participate in Spiritual Purity: Just as the people actively participated in cleansing the land, we are called to actively pursue holiness and purity, rejecting influences that draw us away from God. This includes being discerning about what we consume and support.
  • Uphold True Worship: The zeal shown here reminds us of the importance of pure, unadulterated worship of the one true God, free from syncretism or compromise.
This account serves as a stark reminder of God's intolerance for idolatry and His desire for His people to worship Him alone, as commanded in the first commandment.

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

  • 1 Kings 18:40 (3 votes)

    And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

  • Deuteronomy 12:3 (2 votes)

    And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods, and destroy the names of them out of that place.

  • 2 Kings 10:25 (2 votes)

    And it came to pass, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, Go in, [and] slay them; let none come forth. And they smote them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast [them] out, and went to the city of the house of Baal.

  • 2 Kings 10:28 (2 votes)

    Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.

  • Zechariah 13:2 (2 votes)

    And it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, [that] I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered: and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.

  • Zechariah 13:3 (2 votes)

    And it shall come to pass, [that] when any shall yet prophesy, then his father and his mother that begat him shall say unto him, Thou shalt not live; for thou speakest lies in the name of the LORD: and his father and his mother that begat him shall thrust him through when he prophesieth.

  • Isaiah 2:18 (2 votes)

    And the idols he shall utterly abolish.