2 Chronicles 23:1 - Exposition

Jehoiada strengthened himself (see our note, 2 Chronicles 12:1 ; 2 Chronicles 13:7 ). He nerved himself with courage, and that courage which results from conviction of duty and of ripe time to achieve it. The captains of hundreds (or, centurions of the royal guards ) are not mentioned in the parallel by name, but the significant mention there ( 2 Kings 11:5-7 ) of five detachments (three "third parts," plus "two parts" of another body) tally with the number five , who are here mentioned by name. The five detachments probably summed up a force of nominally five hundred. It is interesting to note how often high religious enterprises have been due to the trusting mutual co-operation of very few to begin with, and them awakened and led by one. Of no one of these five named here is anything known more to his honour than this—that his name is here recorded. It is said with the most perfect simplicity of even Hebrew language, that he took them with him in covenant.