2 Chronicles 23:1-11 - Homilies By T. Whitelaw

The coronation of Joash.

I. PREPARATIONS FOR THE CEREMONY . ( 2 Chronicles 23:1-10 .)

1 . Jehoiada ' s covenant with the captains. ( 2 Chronicles 23:1 .)

2 . The nation ' s covenant with the king.

3 . The arrangements for the coup d ' etat .

II. PROCEEDINGS IN THE CEREMONY . (Verses 8-11.)

1 . The carrying out of the above arrangements. When the sabbath fixed for the execution of the plot arrived, "the Levites and all the men of Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada had commanded." Each priest, with his assistant Levites, went to his appointed place—those that entered on their temple duties to their different guards, as above explained; those that retired from service, instead of departing to their homes—"for Jehoiada dismissed not the courses"—to the new work of guarding the king's person, also as above explained. The former mounted guard at the temple gates, the latter assumed their places inside the temple (inner) court, "from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, along by the altar and the temple," so as to be "by the king round about." The people generally stood in the outer court, the centurions and their hundreds forming a circle round the inner court, between it and the people, so as to prevent any unauthorized person from passing within the house.

2 . The arming of the captains. "Jehoiada delivered to them the spears, bucklers, and shields, that had been King David's, which were in the house of God" (verse 9). These were intended for themselves and their men (Berthean), either because they had come into the temple unarmed (Keil), having left their weapons in the palace on leaving duty (Bahr), or because Jehoiada wished David's crown to be won back by David's weapons (Ewald, Stanley), or perhaps he judged that, as the work they were about to be employed in was God's, so the weapons they should use should also be God's.

3 . The production of the boy-prince. When everything was ready, Joash, encompassed by armed Levites, marched from the priest's house into the temple court, and took up his station at one of the pillars leading into the inner court ( 2 Chronicles 23:13 ; 2 Kings 11:14 ), so as to be seen by the priests and Levites in the inner, and the captains and people in the outer court.

4 . The coronation of the heir to the throne. Jehoiada (with the people assenting) placed upon the brow of Joash the royal diadem, "probably a band studded with jewels—the first direct example of a coronation" (Stanley).

5 . The delivering to him of the testimony. Not the insignia regia, i.e. the regalia of the kingdom (Clericus), or the phylacteries of Deuteronomy 6:8 (Grotius), or Samuel's laws of the kingdom ( 1 Samuel 8:10 ); but the Law of Moses, often called the "testimony" ( Exodus 25:16 ; Exodus 27:21 ; Numbers 9:15 ; Numbers 10:11 ; Numbers 17:4 ), which was now presented to the young king in the form of a roll, to indicate that his life and government both should be regulated by its precepts ( Deuteronomy 17:18-20 ).

6 . The anointing of the new sovereign. Done by Jehoiada and his sons, this symbolized Joash's consecration to a theocratic or holy office, that of ruling over Jehovah's people. So Saul ( 1 Samuel 10:1 ) and David ( 1 Samuel 16:11 ) were anointed by Samuel, Solomon by Zadok the priest ( 1 Kings 1:39 ), and Jehu by Elisha's messenger ( 2 Kings 9:6 ).

7 . The acclamation of the people. When the coronation ceremony ended, the people clapped their hands ( 2 Kings 11:12 ) in expression of their joy ( Psalms 47:1 ), and shouted, as their wont was at coronations, "God save the king!" or, "Let the king live!" ( 1 Samuel 10:24 ; 2 Samuel 16:16 ).

Learn:

1 . It is not always wrong for ministers of religion to take part in politics.

2 . There are times when rebellion against the powers that be is a solemn duty.

3 . Neither God's house nor God's day can be put to a better use than to set a crown upon the head of God's anointed.

4 . In Church and state alike each man has his own place and work.

5 . Kings may expect their thrones to be stable if these are erected on the good will of their subjects.

6 . No sovereign can rule well who takes not the Law of God for his guide.

7 . A great and good man in troubled times invaluable to Church or state. What could Judah have done without Jehoiada?

8 . No man can miss the destiny God has in store for him.—W.