Paul Kretzmann Commentary - 2 Chronicles 23:12 - 23:15

Online Resource Library

Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | Download

Paul Kretzmann Commentary - 2 Chronicles 23:12 - 23:15


(Show All Books | Show All Chapters)

This Chapter Verse Commentaries:



Athaliah Slain

v. 12. Now, when Athaliah,
from her palace on the other side of the valley, heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, for the joyful shouts of the people and the loud blasts of the Temple trumpets indicated an unusual occurrence on the Temple grounds, she came to the people, having rushed across the magnificent bridge of Solomon to the Temple grounds, into the house of the Lord;

v. 13. and she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar, at the entering in,
apparently some sort of a platform near the entrance to the Temple proper, and the princes and the trumpets by the king. And all the people of the land rejoiced and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of music, rendering some of the Temple music in honor of Jehovah, and such as taught to sing praise, with the psalms used on festival occasions. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, in grief and anger, signifying her deep disgust, and said, Treason, treason! This call was a last desperate attempt to stop the proceedings, as if they were unlawful.

v. 14. Then Jehoiada, the priest, brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the hosts,
those in charge of the guard and the Levites upon this occasion, and said unto them, Have her forth of the ranges, out of the Temple grounds, in such a way that she was led out between ranks of soldiers and had no chance to communicate with any followers; and whoso followeth her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said, Slay her not in the house of the Lord, where her blood would desecrate the Sanctuary.

v. 15. So they laid hands on her,
they arrested her; and when she was come to the entering of the horse gate by the king's house, the entrance where the horses were led into the complex of buildings which formed the royal palace, near the royal stables, they slew her there. Thus the Lord's punishment was visited upon her for her idolatry and for her murders. The vengeance of the Lord is sometimes slow in coming, but it always finds the transgressors some time.