2 Crônicas 23

BLIVRE · Chapter 23/36

1Mas no sétimo ano Joiada se esforçou, e tomou consigo em aliança aos comandantes de cem, Azarias, filho de Jeroão, e a Ismael, filho de Joanã, e a Azarias, filho de Obede, e a Maaseias, filho de Adaías, e a Elisafate, filho de Zicri;

2Os quais rodeando por Judá, juntaram os levitas de todas as cidades de Judá, e aos príncipes das famílias de Israel, e vieram a Jerusalém.

3E toda a multidão fez aliança com o rei na casa de Deus. E ele lhes disse: Eis que o filho do rei, o qual reinará, como o SENHOR o tem dito dos filhos de Davi.

4O que haveis de fazer é: a terceira parte de vós, os que entram de semana, estarão de porteiros com os sacerdotes e os levitas;

5E a terceira parte, à casa do rei; e a terceira parte, à porta do fundamento: e todo o povo estará nos pátios da casa do SENHOR.

6E ninguém entre na casa do SENHOR, a não ser os sacerdotes e levitas que servem: estes entrarão, porque estão consagrados; e todo o povo fará a guarda do SENHOR.

7E os levitas rodearão ao rei por todas as partes, e cada um terá suas armas na mão; e qualquer um que entrar na casa, morra: e estareis com o rei quando entrar, e quando sair.

8E os levitas e todo Judá o fizeram tudo como o havia mandado o sacerdote Joiada: e tomou cada um os seus, os que entravam de semana, e os que saíam o sábado: porque o sacerdote Joiada não deu licença às companhias.

9Deu também o sacerdote Joiada aos comandantes de cem as lanças, paveses e escudos que haviam sido do rei Davi, que estavam na casa de Deus;

10E pôs em ordem a todo o povo, tendo cada um sua espada na mão, desde o canto direito do templo até o esquerdo, até o altar e a casa, em derredor do rei por todas as partes.

11Então tiraram ao filho do rei, e puseram-lhe a coroa e o testemunho, e fizeram-lhe rei; e Joiada e seus filhos lhe ungiram, dizendo logo: Viva o rei!

12E quando Atalia ouviu o estrondo da gente que corria, e dos que bendiziam ao rei, veio ao povo à casa do SENHOR;

13E olhando, viu ao rei que estava junto a sua coluna à entrada, e os príncipes e os trombetas junto ao rei, e que todo o povo da terra fazia alegrias, e soavam buzinas, e cantavam com instrumentos de música os que sabiam louvar. Então Atalia rasgou seus vestidos, e disse: Traição! Traição!

14E tirando o sacerdote Joiada os comandantes de cem e capitães do exército, disse-lhes: Tirai-a fora do recinto; e o que a seguir, morra à espada: porque o sacerdote havia mandado que não a matassem na casa do SENHOR.

15Eles, pois, a detiveram, e logo que havia ela passado a entrada da porta dos cavalos da casa do rei, ali a mataram.

16E Joiada fez pacto entre si e todo o povo e o rei, que seriam povo do SENHOR.

17Depois disto entrou todo o povo no templo de Baal, e derrubaram-no, e também seus altares; e fizeram pedaços suas imagens, e mataram diante dos altares a Matã, sacerdote de Baal.

18Logo ordenou Joiada os ofícios na casa do SENHOR sob a mão dos sacerdotes e levitas, segundo Davi os havia distribuído na casa do SENHOR, para oferecer ao SENHOR os holocaustos, como está escrito na lei de Moisés, com alegria e cantares, conforme a ordenação de Davi.

19Pôs também porteiros às portas da casa do SENHOR, para que por nenhuma via entrasse nenhum imundo.

20Tomou depois os comandantes de cem, e os principais, e os que governavam o povo; e a todo o povo da terra, e levou ao rei da casa do SENHOR; e vindo até o meio da porta maior da casa do rei, assentaram ao rei sobre o trono do reino.

21E todo o povo daquela terra se alegrou; e a cidade ficou em paz, depois de terem matado Atalia à espada.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

After six years of Athaliah's usurped reign, the priest Jehoiada organizes a carefully planned revolt, reveals the young Joash as the rightful heir, and crowns him king. Athaliah is executed, and the people tear down the altars of Baal, restoring proper worship at the temple.

Explanation

The courageous, strategic leadership of the priest Jehoiada, secretly organizing armed Levites and loyal guards before publicly revealing the hidden heir, shows careful planning combined with decisive courage at the right moment. Athaliah's execution, though violent, is presented as necessary justice to restore the legitimacy of the Davidic line and end her usurping, idolatrous reign. The immediate destruction of the altars of Baal and the reorganization of temple worship, following the patterns established by David centuries earlier, show how political restoration was closely tied to the nation's spiritual restoration.

Fun facts

  • Joash's coronation at only seven years old, with Jehoiada acting as a kind of regent and spiritual mentor during his childhood, is one of the youngest recorded coronations of a king in the Bible.
  • The people's cry upon witnessing the coronation, 'God save the king,' is an expression of royal acclamation used repeatedly throughout the Old Testament at moments of legitimate transfer of power.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. 2 Crônicas 23:1The priest Jehoiada organizes a carefully planned coup, using the temple’s own guard rotations as cover, to finally crown Joash, the heir who had been hidden for six years. It is a coordinated political operation carried out inside the sanctuary itself.
  2. 2 Crônicas 23:2Jehoiada’s allies travel throughout Judah gathering Levites from every city and heads of families, bringing everyone to Jerusalem.
  3. 2 Crônicas 23:3This whole assembly makes a covenant with the future king, still hidden, inside the temple itself, and Jehoiada announces: the king’s son will reign, fulfilling the promise made to David’s line.
  4. 2 Crônicas 23:4Jehoiada lays out the plan in detail: a third of the priests and Levites on duty on the Sabbath will serve as gatekeepers.
  5. 2 Crônicas 23:5Another third will stand guard at the palace, and the remaining third at the Foundation Gate, while the common people stay in the courts of the temple.
  6. 2 Crônicas 23:6Jehoiada restricts entry into the temple to priests and Levites on duty, who are considered consecrated; the common people are only to stand guard outside.
  7. 2 Crônicas 23:7The armed Levites surround the king on every side, under orders to kill anyone who tries to force his way into the temple, protecting Joash wherever he goes.
  8. 2 Crônicas 23:8The Levites and all Judah follow Jehoiada’s instructions exactly, arranging the guard shifts without his dismissing anyone from their regular duty.
  9. 2 Crônicas 23:9Jehoiada distributes to the commanders the spears and shields that had belonged to King David, kept in the temple for generations.
  10. 2 Crônicas 23:10All the people take their armed positions around the temple, from the right side to the left, surrounding the altar and the king himself.
  11. 2 Crônicas 23:11At last they bring young Joash out of hiding, place the crown on him, hand him the book of the covenant, and anoint him king, with everyone shouting, “God save the king!”
  12. 2 Crônicas 23:12Hearing the shouting and the people’s praise, Athaliah runs to the temple to see what is happening.
  13. 2 Crônicas 23:13When she arrives, Athaliah sees the new king already crowned, surrounded by commanders, trumpets, and singers celebrating — and she tears her clothes, crying out, “Treason, Treason!”
  14. 2 Crônicas 23:14Jehoiada orders the commanders to bring Athaliah out from among the ranks at the temple, warning that no one should kill her there inside, in the sacred space.
  15. 2 Crônicas 23:15Athaliah is taken to the entrance of the Horse Gate at the palace, and she is put to death right there, outside the temple.
  16. 2 Crônicas 23:16Jehoiada makes a covenant between the people, the king, and God, committing everyone to be the Lord’s people — the formal close of the restoration of the throne.
  17. 2 Crônicas 23:17After crowning Joash, the people tear down the temple of Baal and kill its priest — the religious cleanup of the foreign worship that Athaliah, coming from Ahab’s family, had introduced into Judah.
  18. 2 Crônicas 23:18Jehoiada reorganizes the operation of the temple, restoring the Levitical priests to the duties David had established, including offering sacrifices with joy and singing according to the law of Moses.
  19. 2 Crônicas 23:19Jehoiada also stations gatekeepers at the entrances to the temple, to keep anyone unclean from entering.
  20. 2 Crônicas 23:20Jehoiada leads the new king from the temple to the palace, accompanied by commanders and leaders of the people, entering through the main gate, and seats Joash on the royal throne.
  21. 2 Crônicas 23:21All the people rejoice, and the city returns to peace after Athaliah is put to death — the chapter closes with David’s monarchy restored.

Chapters

Our apps

Our apps →

Bible in Stories

The Bible told as a story, with audio and videos.

📱 Get the app

World in Stories

True stories of humanity that sound made up.

Feito! Pequenas Vitórias

A light daily routine for people who lose track of the day.