“And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him.”
Seventh. Vatican Septuagint, by mistake, has “the eighth.” — Encouraged, or “strengthened.” (Septuagint, &c.) (Haydock) — Captains, whether Levites, or ancient officers of the crown, who were dissatisfied with the usurper, 4 Kings xi.
“And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.”
Israel, of which Juda formed a part. (Menochius) — At the time when the author lived, Israel was destroyed, so that there was no danger of a mistake. — Jerusalem, on a sabbath-day, and most likely on one of the three great festivals: (Calmet) Salien (the year of the world 3157) thinks at the Passover, to avoid suspicion. (Menochius)
“This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doors; doors: Heb. thresholds”
Do. Though God’s promise was absolute, human means were to be used. (Worthington)
“And a third part shall be at the king's house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD.”
To the sabbath. That is, to perform in your weeks the functions of your office, or the weekly watches. (Challoner) — Porters. Septuagint, “even to the entrance gates.” — House, where Athalia resided, or in the apartments of Joas in the temple. — Foundation. Septuagint, “middle.” Syriac, “of the cooks, or guards.” (Haydock) — It led from the palace up the steps, ver. 21. (Menochius) — Perhaps it was also called Sur, 4 Kings. — But let. This seems to be transposed out of its place from ver. 6.
“And the Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whosoever else cometh into the house, he shall be put to death: but be ye with the king when he cometh in, and when he goeth out.”
Slain. Athalia ventured to enter; but she was alone, and not much feared. (Calmet)
“So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.”
High. Hebrew, “the priest dismissed not the courses.” (Haydock) — In case of right and necessity, we see here what the high priest could do, though otherwise he would not interfere. (Worthington)
“And he set all the people, every man having his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king round about. side: Heb. shoulder temple: Heb. house”
Altar of holocausts, in the court of the priests, while the people stood in their own court. (Tirinus)
“Then they brought out the king's son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save the king. God: Heb. Let the king live”
Crown. Literally, “diadem.” — Testimony. This is explained in the following sentence, (Haydock) which is not in Hebrew nor in many Latin manuscripts. The Jews understand the phylacteries, Deuteronomy xvii. 18.
“And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, 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 musick, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason. Treason: Heb. Conspiracy”
Step. Hebrew hamudo, “his pillar,” to which he ascended by steps. (Du Hamel) — Entrance into the court of the priests; but the tribune stood in that of the people, where Joas was in his royal attire.
“And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD'S people.”
Himself, as God’s vicegerent. (Calmet) — A double covenant was made between God and the people, and between the king and his subjects. (Du Hamel)
“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.”
Idols. Protestants, “images.” (Haydock) — Those are wilfully blind who will not distinguish these from the images of Christ and his saints. (Worthington)
“Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the LORD by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David. as it was: Heb. by the hands of David”
David, which had been long neglected, 1 Paralipomenon xxiv. (Menochius)
“And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of the LORD: and they came through the high gate into the king's house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom.”
Upper gate of the guards, at the back or western end of the temple, chap. v. 5.