XXIII.
THE FALL OF ATHALIAH, AND SUCCESSION OF JOASH.
(Comp. 2 Kings 11:4-20.)
(1) Jehoiada strengthened himself. — Showed himself strong or courageous, behaved boldly (1 Samuel 4:9). The chronicler has substituted a favourite expression (hithchazzaq) for the term used in Kings, “Jehoiada sent.”
The captains of hundreds. — Their names, added here, are not given in 2 Kings 11:4. On the other hand, Kings reads, “the captains of the hundreds of the Carians (or body-guard) and the Runners (or couriers, i.e., royal messengers) “ — terms which were probably obscure to the chronicler.
Azariah... and Azariah. — Heb.,’Azaryâh... and ‘Azaryâhû. (Comp. 2 Chronicles 21:2.) These names are introduced in the chronicler s well-known manner (by the prefix le, marking the object of the verb). His style is very visible in the additions to the narrative as compared with Kings.