And when she looked. — Having entered the court, the whole scene met her astonished gaze.
The king stood by a pillar. — Rather, the king was standing on the stand. (Comp. 2 Kings 23:3.) The stand (Vulg., “tribunal”) was apparently a dais reserved for the king only, which stood before the great altar, at the entrance to the inner court (2 Chronicles 23:13; 2 Chronicles 6:13). Thenius maintains that the king stood on the top of the flight of steps leading into the sanctuary. Why, then, does not the text express this meaning more exactly? (Comp. 2 Kings 9:13.)
As the manner was — i.e., according to the custom on such occasions.
The princes. — The chiefs of the people, not the centurions of the royal guard, who have their full designation throughout the chapter. (See 2 Kings 11:4; 2 Kings 11:9-10; 2 Kings 11:15; 2 Kings 11:19.) The present account has nowhere stated that the nobles were present in the Temple; but this sudden mention of them, as if they had been present throughout the proceedings, is in striking harmony with the chronicler’s express assertion that, after their conference with Jehoiada, the centurions of the guard assembled the Levites and the heads of the clans in the Temple (2 Chronicles 23:3). (The LXX. and Vulg. render “singers,” because they read shârîm, “singers,” instead of sârîm, “princes.”)
The trumpeters. — Literally, the trumpets; as we speak of “the violins,” meaning the players on them. The sacred trumpets or clarions blown on solemn occasions by the priests are intended. (Comp. 2 Kings 12:14; Numbers 10:2; 1 Chronicles 15:24.) This is an indication that the priests and Levites were present as the chronicle so conspicuously represents, and as, indeed, was to be expected on an occasion when the high priest took the lead, and when the scene of action was the Temple. The acting classes of priests and Levitical musicians, warders, and priestly attendants must certainly have participated in the proceedings.
All the people of the land. — Secrecy was no longer necessary, as Thenius supposes, when once the centurions of the guard had heartily taken up with the plot.
Rejoiced... blew. — Rejoicing... blowing.
Treason. — Literally, Conspiracy.