2 Chronicles 24 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

Joash reigns well all the days of Jehoiada; who being dead, he falls into idolatry, and is slain by his servants.

Before Christ 840.

For the sons of Athaliah, &c.— For Athaliah had enticed her sons to wickedness, and they had broken open the house of the Lord, and all, &c. Houbigant.

The Lord look upon it, and require it— The Lord will look upon it, and require it. Houbigant. This prophetic sentence was no sooner pronounced than executed; for, before the year was expired, the Syrians came up against Jerusalem, and destroyed all the princes of the people, and Joash himself was murdered by his own servants.

His own servants conspired against him— These two murderers, whose fathers were Jews, but their mothers aliens, (see the next verse,) were perhaps of the king's bed-chamber, and, having constant access to him, might more easily accomplish their design. However, he was so weak and feeble that he could make no resistance, and had fallen into such contempt and disesteem that his guards cared not what became of him. He was not allowed to be buried in the sepulchre of the kings. Though the people could not punish wicked kings for their impieties while they lived, yet they fixed an odium upon their memory when dead; whereby they both preserved the sacredness of the supreme power, and kept kings in some measure under awe, for fear of what might befal them after death; as Grotius remarks, De Jur. B. et P. lib. 1 cap. 3.

For the blood of the sons of Jehoiada— The blood of the son of Jehoiada. See 2 Chronicles 24:22. Houbigant.

REFLECTIONS.—1st, Under Jehoiada's influence, Joash continued to reign with credit and honour. See 2 Kings 12:1. We may add to what was there observed,

1. How great a mercy it is for young people, when they fall into good hands.
2. That to be advised and influenced by age and experience, shews the truest wisdom.
3. Many a fair profession has no root at the bottom. The religion which is put on through prejudice of education, or maintained purely by the influence of others, will, when these restraints are removed, be easily shaken off; or, if the form still continue, it can but more fatally deceive those who are destitute of the power of godliness.
4. Many a commendable action, as Joash's repairing the temple, has appeared in those, who, being still in the flesh, cannot please God; though their zeal is a just reproof of the backwardness of better men.
2nd, The sun, which rose so bright, sets eclipsed in darkness.
1. Jehoiada dies. Long had God spared his useful life, during six reigns before Joash. His character was exemplary, and his last works greater than his first. From respect to his memory, the people, sensible of their deep obligations to him, honoured him with a sepulchre among the kings of Judah; but while they thus respected his corpse, they quickly forget his counsel. Note; (1.) A long life is a blessing, when thus employed in the cause of God. (2.) They who in life have been most useful, deserve after death the most honourable remembrance. (3.) The departure of a great good man is a national affliction. (4.) They who continue to reverence the memory of great and good reformers, often grievously degenerate from their practice and precepts.

2. The princes of Judah never truly changed, though conforming to the reformation, seize the present favourable opportunity; and, with obsequious flattery gaining the king's ear, easily prevail on him to restore idolatry, and to plant again those groves which he had destroyed. Note; (1.) Many conform to religion when it is fashionable, who are glad of the first opportunity to throw off the restraint. (2.) Flatterers about the throne are often the ruin of the prince.

3. God left not himself without witness. His prophets, commissioned from him, rebuked this shameful idolatry, and particularly Zechariah, the worthy son of the great Jehoiada, stood up, moved by the Holy Ghost, and plainly and seriously reminded them of the perverseness of their ways, and the danger thereby incurred. Note; (1.) Ministers must be faithful to men's souls. (2.) In times of great degeneracy, much zeal is needful to oppose the torrent of ungodliness. (3.) In the worst of days, God will not want some witnesses for him. (4.) They who hate to be reformed shall at least be left without excuse.

4. Vile indeed was the treatment that these holy men received. In general, the people despised their admonitions; and as Zechariah's reproof, though mild and gentle, particularly exasperated them, at the instigation of the princes, and by the command of the king, they raised a tumult, even in the Lord's house, and stoned him to death between the porch and the altar; neither restrained by the sacredness of the place or the person, daringly defying his warnings, and ungratefully forgetting the innumerable obligations which they owed to his pious father. Note; (1.) God's ministers, who are zealous for the truth, must expect to suffer for it. (2.) Ingratitude is among the greatest sins. (3.) They are ripe for ruin, who fill up the measure of their iniquities with the persecution of God's prophets.

5. The dying martyr foretels the vengeance of God, which was ready to overtake them; not desiring that it might come out of a spirit of revenge, but predicting its certainty from the spirit of prophesy. Note; (1.) God will avenge the blood of his saints. (2.) Though we must not wish to avenge ourselves, we may desire the manifestation of God's justice, and the vindication of his injured honour.

6. God soon arose to judgment. A small army of Syrians vanquished the more numerous both of Joash, plundered his capital, flew his princes, and left him lingering either under the wounds they had given him, or under some disease which had seized him; but what they left unfinished, his own servants accomplished; a conspiracy was formed, and they slew him on his bed: and, since he had degenerated so greatly from his ancestors, they judged him unworthy to sleep in their sepulchres. Thus justly did God require blood for blood, and laid on him the heavy burdens which his iniquities had provoked. Note; (1.) Woe unto any people, when God hath forsaken them; they cannot but fall an easy prey to every invader. (2.) Nothing but blood can satisfy for blood. (3.) They who lie down under the wrath of God, will feel the intolerable burden to eternity.