2 Chronicles 23:18 kjv
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.
2 Chronicles 23:18 nkjv
Also Jehoiada appointed the oversight of the house of the LORD to the hand of the priests, the Levites, whom David had assigned 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 established by David.
2 Chronicles 23:18 niv
Then Jehoiada placed the oversight of the temple of the LORD in the hands of the Levitical priests, to whom David had made assignments in the temple, to present the burnt offerings of the LORD as written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and singing, as David had ordered.
2 Chronicles 23:18 esv
And Jehoiada posted watchmen for the house of the LORD under the direction of the Levitical priests and the Levites whom David had organized to be in charge of the house of the LORD, to offer burnt offerings to the LORD, as it is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, according to the order of David.
2 Chronicles 23:18 nlt
Jehoiada now put the priests and Levites in charge of the Temple of the LORD, following all the directions given by David. He also commanded them to present burnt offerings to the LORD, as prescribed by the Law of Moses, and to sing and rejoice as David had instructed.
2 Chronicles 23 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference (Short Note) |
|---|---|---|
| Num 3:6 | "...bring the tribe of Levi near and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him." | Levitical service designated. |
| Deut 10:8 | "At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi... to minister to him..." | Divine election of Levites for service. |
| Lev 1:1-17 | (Details on burnt offerings) | Laws for burnt offerings. |
| 1 Chr 23:28 | "For their duty was to assist the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the Lord, having the care of the courts and the chambers..." | Levitical duties in the Temple. |
| 1 Chr 24:3 | "David, with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to their offices for their service." | Priestly divisions established by David. |
| 1 Chr 25:1 | "David and the chiefs of the service also set apart for the service the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who prophesied with lyres, with harps, and with cymbals." | David organized Temple musicians. |
| 2 Chr 8:14 | "According to the ordinance of David his father, he appointed the divisions of the priests for their service, and the Levites for their offices of praise and ministry before the priests...for thus David the man of God had commanded." | Solomon followed David's order. |
| Deut 17:18-20 | "And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law...that he may learn to fear the Lord his God..." | Kings bound by the Law of Moses. |
| Deut 31:26 | "Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against you." | Authority of the Law of Moses. |
| Psa 100:2 | "Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!" | Worship with joy and singing. |
| Neh 12:46 | "For long ago in the days of David and Asaph there were directors of the singers, songs of praise and thanksgiving to God." | David established Temple music. |
| 2 Kgs 11:18 | (Parallel account of temple cleansing and restoration) | Immediate parallel, temple restoration. |
| 2 Chr 29:3-36 | (Hezekiah's reforms, restoration of temple worship) | Later King's similar restoration. |
| 2 Chr 34:1-33 | (Josiah's reforms, discovery of the Law, restoration) | Another King's far-reaching reform. |
| Ezr 3:10 | "And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord according to the directions of David king of Israel." | Post-exilic adherence to David's order. |
| Jer 33:18 | "nor shall there ever be cut off from David a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, and there shall not be cut off from the priests the Levites a man to stand before me to offer burnt offerings and to make sacrifices continually." | Promise of enduring Levitical priesthood. |
| Mal 2:7 | "For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts." | Priestly duty to uphold God's law. |
| Heb 8:5 | "They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, 'See that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.'" | Earthly worship follows divine pattern. |
| Heb 9:14 | "how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God." | Ultimate perfect offering of Christ. |
| Col 3:16 | "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." | New Covenant singing and worship. |
| Phil 4:4 | "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice." | New Covenant call to joy in worship. |
| 1 Pet 2:5 | "you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." | Believers as spiritual priests. |
2 Chronicles 23 verses
2 Chronicles 23 18 Meaning
This verse details the immediate actions taken by Jehoiada the priest to restore proper worship and service in the house of the Lord following the coup against Athaliah. It emphasizes the re-establishment of the divinely ordained roles for the Levitical priests in offering burnt offerings according to the Law of Moses and the organizational structure for worship established by King David, all conducted with an attitude of joy and singing. It signifies a profound return to covenantal order and spiritual purity for Judah.
2 Chronicles 23 18 Context
This verse occurs immediately after the dramatic coup led by Jehoiada the priest, who overthrew the wicked Queen Athaliah and crowned young Joash as king of Judah. Athaliah, having seized the throne for six years, had neglected or corrupted the worship of Yahweh, likely promoting Baal worship (evident in the destruction of the house of Baal just before this verse). Jehoiada's first acts after securing the new king were to re-establish the covenant with God and with the people and then to thoroughly restore the spiritual life of the nation, beginning with the temple. This verse details the restoration of its daily operations, priestly functions, and forms of worship according to their divine and Davidic foundations, contrasting sharply with the prior state of disarray and idolatry.
2 Chronicles 23 18 Word analysis
- Then Jehoiada appointed: The verb for "appointed" (יפקד, yafqid) implies setting things in order, delegating, or inspecting. It underscores Jehoiada's authoritative role as the leader who restores proper function. His immediate action highlights the centrality of temple worship to the nation's spiritual and civic life.
- the officers (פְּקֻדּוֹת, pəqūddōt): This word refers to administrative duties or positions of oversight, not merely people. It signifies a restoration of proper management and accountability within the temple operations.
- of the house of the Lord: Emphasizes the specific location and the sanctity of the service; it is dedicated to Yahweh.
- under the direction of the Levitical priests: This phrase affirms the divinely ordained hierarchy, with the priests (who were of the tribe of Levi) as the ultimate spiritual authorities and leaders in temple service.
- whom David had distributed (חָלַק, ḥālak): The verb "distributed" refers to David's systematic organization and assignment of roles to the priests and Levites into courses and divisions for service. This legitimizes the current re-establishment by linking it to David's inspired blueprint.
- in the house of the Lord: Reiteration of the specific locus of worship and service.
- to offer the burnt offerings (עוֹלוֹת, ‘ōlōt): Burnt offerings were foundational sacrifices, entirely consumed on the altar, symbolizing complete dedication, atonement, and worship before God. Their restoration was critical for reconciliation and re-establishing Israel's relationship with Yahweh.
- of the Lord: Reinforces that the sacrifices are for Yahweh, not pagan deities.
- as it is written in the Law of Moses (תּוֹרַת מֹשֶׁה, Torat Moshe): This phrase emphasizes adherence to divine revelation and commanded statutes from the Pentateuch, affirming the absolute authority of God's Word as the basis for worship, countering any ad hoc or pagan practices.
- with rejoicing (בְּשִׂמְחָה, bə-śimḥâ) and with singing (וּבְשִׁירָה, ū-və-shîrâ): These words signify that worship was not just a duty but a joyful expression of devotion. It implies restoration of spirit, not just ritual. This contrasts with potential despondency or forced religious performance during Athaliah's reign.
- according to the order of David (מִצְוַת דָּוִיד, mitzvāt Dawīd): This points to King David's specific arrangements for temple liturgy, music, and the rotation of priestly and Levitical duties. David's organizational structure was seen as divinely inspired, providing practical guidance for how worship should be conducted. This grounds the restored worship in established tradition and inspired leadership.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "appointed the officers...under the direction of the Levitical priests": This highlights Jehoiada's leadership in delegating authority and ensuring that the operational management of the temple aligned with the spiritual oversight of the legitimate priesthood.
- "whom David had distributed...to offer the burnt offerings...as it is written in the Law of Moses...according to the order of David": This entire section serves to provide legitimacy and divine authority for the restored practices. It asserts that the restored temple service is not new but a return to ancient, God-ordained standards given through Moses and implemented by David, providing a double witness to its correctness.
- "with rejoicing and with singing": These two phrases define the quality of worship desired—not mechanical ritual, but vibrant, heartfelt praise, demonstrating restored fellowship and blessing.
2 Chronicles 23 18 Bonus section
- Jehoiada’s actions highlight the priest’s crucial role not only in performing rituals but also in safeguarding theological orthodoxy and leading national reformation. His leadership extended beyond religious functions to national governance.
- The meticulous return to the "Law of Moses" and "order of David" reflects a post-exilic chronicler's concern for legitimate and organized worship, emphasizing historical precedents for fidelity to God's commands.
- The re-emphasis on "burnt offerings" specifically is significant. As the primary offering of atonement and consecration, it signaled a cleansing of past defilement and a fresh commitment of the people to God.
- The immediate focus on temple functions after the coup indicates that for the Chronicler, the spiritual health of the nation, particularly as expressed in proper worship at the temple, was inextricably linked to the well-being of the kingdom and the legitimacy of the monarchy.
2 Chronicles 23 18 Commentary
This verse stands as a cornerstone of spiritual restoration. After a period of corruption under Athaliah, Jehoiada systematically reinstitutes biblical worship. He does not invent new forms but meticulously restores the foundational practices—burnt offerings according to Mosaic Law and the organizational liturgy set by King David. This dual foundation underscores that legitimate worship is rooted in both divine command (Law of Moses) and inspired structure (Davidic order). The emphasis on "rejoicing and singing" suggests that this was not merely a mechanical return to ritual, but a revitalization of heartfelt, Spirit-filled praise, transforming solemn duty into a joyous expression of renewed covenant relationship. This passage is a timeless reminder that true reformation involves a return to the unchanging Word of God and an expression of worship that is both orderly and joyful.