2 Chronicles 23 20

2 Chronicles 23:20 kjv

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.

2 Chronicles 23:20 nkjv

Then he took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the house of the LORD; and they went through the Upper Gate to the king's house, and set the king on the throne of the kingdom.

2 Chronicles 23:20 niv

He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people and all the people of the land and brought the king down from the temple of the LORD. They went into the palace through the Upper Gate and seated the king on the royal throne.

2 Chronicles 23:20 esv

And he took the captains, the nobles, the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD, marching through the upper gate to the king's house. And they set the king on the royal throne.

2 Chronicles 23:20 nlt

Then the commanders, nobles, rulers, and all the people of the land escorted the king from the Temple of the LORD. They went through the upper gate and into the palace, and they seated the king on the royal throne.

2 Chronicles 23 verses

2 Chronicles 23 20 Meaning

2 Chronicles 23:20 describes the grand procession and official enthronement of Joash, the rightful heir to the Davidic throne, after Jehoiada the priest orchestrated the overthrow of the usurper queen Athaliah. This verse highlights the crucial collaboration between the military leadership, civil officials, and the common people ("the people of the land") in bringing Joash from the temple sanctuary to the royal palace and formally installing him as king. It signifies the restoration of legitimate rule, the Davidic covenant, and a return to the worship of the LORD in Judah.

2 Chronicles 23 20 Context

This verse is the culmination of the audacious and divinely guided coup orchestrated by Jehoiada the priest to overthrow the wicked queen Athaliah and restore the rightful Davidic king, Joash, to the throne of Judah. Chapter 23 describes the meticulous planning by Jehoiada, his securing the loyalty of the Levites, the temple guards, and the army captains. Joash, the sole surviving male heir of the Davidic line, had been secretly hidden in the temple for six years (2 Chron 22:11-12) to escape Athaliah's purge. The preceding verses detail the assembly of the leaders, the covenant made with them, and Joash's anointing in the temple precincts. Verse 20 portrays the formal procession and public installation of the new king, marking the transition from secrecy and protection within the sacred space to open reign in the royal palace, symbolically restoring order and divine favor to the kingdom of Judah. This event stands in stark contrast to the idolatrous and violent reign of Athaliah, highlighting a profound return to the covenant and true worship.

Word Analysis

• And he took: Refers to Jehoiada the priest, signifying his decisive leadership and organizational skill in executing the meticulously planned coup. His agency is central to the restoration of legitimate rule.
• the captains of hundreds: (שָׂרֵי הַמֵּאוֹת, sarei hamme'ot) These are military commanders responsible for units of 100 soldiers. Their inclusion underscores the strong military backing for Jehoiada's actions and the orderly, disciplined nature of the procession, ensuring the new king's security. This structure mirrors ancient Israelite military organization (Exo 18:21, Num 31:14).
• and the nobles: (וְהַפָּרִים, vehapparim from parar meaning 'great, noble') These were the distinguished and influential figures of society. Their participation signifies broader support from the societal elite beyond just the military, adding political weight and legitimacy to Joash's enthronement.
• and the governors of the people: (וּמוֹשְׁלֵי הָעָם, umoshelei ha'am) These likely represent civil administrators or local authorities, indicating support from various levels of government and society. Their presence ensures the popular consent and official administrative backing for the new reign.
• and all the people of the land: (וְכָל עַם הָאָרֶץ, vekhol 'am ha'aretz) This term is highly significant in the books of Kings and Chronicles. It does not merely mean every individual, but refers to a distinct, influential social class: the free, landed gentry, loyal to the Davidic dynasty and true worship. Their presence was crucial for the legitimization of kings, often being the ones who formally installed or acclaimed a new monarch. Their unified presence signified broad popular endorsement of Joash's claim and rejection of Athaliah's usurpation, serving as a powerful public affirmation of God's chosen king and covenant.
• and brought down the king: Refers to young Joash. He was brought from his hiding place and the sacred confines of the Temple out into the public eye and towards the center of civil power. This "bringing down" is a solemn escort, marking the formal transition from his being hidden to his being presented as king.
• from the house of the LORD: The Temple. This emphasizes the divine sanction and religious grounding of Joash's kingship. He was protected there by God's providence and anointed there by God's priest, Jehoiada. The kingship is thus explicitly linked to faithful worship and covenant keeping.
• and they came through the high gate: (וַיָּבֹאוּ בְּשַׁעַר הָעֶלְיוֹן, vayyavo'u besha'ar ha'elyon) Also translated as "the Upper Gate" or "the Gate of the Guards" (as in 2 Kings 11:19). This was likely a specific, prominent, or ceremonially significant entrance leading from the Temple area into the royal palace grounds. It implies a controlled, orderly, and processional movement, indicating a secure and proper entry.
• into the king's house: The royal palace, the political and administrative seat of power. This signifies the transfer of Joash from religious sanctuary to civil authority.
• and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom: The ultimate act of enthronement. This ceremonial act formally recognized Joash as the legitimate monarch and established him in his place of authority and rule, completing the restoration of the Davidic dynasty after Athaliah's illicit reign. It's the physical manifestation of the fulfillment of God's covenant with David.

Words-group Analysis:

• He took the captains...and the nobles...and the governors...and all the people of the land: This comprehensive list of diverse leadership and significant social groups underscores the broad consensus and unified action behind Jehoiada's plan. It demonstrates that the enthronement of Joash was not a mere military coup but a national affirmation, uniting religious authority, military power, civil administration, and popular consent. This collective endorsement legitimized Joash's claim to the throne and distinguished it from the prior tyrannical rule.
• brought down the king from the house of the LORD...into the king's house: This sequence highlights the seamless transition of Joash's identity and role. Hidden and protected within the sacred temple (signifying divine providence and legitimacy), he is now formally presented and installed in the temporal seat of power. The journey itself is symbolic: from divine protection to visible authority, bridging the gap between sacred anointing and earthly reign.
• Set the king upon the throne of the kingdom: This phrase marks the successful conclusion of the elaborate plan. It represents the ultimate re-establishment of the divinely ordained Davidic dynasty, bringing an end to the spiritual and political chaos introduced by Athaliah and signaling a return to righteous governance in Judah under a true covenant king.

2 Chronicles 23 20 Bonus section

The significant mention of "all the people of the land" (עַם הָאָרֶץ, 'am ha'aretz) in this and other contexts (e.g., in installing other kings like Uzziah and Josiah) demonstrates their considerable political and social weight. They were not just bystanders but active participants whose public acclamation was vital for a king's legitimacy in ancient Judah. This group often served as guardians of tradition and covenant law. This account also provides a stark polemic against the foreign, idolatrous influences brought into Judah by Athaliah, highlighting the importance of righteous, Davidic rule. The careful, step-by-step restoration of the king reflects divine meticulousness in maintaining His promises.

2 Chronicles 23 20 Commentary

2 Chronicles 23:20 stands as a powerful testament to the sovereignty of God in preserving His covenant line and the critical role of righteous leadership and collective societal participation in restoring order. Jehoiada's shrewd organization and the unified support from the army, nobility, administrators, and crucially, "the people of the land," culminated in Joash's rightful ascension. This was more than just a power shift; it was a re-affirmation of God's covenant with David (2 Sam 7), which guaranteed an eternal dynasty. The passage emphasizes the shift from the consecrated space of the Temple, where Joash had been safely hidden and divinely prepared, to the seat of earthly power. The grand procession signifies not only Joash's personal journey but Judah's collective return to covenant faithfulness, highlighting that legitimate kingship is divinely appointed and requires broad-based support from both spiritual and secular segments of society. The event underscored divine justice prevailing over tyrannical usurpation and the restoration of God's ordained order for His people.