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2 Chronicles 23
2 Chronicles 23:1
General Information:
Throughout chapter 23, Joash is referred to as "the king." It may be helpful to your readers to occasionally add "King Joash" or "Joash the king" to make his identity explicit. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Jehoiada
the chief priest who served in the temple and was faithful to God. He was an advisor to Joash. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
showed his strength
He decided it was time to challenge Athaliah's rule and reveal that Joash was alive and ready to be king. Alternate translation: "decided to act"
the commanders of hundreds
The phrase "commander of hundreds" is probably an official title for a military officer. Possible meanings are 1) the word "hundreds" represents the exact amount of soldiers that these commanders led. Alternate translation: "the commanders of 100 soldiers" or 2) the word translated as "hundreds" does not represent an exact number, but is the name of a military division. Alternate translation: "the commanders of military divisions" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-numbers)
entered into a covenant
"made an agreement"
Azariah ... Ishmael ... Azariah ... Maaseiah ... Elishaphat
These five men were the commanders of hundreds of soldiers. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Jeroham ... Jehohanan ... Obed ... Adaiah ... Zichri
These are men's names. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
2 Chronicles 23:2
the heads of the ancestral houses of Israel
Here "heads" is a metaphor for the most important part. And "houses" represents the families. Alternate translation: "leaders of the founding families of Israel" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
2 Chronicles 23:3
the king's son
Here, "king" refers to Joash's father. Alternate translation: "Joash, the son of the king"
2 Chronicles 23:4
A third
"One-third" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-ordinal)
will be guards at the doors
"will be guards at the temple doors"
2 Chronicles 23:5
Another third ... the other third
"Another one-third ... the other one-third" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-ordinal)
the Foundation Gate
This gate may have also been called the "Middle Gate" or the "Sur Gate." It was apparently an inner gate that was near the king's palace.
All the people
This is a generalization that refers to all the people who are present. Alternate translation: "All the other people who are present" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-hyperbole)
2 Chronicles 23:6
Allow no one to come into the house of Yahweh, except for the priests ... serving
This double negative emphasizes that the priests and Levites were the only people whom the assembly was to allow into the house of Yahweh. Alternate translation: "The only people you may allow to come into the house of Yahweh are the priests ... serving" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-doublenegatives)
Allow no one to come into the house of Yahweh
"Do not allow anyone to come into the house of Yahweh"
But all the other people must obey the commands of Yahweh
It may be helpful to state that command. Alternate translation: "All the others must remain in the courtyard, obeying what Yahweh has commanded" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
2 Chronicles 23:7
The Levites must surround the king on all sides
"The Levites must surround the king on all sides in order to protect him"
all sides, every man with his weapons in his hand
"all sides, and every temple guard should have his weapons and be ready to fight"
Whoever comes into the house, let him be killed
This did not include the temple guards and the priests. This can be stated explicitly and in active form. Alternate translation: "You must kill anyone except the temple guards and the priests who come into the temple" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
when he comes in and when he goes out
Possible meanings are 1) "at all times" or 2) "wherever he goes." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-idiom)
2 Chronicles 23:8
all Judah
This is a generalization to refer to all the people of Judah who were present in the courtyard that day. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-hyperbole)
served in every way in the manner in which Jehoiada the priest commanded
"did exactly what Jehoiada the priest commanded" or "obeyed everything that Jehoiada the priest commanded"
Each one took his men ... any of their divisions
The priests and guards served in divisions, with each group working for two weeks. This refers to the point in time when two divisions were present—the one ending their service and the one starting their service. Thus there were twice as many men as usual.
were to leave off serving on the Sabbath
"were finishing their work on that Sabbath day"
2 Chronicles 23:9
General Information:
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2 Chronicles 23:10
General Information:
Throughout chapter 23, Joash is referred to as "the king." It may be helpful to your readers to occasionally add "King Joash" or "Joash the king" to make his identity explicit. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
with his weapon in his hand
This means they were ready to fight. See how you translated a similar phrase in 2 Chronicles 23:7.
2 Chronicles 23:11
the king's son
Here "king" refers to Joash's father. Alternate translation: "Joash, the son of the king"
put the crown on him
This is a symbolic act to show that they are making him king. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-symaction)
gave him the covenant decrees
The symbolic act of giving him a scroll with the decrees shows that they expect him to obey them. It is unclear if these decrees were a portion of the law of Moses, or a separate set of rules for kings to obey. Alternate translation: "presented to him the covenant decrees that he should obey" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-symaction)
anointed him
This was a symbolic act to show that he was chosen by God to be the king. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-symaction)
Long live the king
"May the king live a long life"
2 Chronicles 23:12
General Information:
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2 Chronicles 23:13
behold
This alerts the reader that the following information is very important.
standing by his pillar at the entrance
The relationship between the king and this particular pillar at the temple entrance is unclear.
All the people of the land
This is a generalization to show that many people participated in the event. Alternate translation: "A very large number of the people of the land" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-hyperbole)
Athaliah tore her clothes
This was a symbolic action to show her great distress. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-symaction)
Treason! Treason!
Treason is acting to overthrow the government. Athaliah had killed the legitimate heirs of the king and made herself ruler in 2 Chronicles 22:10. She was angry that Joash became king in her place. The exclamation is repeated for emphasis. Alternate translation: "You are committing treason!"
2 Chronicles 23:14
Jehoiada
Translate this man's name as in 2 Chronicles 22:11. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
the commanders of hundreds
The phrase "commander of hundreds" is probably an official title for a military officer. Possible meanings are 1) the word "hundreds" represents the exact amount of soldiers that these commanders led. Alternate translation: "the commanders of 100 soldiers" or 2) the word translated as "hundreds" does not represent an exact number, but is the name of a military division. See how you translated this in 2 Chronicles 23:1. Alternate translation: "the commanders of military divisions" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-numbers)
who were over the army
"who were leaders in the army"
Bring her out between the ranks
Possible meanings are 1) "Surround her and bring her out of the temple courtyard" or 2) "Remove her from the people in the temple courtyard"
anyone who follows her, let him be killed with the sword
This can be stated in active form. It is implied that people who followed her would be trying to help her. Alternate translation: "Use your sword to kill anyone who comes to help her" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
For the priest had said
"For Jehoiada the priest had said"
2 Chronicles 23:15
as she went into the entrance of the Horse Gate of the king's house
Some versions have "and took her to the Horse Gate near the entrance of the kings' house"
the king's house
"the royal palace"
2 Chronicles 23:16
General Information:
Throughout chapter 23, Joash is referred to as "the king." It may be helpful to your readers to occasionally add "King Joash" or "Joash the king" to make his identity explicit. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
2 Chronicles 23:17
all the people went to the house of Baal
This is a generalization that means a large group of the people did this. Alternate translation: "a very large group of the people went to the temple of Baal" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-hyperbole)
Mattan
This is the name of a man. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
2 Chronicles 23:18
under the hand of the priests
Here "hand" represents control. Alternate translation: "under the direction of the priests" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
2 Chronicles 23:19
so that no one that was unclean in any way should enter
A person who is not acceptable for God's purposes is spoken of as if they were physically unclean. Alternate translation: "so that no one that was unacceptable to God in any way should enter" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
so that no one that was unclean in any way should enter
This can be stated in positive form. Alternate translation: "to make sure that only those who were clean could enter" or "to make sure only those who were acceptable to God could enter" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-doublenegatives)
2 Chronicles 23:20
the commanders of hundreds
The phrase "commander of hundreds" is probably an official title for a military officer. Possible meanings are 1) the word "hundreds" represents the exact amount of soldiers that these commanders led. Alternate translation: "the commanders of 100 soldiers" or 2) the word translated as "hundreds" does not represent an exact number, but is the name of a military division. Alternate translation: "the commanders of military divisions" See how you translated this in 2 Chronicles 23:1. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-numbers)
all the people of the land
This is a generalization that means he took very many people with him. Alternate translation: "a very large group of the people of Israel" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-hyperbole)
He brought down the king from the house of Yahweh
The temple was built on the highest hill in Jerusalem. Alternate translation: "He brought the king down from the temple to the palace"
the throne of the kingdom
"the royal throne"
2 Chronicles 23:21
So all the people of the land
This is generalization to say that most of the people rejoiced. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-hyperbole)
the city was quiet
Here "the city" represents the people of the city, and "quiet" represents peace, since no one opposed Joash after Athaliah died. Alternate translation: "the people of the city were at peace" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)