Back to BooksSimple English

2 Chronicles

Covers Solomon's reign and the kingdom of Judah's history, emphasizing faithfulness to God.

Chapter 23

Back to Chapters

1 And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him.

*In the seventh year, Jehoiada became stronger and chose important leaders: Azariah, Ishmael, Azariah, Maaseiah, and Elishaphat to make a promise with him.

2 And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.

*They traveled through Judah, collected the Levites from all Judah's cities, and the main leaders of Israel's families. Then they all went to Jerusalem.

3 And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as the LORD hath said of the sons of David.

*The whole group agreed with the king inside God's house. He told them, "The king's son will rule, just like the LORD promised about the descendants of David."

4 This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doors;

*This means: A group of priests and Levites must guard the doors during the Sabbath. One out of every three should do this job.

5 And a third part shall be at the king’s house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD.

*A third part will be at the king's place, another third part at the base's entrance, while everyone will be in the LORD's house courtyards.

6 But let none come into the house of the LORD, save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall go in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD.

*Only priests and Levites can enter the Lord's house. They are holy, while everyone else must wait outside and guard.

7 And the Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whosoever else cometh into the house, he shall be put to death: but be ye with the king when he cometh in, and when he goeth out.

*The Levites must surround the king, each with their weapons ready. Anyone else who enters the house will be killed. However, you should stay with the king when he comes in or leaves.

8 So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.

*So, the Levites and all of Judah followed everything that Jehoiada the priest instructed. They brought each man his group who would join or leave during the Sabbath, because Jehoiada didn't dismiss any shifts.

9 Moreover Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David’s, which were in the house of God.

*Moreover, Priest Jehoiada gave the captains of hundreds weapons like spears, shields, and protective coverings that belonged to King David, which were stored in the temple.

10 And he set all the people, every man having his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king round about.

*He arranged everyone, each man with his weapon, from the right side of the temple to the left side, near the altar and temple, all around the king.

11 Then they brought out the king’s son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save the king.

*Then they brought out the prince and put a crown on him, giving him power. Jehoiada and his sons officially made him king and prayed for his safety.

12 Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the LORD:

*When Athaliah heard the commotion of people running and celebrating the king, she went to the people inside the LORD's house.

13 And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of musick, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason.

*And she saw that the king was standing at his column when entering, along with the leaders and trumpet players near him. Everyone in the land was happy, and they all blew trumpets, as well as singers playing musical instruments. Those who taught others to sing praises also joined in. However, Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, "Treason! Treason!"

14 Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth of the ranges: and whoso followeth her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said, Slay her not in the house of the LORD.

*Then Jehoiada the priest ordered the leaders of one hundred soldiers to take the woman out of the hiding place. He told them, "Anyone who follows her should be killed." The priest added, "Do not kill her inside the Lord's temple."

15 So they laid hands on her; and when she was come to the entering of the horse gate by the king’s house, they slew her there.

*So they touched her; and when she reached the horse's entrance near the king's home, they killed her there.

16 And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD’s people.

*Jehoiada created an agreement for him, the people, and the king to be committed to following the Lord.

17 Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in pieces, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.

*Then everyone went to Baal's house, broke it apart, destroyed the altars and statues, and killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars.

18 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.

*Jehoiada, along with the priests called Levites, set up the roles needed for running the Lord's house according to Moses' laws. They followed David's plan for these roles, performing special offerings happily and singing, just like David had instructed.

19 And he set the porters at the gates of the house of the LORD, that none which was unclean in any thing should enter in.

*He placed guards at the entrance of God's house to prevent anyone unclean in any way from coming inside.

20 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.

*He gathered important leaders and everyone in the land, took the king from the Lord's house, and entered the king's home through a big gate. They placed the king on his royal seat.

21 And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword.

*Everyone on the land was happy, and the city became calm once they killed Athaliah using a sword.

Back to Chapters

* work in progress, there will be mistakes

Copyright © 2025 - Gema369 All Rights Reserved