Bible Strands
2 Chronicles 23:2
So they went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah and the heads of the families of Israel. And when they came to Jerusalem,
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jehoiada and the military commanders execute the next phase of their palace coup after securing their own oath in 2 Chronicles 23:1. They move to secure the Davidic succession by locating and assembling key religious and civil leaders before the public coronation covenant in 2 Chronicles 23:3.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיָּסֹבּוּ (va.ya.so.vu) literally means "they went around" or "traveled through," indicating a systematic sweep across the territory. Combined with וַיִּקְבְּצוּ (va.yik.be.tsu, "they gathered"), it records the deliberate collection of Levites and family heads before their arrival in Jerusalem.
The thread — The administrative gathering of Levites and clan leaders recurs in the temple service organization of 1 Chronicles 24:6 and the regional mobilization noted in 2 Chronicles 11:13. The structural pattern of assembling tribal representatives for covenant purposes also aligns with the assembly protocols in 1 Chronicles 15:12.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that covenant renewal and royal restoration require organized mobilization of established leadership. Readers must see that biblical authority operates through deliberate, documented gathering of designated representatives rather than spontaneous assembly.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- 2 Chronicles 11:13 Moreover, the priests and Levites from all their districts throughout Israel stood with Rehoboam.
- 1 Chronicles 15:12 And he said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves so that you may bring the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.
- 1 Chronicles 24:6 The scribe, Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, recorded their names in the presence of the king and of the officers: Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the heads of families of the priests and the Levites—one family being taken from Eleazar, and then one from Ithamar.
- 2 Chronicles 21:2 Jehoram’s brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat, were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah, Michael, and Shephatiah; these were all sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.
- Psalms 112:5 It is well with the man who is generous and lends freely, whose affairs are guided by justice.
- Matthew 10:16 Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.
- Ephesians 5:15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,