2 Chronicles 23:20

And he took with him the commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD and entered the royal palace through the Upper Gate. They seated King Joash on the royal throne,

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jehoiada directs the transition of power to restore the Davidic line at the precise moment Athaliah’s reign ends. The commanders, nobles, and citizens escort the young king from the temple precincts to the royal palace.

The words — וַיִּקַּח (va.yi.kach) means “and he took,” indicating deliberate, organized action, while שָׂרֵי הַמֵּאֹת (sa.rei ha.me'ot) translates literally as “commanders of hundreds,” identifying the military officers who carry out the procedure.

The thread — This procession matches the parallel account in 2 Kings 11:19 and 2 Kings 11:9, where Jehoiada issues the same orders to secure the palace and install Joash.

Why it lands — The text records a structured, public coronation that replaces violent usurpation with lawful succession. It requires the reader to observe how institutional authority and civic participation validate a king’s reign.

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

וַיִּקַּ֣חva/i.yi.Kachand/ he took אֶת־'et-<obj.>שָׂרֵ֣יsa.Rei[the] commanders of הַמֵּא֡וֹתha./me.'otthe/ hundreds וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>הָֽאַדִּירִים֩ha./'a.di.Rimthe/ nobles וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>הַמּֽוֹשְׁלִ֨יםha./mo.she.Limthe/ rulers בָּעָ֜םba./'Amover the/ people וְאֵ֣ת׀ve./'Etand/ <obj.>כָּל־kol-all עַ֣ם'am[the] people of הָאָ֗רֶץha./'A.retzthe/ land וַיּ֤וֹרֶדva/i.Yo.redand/ he brought down אֶת־'et-<obj.>הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ha./Me.lekhthe/ king מִבֵּ֣יתmi./Beitfrom/ [the] house of יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahweh וַיָּבֹ֛אוּva/i.ya.Vo.'uand/ they came בְּתֽוֹךְ־be./tokh-in/ [the] middle of שַׁ֥עַרSha.'ar[the] gate הָֽעֶלְי֖וֹןha./'el.Yon<the>/ upper בֵּ֣יתbeit[the] house of הַמֶּ֑לֶךְha./Me.lekhthe/ king וַיּוֹשִׁ֙יבוּ֙va/i.yo.Shi.vuand/ they made sit אֶת־'et-<obj.>הַמֶּ֔לֶךְha./Me.lekhthe/ king עַ֖ל'alon כִּסֵּ֥אki.Se'[the] throne of הַמַּמְלָכָֽה׃ha./mam.la.Khah<the>/ royalty

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

2 Kings 11:19 He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD and entered the royal palace by way of the Gate of the Guards. Then Joash took his seat on the royal throne,
2 Kings 11:9 So the commanders of hundreds did everything that Jehoiada the priest had ordered. Each of them took his men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—and came to Jehoiada the priest.
2 Kings 15:35 Nevertheless, the high places were not taken away; the people continued sacrificing and burning incense there. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate of the house of the LORD.