2 Chronicles 24:3

Study note

Setting — The narrator records Jehoiada’s household composition during the early phase of King Joash’s reign, directly following the statement that Joash acted righteously while the priest was alive. This factual insertion bridges Joash’s pious youth and his later decision to repair the temple.

The words — The verb וַיִּשָּׂא (va.yissa) literally means “he took” or “he married,” paired with שְׁתַּיִם (shtayim) meaning “two,” to state that Jehoiada married two wives. The verb וַיּוֹלֵד (va.yole) translates as “he fathered,” noting the birth of sons and daughters.

The thread — This plain notation of a man taking two wives parallels earlier biblical records of polygamous arrangements, such as Genesis 4:19 where Lamech takes two wives, and Genesis 24:4 where a wife is sought for Isaac. The motif tracks marital structures within prominent Israelite lineages without editorial judgment.

Why it lands — The text supplies a demographic detail about a key priestly figure before the narrative pivots to royal policy changes. It requires the reader to note the historical baseline of leadership households before assessing subsequent spiritual and political developments.

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.