(18) Also Jehoiada appointed.--This and the next verse are a thoroughly characteristic expansion of the brief notice: "And the priest set officers over the house of the Lord" (Kings). Render, "And Jehoiada put the offices of the house of the Lord into the hand of the priests the Levites." Syriac, "And Jehoiada made prefects (shallitone) in the house of the Lord, and the priests and Levites." The LXX. renders: "And Jehoiada the priest took in hand the works of the house of the Lord, by the hand of priests and Levites."

Whom David had distributed.--Divided into courses or classes (1Chronicles 23:6; 1Chronicles 23:24-25).

In the house.--For the house.

As it is written.--A reference to the Pentateuch. (Comp. Ezra 3:2.)

With rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David.--See the margin, and comp. the Notes on 1Chronicles 25:2; 1Chronicles 25:6; 1Chronicles 23:5.

The meaning of all this is that the high priest now restored the regular services of the Temple, as arranged by David, which had been neglected or at least irregularly conducted during the six years of Athaliah's usurpation.

Verse 18. - Jehoiada appointed; i.e. reappointed or restored. The offices; פְקֻדות. Numbers 3:32, 36; Numbers 4:16; Numbers 16:29; 1 Chronicles 23:11; 1 Chronicles 24:3, 19; 1 Chronicles 26:30; 2 Chronicles 17:14; 2 Chronicles 23:18; 2 Chronicles 24:11; 2 Chronicles 26:11; see also Psalm 109:8; Isaiah 10:3 (comp. Job 10:12). The priests. There should, no doubt, be found the conjunction "and" after this word and before "the Levites," whom David had distributed (so 1 Chronicles 24:1-19; 1 Chronicles 25:8-31). In the Law of Moses (Numbers 18:1-7; 38:2). With rejoicing... singing... David (1 Chronicles 23:5; 1 Chronicles 25:1, 2, 5-7; and our 2 Chronicles 29:25-30).

23:12-20 A warning from God was sent to Jehoram. The Spirit of prophecy might direct Elijah to prepare this writing in the foresight of Jehoram's crimes. He is plainly told that his sin should certainly ruin him. But no marvel that sinners are not frightened from sin, and to repentance, by the threatenings of misery in another world, when the certainty of misery in this world, the sinking of their estates, and the ruin of their health, will not restrain them from vicious courses. See Jehoram here stripped of all his comforts. Thus God plainly showed that the controversy was with him, and his house. He had slain all his brethren to strengthen himself; now, all his sons are slain but one. David's house must not be wholly destroyed, like those of Israel's kings, because a blessing was in it; that of the Messiah. Good men may be afflicted with diseases; but to them they are fatherly chastisements, and by the support of Divine consolations the soul may dwell at ease, even when the body lies in pain. To be sick and poor, sick and solitary, but especially to be sick and in sin, sick and under the curse of God, sick and without grace to bear it, is a most deplorable case. Wickedness and profaneness make men despicable, even in the eyes of those who have but little religion.The contents of this chapter are the same with 2 Kings 11:4 and need no other explanation than what may be found in the notes there, to which the reader is referred.See Gill on 2 Kings 11:4. See Gill on 2 Kings 11:5. See Gill on 2 Kings 11:6. See Gill on 2 Kings 11:7. See Gill on 2 Kings 11:8. See Gill on 2 Kings 11:9. See Gill on 2 Kings 11:10. See Gill on 2 Kings 11:11. See Gill on 2 Kings 11:12. See Gill on 2 Kings 11:13. See Gill on 2 Kings 11:14. See Gill on 2 Kings 11:15. See Gill on 2 Kings 11:16. See Gill on 2 Kings 11:17. See Gill on 2 Kings 11:18. See Gill on 2 Kings 11:19. See Gill on 2 Kings 11:20.