Compare the history in Kings (the marginal reference). Both accounts were probably drawn from a common source. The writer of Kings treated the points of civil and historic importance, the later author of Chronicles collected the notices of the part taken in the transactions by the sacred order to which he probably belonged. read more
The five names do not occur in Kings; only, and incidentally, the five divisions of the royal guard (2 Kings 11:5 note). read more
Jehoiada was unwilling to trust the success of the revolution wholly and entirely to the royal body-guard. Accordingly, the captains collected from the cities of Judah a strong body of Levites and the chief of the fathers of Israel (i. e. “Judah,” see 2 Chronicles 20:34 note) who were brought up to Jerusalem. read more
By “all the congregation” here is meant the persons referred to in 2 Chronicles 23:2. read more
The writer of Chronicles relates the orders that were given to the Levites, the author of Kings those received by the royal body-guard (2 Kings 11:5 note). read more
Keep the watch of the Lord - i. e. guard against any attempt that might be made by the Baal-worshippers to force their way through the courts into the temple. read more
Compare 2 Kings 11:8, 2 Kings 11:11. The soldiers and the Levites in the temple were probably intermixed in about equal proportions. read more
And took every man his men ... - i. e. the relief, already organized by Jehoiada into three bodies 2 Chronicles 23:4-5, was further strengthened by the members of the outgoing “course,” who were associated in the work to be done. read more
At the entering in - i. e. at, or near, the opening from the main chamber of the temple into the holy of holies. read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Chronicles 23:21
First purity, then peace. "And the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword." We can conceive of many occasions when the "slaying of a woman with the sword" should not and would not lead to quietude, but to unrest, to turbulence, and to strife. But this "wicked woman," Athaliah, was the impersonation of usurpation and of idolatry. To slay her was to "put away the evil thing" from above and from the midst of the people of God. It was an act of purgation, of... read more