II Chronicles 23:13 · Bible study
2 Chronicles 23:13 Commentary: God's Faithfulness Over Treason
Hebrew · 8 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Athaliah's cry of 'Treason' exposes her rebellion. God's covenant faithfulness installs Joash. This scene teaches God's sovereign plan.
Research Summary
- Meaning: God’s covenant faithfulness prevails over human rebellion as the rightful Davidic king is publicly installed.
- Key words: קֶשֶׁר (conspiracy/treason, doubled for emphasis); עַמּוּד (pillar/stand, likely a designated royal place); שָׂמֵחַ (joyful, describing the people’s response).
- Main debate: Whether the king stood on a platform (dais) or at a literal pillar at the temple entrance.
- Theological theme: Preservation of the Davidic covenant and the vindication of God’s anointed despite usurpation.
- Best use: Preaching on God’s sovereignty, the hope of covenant restoration, and the contrast between worship and rebellion.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
And she looked out and saw the king standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, while the singers with musical instruments were leading the praises. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason, treason!”
WEB World English Bible 2000
Then she looked, and behold, the king stood by his pillar at the entrance, with the captains and the trumpeters by the king. All the people of the land rejoiced and blew trumpets. The singers also played musical instruments, and led the singing of praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes, and said, “Treason! treason!”
KJV King James Version 1769
And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of musick, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
and she looked, and, behold, the king stood by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the trumpets by the king; and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew trumpets; the singers also played on instruments of music, and led the singing of praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason! treason!
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
and seeth, and lo, the king is standing by his pillar in the entrance, and the heads, and the trumpets are by the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and shouting with trumpets, and the singers with instruments of song, and the teachers, to praise, and Athaliah rendeth her garments, and saith, `Conspiracy, conspiracy.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And she looked, and behold, the king stood on his dais at the entrance, and the princes and the trumpets were by the king; and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets; and the singers [were there] with the instruments of music, and such as taught to sing praise. And Athaliah rent her garments, and said, Conspiracy! Conspiracy!
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And when she saw the king standing upon the step in the entrance, and the princes, and the companies about him, and all the people of the land rejoicing, and sounding with trumpets, and playing on instruments of divers kinds, and the voice of those that praised, she rent her garments, and said: Treason, treason.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y mirando, vió al rey que estaba junto á su columna á la entrada, y los príncipes y los trompetas junto al rey, y que todo el pueblo de la tierra hacía alegrías, y sonaban bocinas, y cantaban con instrumentos de música los que sabían alabar. Entonces Athalía rasgó sus vestidos, y dijo: ¡ Conjuración, conjuración!
E olhando, viu ao rei que estava junto a sua coluna à entrada, e os príncipes e os trombetas junto ao rei, e que todo o povo da terra fazia alegrias, e soavam buzinas, e cantavam com instrumentos de música os que sabiam louvar. Então Atalia rasgou seus vestidos, e disse: Traição! Traição!
Elle regarda. Et voici, le roi se tenait sur son estrade à l’ entrée; les chefs et les trompettes étaient près du roi; tout le peuple du pays était dans la joie, et l’ on sonnait des trompettes, et les chantres avec les instruments de musique dirigeaient les chants de louanges. Athalie déchira ses vêtements, et dit: Conspiration! Conspiration!
Und sie sah, und siehe, der König stand an seiner Stätte am Eingang und die Obersten und die Drommeten um den König; und alles Volk des Landes war fröhlich, und man blies Drommeten, und die Sänger mit allerlei Saitenspiel sangen Lob. Da zerriß sie ihre Kleider und rief: Aufruhr, Aufruhr!
En zij zag toe; en ziet, de koning stond bij zijn pilaar, aan de ingang; en de oversten en de trompetten waren bij den koning; en al het volk des lands was blijde, en blies met de trompetten; en de zangers waren er met muzikale instrumenten, en gaven te kennen, dat men lofzingen zou; toen verscheurde Athalia haar klederen, en zij riep: Verraad, verraad!
guardò, ed ecco che il re stava in piedi sul suo palco, all’ingresso; i capitani e i trombettieri erano accanto al re; tutto il popolo del paese era in festa e sonava le trombe; e i cantori, coi loro strumenti musicali, dirigevano i canti di lode. Allora Athalia si stracciò le vesti, e gridò: “Congiura! congiura!”
A gdy ujrzała, że król stał na majestacie swoich w wejściu, i książęta i trąby około króla, i wszystek lud onej ziemi weselący się, i trąbiący w trąby, i śpiewaki z instrumentami muzycznemi, i tych, którzy zaczynali śpiewanie, tedy rozdarła Atalij a szaty swoje, mówiąc: Sprzysiężenie! sprzysiężenie!
и увидела: и вот царь стоит на возвышении своем при входе, и князья и трубы подле царя, и весь народ земли веселится, и трубят трубами, и певцы с орудиями музыкальными и искусные в славословии. И разодрала Гофолия одежды свои и закричала: заговор! заговор!
看見 王 站 在 殿門 的柱旁，百夫長 和吹號的人 侍立在 王左右，國 民 都 歡樂 吹 號，又有歌唱的，用各樣的樂 器 領 人歌唱讚美；亞她利雅 就撕裂 衣服，喊叫說：「反了！反了！」
And looking, she saw the king in his place by the pillar at the doorway, and the captains and the horns by his side; and all the people of the land were giving signs of joy and sounding the horns; and the makers of melody were playing on instruments of music, taking the chief part in the song of praise. Then Athaliah, violently parting her robes, said, Broken faith, broken faith!
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · II Chronicles 23:13
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree that this verse captures the decisive moment when the Davidic covenant is publicly restored. The king stands at his pillar (or platform) at the temple entrance, flanked by officers and trumpeters. The people of the land rejoice and blow trumpets; singers lead praise with instruments. Then Athaliah tears her clothes and screams 'Treason! treason!' (Cambridge Bible notes that the scene follows 2 Kings 11:14 but expands the musical elements). Barnes identifies the pillar as near the entrance to the holy of holies, while Jamieson-Fausset-Brown proposes the king stood on Solomon's brazen scaffold. Keil & Delitzsch observe that the Chronicler adds details about the singers to emphasize the liturgical dimension. All agree the narrative demonstrates God's faithfulness: the rightful Davidic heir is crowned, and the usurper is publicly exposed and soon executed. The double cry of 'treason' heightens irony, for it is Athaliah herself, not Joash, who has seized power unlawfully.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Pillar interpretation: Barnes and Cambridge Bible read 'his pillar' as a designated column at the entrance to the inner court (holy of holies).
- Platform interpretation: Jamieson-Fausset-Brown and Ellicott read 'his pillar' as a dais or scaffold (possibly Solomon's bronze platform in 2 Chronicles 6:13).
- Liturgical emphasis view: Keil & Delitzsch argue the Chronicler expanded the musical details to highlight the role of temple singers in the restoration.
What is clear: The narrative unequivocally shows the legitimate coronation of Joash as king of Judah, fulfilling God’s covenant with David, and the consequent exposure and downfall of the usurper Athaliah.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| King's position | All commentators agree the king stood at a designated royal place near the temple entrance. | Barnes and Cambridge identify it as a pillar; Jamieson-Fausset-Brown and others see it as a raised platform or dais (perhaps Solomon’s brazen scaffold). |
| Musical worship | Trumpets, singers, and instruments are part of the coronation celebration. | Some (Keil & Delitzsch) see the Chronicler’s elaboration on the singers as reflecting later Levitical practice; others read it as a historical report of the event. |
| Athaliah's accusation | Her cry of 'Treason' reveals her perception that Joash’s coronation is illegitimate. | Christians who emphasize Athaliah’s usurpation argue she has no legal standing; others note she held power for six years and could be considered reigning queen, so her charge was politically conventional. |
| Covenant continuity | This event restores the Davidic line as promised by God. | Some traditions stress the role of Jehoiada the priest as the key human agent; others emphasize the faithfulness of the 'people of the land' as a sign of popular covenant loyalty. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, seized the throne of Judah after killing the royal family (2 Kings 11:1). Only infant Joash was rescued by Jehoiada the priest and hidden in the temple for six years. In 2 Chronicles 23, Jehoiada orchestrates a counter-coup: the Levites and captains are stationed around the temple, Joash is anointed and crowned, and the people break into celebration.
The king's 'pillar' likely refers to a designated royal standing place in the court of the people, perhaps the same spot where Solomon stood at the dedication of the temple (2 Chronicles 6:13). The trumpets and singers echo Numbers 10:10, where trumpet blasts mark times of gladness and feasts, and 1 Kings 1:39-40, where Solomon's anointing drew trumpet blasts and earth-shaking joy. The 'people of the land', likely the free, land-owning citizens, rally to the legitimate king, signaling national return to covenant loyalty.
The temple setting is crucial: this is Yahweh's house, where His covenant promises are kept. Athaliah's entry into the temple (v.12) brings her face to face with the very line she tried to destroy. Her cry of 'Kesher! Kesher!' (conspiracy) reflects the word used for Jeroboam's rebellion (1 Kings 16:20), but here it rebounds on her. Within hours she is executed at the horse gate (v.15), and the covenant is renewed (v.16). The Chronicler portrays this not as a mere political shift but as a divine deliverance restoring both the throne and true worship.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for 2 Chronicles 23:13 itself. Keil & Delitzsch observe an orthographical error in verse 14, where וַיּוֹצֵא (and he brought out) in the parallel Kings account appears as וַיּוּצֵא (an error for ויצו) in some manuscripts of Chronicles. The Chronicler’s version expands on 2 Kings 11:14, particularly in describing the singers and musical instruments, which reflects his interest in temple worship. The double word קֶשֶׁר (treason) is consistent across all textual traditions.
Reception History
Commentators from the Reformation saw in this verse a vivid display of God’s covenant faithfulness. Matthew Henry (1710) noted that the rejoicing of the people and the terror of Athaliah show how “God engages the hearts of His people to support His own cause.” John Wesley (1754) emphasized the joy at seeing “a rod sprung out of the stem of Jesse” after a period of despair. Puritan writers often used this scene to encourage believers that God preserves a remnant even when evil rulers seem secure. In the broader Christian tradition, Athaliah’s cry of “Treason” has been taken as a type of the world’s accusation against God’s true king, an accusation that collapses under the weight of God’s saving plan. The festive use of trumpets and singing has also inspired worship liturgies that celebrate God’s deliverance on feast days and anniversaries of covenantal renewal.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The rightful king appears in God's place and time. Joash, hidden for six years, is presented at the temple. God’s covenant does not depend on human strength; it survives even a royal massacre.
- The people respond with joy and worship. The trumpets, singing, and rejoicing show that restoration of God’s king brings celebration. Worship is the appropriate response to God’s faithfulness.
- The usurper is exposed and overthrown. Athaliah’s cry of “Treason!” becomes her own indictment. Human rebellion cannot stand against God’s anointed.
Five-point outline
- God’s hidden work: Joash was hidden in the temple for six years. God often works unseen before the public revelation.
- Legitimate authority restored: The coronation follows the covenant pattern, crown, covenant document, anointing, acclamation.
- Joy as a sign of the kingdom: The rejoicing of the people of the land mirrors the joy at Solomon’s coronation (1 Kings 1:40).
- Music as witness: Trumpets and singers praise God publicly; the sounds announce that a new reign has begun.
- The usurper’s shock: Athaliah’s reaction, tearing clothes and crying conspiracy, shows the blindness of those who oppose God’s plan.
Illustration hooks
- A child hidden from a tyrant finally revealed at the right moment, think of Moses in the bulrushes, or a family secret that comes to light.
- The contrast between the joyful celebration of a wedding or a new royal baby and the lone voice of a disgruntled person shouting “This is all wrong!”
- The moment when a long-lost heir appears to claim an inheritance, and the imposter is unmasked in a courtroom.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does God still protect His people when all seems lost? How do we know He hasn’t forgotten His promises?
- What does it mean to recognize God’s true king? How do we align ourselves with His rule when there are many competing authorities?
- How do we respond when worldly powers accuse God’s people of treason? Whose voice do we listen to?
Leading a Discussion
This verse brings us into the temple courtyard at the moment of a dramatic reversal. Athaliah, who thought she had eliminated the Davidic line, stands face to face with a crowned king. The people rejoice; she screams. Use these questions to explore what this scene reveals about God’s faithfulness and human resistance.
Discussion questions
- What do you notice about the scene in this verse? Describe the positions of the people, the king, and the actions taking place.
- Why are trumpets and singing so central to the coronation? How does this connect to other biblical celebrations (e.g., Solomon in 1 Kings 1:39-40)?
- What does Athaliah’s reaction tell you about her understanding of power? Why does she cry “Treason” rather than ask questions?
- How does this event fulfill God’s covenant with David (2 Samuel 7)? Where do you see God’s faithfulness despite human failure?
- In what ways do people today respond to God’s rightful authority with suspicion or hostility? What forms does “treason” against God take in our lives?
- How does this story shape your trust in God’s timing? Where are you waiting for Him to act in a situation that seems hopeless?
- What would it look like for your community to “blow trumpets” and rejoice when God’s king is honored?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Numbers 10:1 | Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, |
| Numbers 10:10 | “Also in the day of your gladness, and in your set feasts, and in the beginnings of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings; and they shall be to you for a memorial before your God. I am Yahweh your God.” |
| Judges 7:8 | So the people took food in their hand, and their trumpets; and he sent all the rest of the men of Israel to their own tents, but retained the three hundred men; and the camp of Midian was beneath him in the valley. |
| Judges 7:18 | When I blow the trumpet, I and all who are with me, then blow the trumpets also on every side of all the camp, and shout, ‘For Yahweh and for Gideon!’” |
| Judges 7:22 | They blew the three hundred trumpets, and Yahweh set every man’s sword against his fellow and against all the army; and the army fled as far as Beth Shittah toward Zererah, as far as the border of Abel Meholah, by Tabbath. |
| I Kings 1:39 | Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the Tent, and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet; and all the people said, “Long live King Solomon!” |
| I Kings 1:40 | All the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth shook with their sound. |
| I Kings 18:17 | When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
8 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes explains that the phrase refers to the threshold area where the main chamber of the temple opened into the holy of holies. He clarifies the specific location, showing that it is not the outer entrance but the inner doorway leading to the most sacred space.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge commentary notes that "at his pillar" could also be read "by his pillar" or "upon his platform." It suggests reading "at the entering in" as "as the manner was," following a parallel passage. The singers are clarified as playing instruments and leading the praise.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note highlights the dramatic reversal: the rightful king stands at his appointed place amid trumpets and rejoicing, while the usurper Athaliah tears her clothes and cries treason. The scene exposes her accusation as hollow, since the only treason is her own attempt to destroy God's anointed line.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB highlights the specific physical arrangement: the king stood in the outer court at his own pillar, opposite the priests’ pillar, publicly visible in royal regalia. Some also suggest this was the same brazen scaffold Solomon once used, bringing the new king into full view of the people.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch note that the Chronicler expands the Kings account by adding singing with instruments of song as part of the people's praise. They also identify a scribal error in one verse, where a word meaning "and he brought out" should read "and he commanded" as in the original Kings passage.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues the letter attributed to Elijah was not written by the prophet himself. He proposes that Elijah uttered the prophecy orally, and a disciple, likely Elisha, later recorded it in written form after the prophet's ascension. This explains the timing while preserving the letter's genuine prophetic authority.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that Athaliah’s cry of “Treason” reveals her blindness: she who usurped the throne calls the rightful king a traitor. He emphasizes that true reformation follows the coronation—the people renew their covenant with God, destroy Baal’s worship, and restore the temple’s proper order. For Henry, this shows that setting things right in the kingdom begins with setting them right in worship.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley highlights that the people rejoiced because they saw what they had despaired of ever seeing—a king from David's line. The coming of this ruler, a shoot from Jesse's stem, fulfilled a hope that had seemed lost.