2 Chronicles 24:17

17 But after Jehoiada’s death, the leaders of Judah came and bowed before King Joash and persuaded him to listen to their advice.

2 Chronicles 24:17 Meaning and Commentary

2 Chronicles 24:17

Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah,
&c.] Who had been secretly inclined to idolatry, but durst not discover it during the life of Jehoiada; whose influence at court was too great for them to counterwork, but when dead they came to court:

and made obeisance to the king;
bowed in a very lowly manner, fawned upon him, and flattered him. Some Jewish writers, as Kimchi observes, understand this of religious adoration, that they made a god of him, and worshipped him, pretending, as a foundation for it, his being hid six months in the temple, and preserved; but it designs no more than civil worship and homage:

then the king hearkened unto them;
coursing with him about divine worship, which the business they came about; desiring that they might, not be obliged to come to Jerusalem to worship, but might make use of the high places, and by that means worship what idol they pleased, which he granted to them; the Targum is,

``he received their idols from them.''

2 Chronicles 24:17 In-Context

15 Jehoiada lived to a very old age, finally dying at 130.

16 He was buried among the kings in the City of David, because he had done so much good in Israel for God and his Temple.

17 But after Jehoiada’s death, the leaders of Judah came and bowed before King Joash and persuaded him to listen to their advice.

18 They decided to abandon the Temple of the LORD, the God of their ancestors, and they worshiped Asherah poles and idols instead! Because of this sin, divine anger fell on Judah and Jerusalem.

19 Yet the LORD sent prophets to bring them back to him. The prophets warned them, but still the people would not listen.