2 Chronicles 24:17

17 Now after the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came and bowed down to the king. Then the king listened to them.

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 And Jehoiada grew old and full of days, and he died; [he was] one hundred and thirty years old at his death.

16 And they buried him in the city of David with the kings, for he did good in Israel and with respect to God and his house.

17 Now after the death of Jehoiada, the princes of Judah came and bowed down to the king. Then the king listened to them.

18 And they forsook the house of Yahweh, the God of their ancestors and served the Asherahs and the idols. And wrath came upon Judah and Jerusalem on account of this guilt.

19 But he sent prophets among them, to bring them back to Yahweh. And they testified against them, and they did not obey.