2 Chronicles 24:23

23 In the spring of the year the Aramean army marched against Joash. They invaded Judah and Jerusalem and killed all the leaders of the nation. Then they sent all the plunder back to their king in Damascus.

2 Chronicles 24:23 Meaning and Commentary

2 Chronicles 24:23

And it came to pass at the end of the year
After the death of Zechariah; so soon had his prophecy its accomplishment:

that the host of Syria came up against him;
against Joash, king of Judah, under Hazael king of Syria, or however sent by him; for some think this is a different expedition from that in ( 2 Kings 12:17 ) though others take it to be the same:

and they came to Judah and Jerusalem;
not only came into the land of Judah, but as far as Jerusalem, the forces of Joash not being able to stop them:

and destroyed all the princes of the people from among the people;
the idolatrous princes of Judah, ( 2 Chronicles 24:17 ) , which is very remarkable that they should be distinguished from the people in their destruction, who had been the chief cause of the wrath of God coming upon them:

and sent all the spoil of them unto the king of Damascus;
all the riches that were taken from them were sent to the king of Syria at Damascus; this looks as if Hazael was not with this army.

2 Chronicles 24:23 In-Context

21 Then the leaders plotted to kill Zechariah, and King Joash ordered that they stone him to death in the courtyard of the LORD ’s Temple.

22 That was how King Joash repaid Jehoiada for his loyalty—by killing his son. Zechariah’s last words as he died were, “May the LORD see what they are doing and avenge my death!”

23 In the spring of the year the Aramean army marched against Joash. They invaded Judah and Jerusalem and killed all the leaders of the nation. Then they sent all the plunder back to their king in Damascus.

24 Although the Arameans attacked with only a small army, the LORD helped them conquer the much larger army of Judah. The people of Judah had abandoned the LORD, the God of their ancestors, so judgment was carried out against Joash.

25 The Arameans withdrew, leaving Joash severely wounded. But his own officials plotted to kill him for murdering the son of Jehoiada the priest. They assassinated him as he lay in bed. Then he was buried in the City of David, but not in the royal cemetery.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew At the turn of the year. The first day of the year in the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar occurred in March or April.