2 Chronicles 24:7

For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD did they bestow upon Baalim.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7) For the sons of Athaliah.—There is nothing corresponding to the statements of this verse in the parallel account. Literally, For Athaliah, the evildoer (or, who did wickedly, 2Chronicles 20:35), her sons had broken down (Isaiah 5:5; Psalm 80:14) the house of God. Ahaziah and his elder brothers, and perhaps other relatives, may be intended. The young princes thus gratified the queen’s hatred of the exclusive cultus of Jehovah. (Comp. 2Chronicles 22:3-4.) Perhaps some portions of the Temple buildings were demolished, in order to make room for the temple of Baal. (Comp. Notes on 2Kings 11:18.)

The dedicated things—i.e., the moneys given for the use of the sanctuary.

Did they bestow upon Baalim.—Or, they made into the Baals, i.e., used them in making idolatrous images and symbols. (Comp. the same expression, Hosea 2:8 : “Her silver and gold, which they made into Baal;” comp. also Hosea 8:4.)

Benson Commentary

2 Chronicles 24:7. The sons of Athaliah, &c. — To wit, Ahaziah and his brethren, before they were carried away captive, (2 Chronicles 21:17,) who did this by her instigation, as this phrase implies; had broken up the house of God — Had both broken up the treasures, and defaced the house itself. And the dedicated things did they bestow upon Baalim — Gave them, either to adorn the temples of those false gods, or to promote their worship.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

24:1-14 Joash is more zealous about the repair of the temple than Jehoiada himself. It is easier to build temples, than to be temples to God. But the repairing of places for public worship is a good work, which all should promote. And many a good work would be done that now lies undone, if active men would put it forward.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

It appears from 2 Kings 12:4 that Joash had assigned to the restoration-fund two other payments also.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

4-14. Joash was minded to repair the house of the Lord—(See on [451]2Ki 12:4-16).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

The sons of Athaliah, to wit, Ahaziah and his brethren, before they were carried away captive, 2 Chronicles 21:17, who did this by her instigation, as this phrase implies.

Had broken up the house of God; both broken up the treasuries, and defaced the house itself.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman,.... Not Ahaziah and his brethren, in the lifetime of Jehoram, but sons of Athaliah by another man, as Kimchi suggests:

had broken up the house of God; not that they had made ruptures in it, or broke down the walls of it, but had defaced it by taking off the gold and silver upon it:

and also all the dedicated things of the house of the Lord did they bestow upon Baalim; not strictly all, but a great many of them, as this word in many instances is used, as Kimchi observes, and with them furnished, beautified, and adorned the temple of Baal.

Geneva Study Bible

For the sons of Athaliah, that {d} wicked woman, had broken up the house of God; and also all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD did they bestow upon Baalim.

(d) The scriptures call her wicked because she was a cruel murderer and a blasphemous idolater.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

7. the sons of Athaliah] To be understood figuratively, “the adherents of Athaliah.” So “a son of the apothecaries” (Nehemiah 3:8; cp. A.V. with R.V.) is “a member of the apothecaries’ guild” and “the sons of the prophets” (2 Kings 2:15 etc.) are “the adherents (or ‘scholars’) of the prophets.” So again in Psalm 137:8 Edom is called “daughter of Babylon” as having attached herself to the Chaldeans at the destruction of Jerusalem.

had broken up] Rather, had broken into.

all the dedicate things] Cp. 2 Chronicles 15:18; 1 Chronicles 18:10-11. Probably gold, silver and brass.

did they bestow upon Baalim] Or, did they make into images of Baal. Cp. Hosea 2:8, R.V. mg.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 7. - The sons of Athaliah. This verse's testimony against Athaliah's sons explains 2 Chronicles 21:17, and is explained and corroborated by it. That wicked woman; Hebrew, הַמִּרְשַׁעַת; fem. noun, derivative of רַשַׁע; meaning strictly in the abstract, "the wickedness," equal to that incarnation of wickedness. All the dedicated things; i.e. the holy vessels, treasure, and holy furniture of the house of the Lord, had they desecrated, and robbed' them thence to squander them on their various Baals (2 Chronicles 17:3). 2 Chronicles 24:7

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

As to the repair of the temple, see the commentary on 2 Kings 12:5-17, where both the formal divergences and the essential agreement of the two narratives are pointed out.