And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of the LORD: and they came through the high gate into the king's house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom.

2 CHRONICLES 23:20KJV
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2 Chronicles 23:20 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 23:20 mean?

2 Chronicles 23:20 describes how the leaders of the people, along with the people themselves, escorted the newly restored king from the temple to the royal palace and placed him on the throne. This marks the public recognition and official enthronement of the king after a period of instability.

This verse takes place during the time when Jehoiada the priest led a movement to restore the rightful king, Joash, to the throne of Judah. Jehoiada gathers the military leaders, nobles, and the people, and together they bring Joash out from the house of the LORD (the temple), enter the palace through the prominent "high gate," and seat him on the throne, signifying the return of legitimate rule.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 23:20

  • "Captains" (שָׂרֵי, saré) refers to military commanders, specifically those in charge of "hundreds" (מֵאוֹת, me'ot), showing an organized and significant military presence in this event.
  • "Set" (יָשַׁב, yashav) means "to sit" or "to cause to sit," and here it emphasizes the formal act of placing the king on the throne, not just physically but with authority.
  • "Throne" (כִּסֵּא, kisse) is the word for a royal seat, underlining that this is about legitimate kingship and rule, not just a chair or place to sit.
  • "High" (עֶלְיוֹן, elyon) in "high gate" points to a prominent or elevated entrance, suggesting this was a significant and symbolic route for the king's procession.

Why 2 Chronicles 23:20 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the king's enthronement was a public, communal act involving all levels of leadership and the people, not a private or secret event.
  • The procession from the temple to the palace through the "high gate" highlights the connection between worship, God's house, and the authority of the king in Judah.
  • The verse connects to the larger story of restoring proper leadership after a time of usurpation and chaos, showing the importance of order and legitimacy in the biblical narrative.

Where else these words appear

“nobles” Hebrew H117 · used in 25 verses

  • Exodus 15:10 Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters.
  • Psalms 16:3 But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.
  • Jeremiah 25:35 And the shepherds shall have no way to flee, nor the principal of the flock to escape.

“high” Hebrew H5945 · used in 53 verses

  • Genesis 14:18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.
  • 2 Chronicles 27:3 He built the high gate of the house of the LORD, and on the wall of Ophel he built much.
  • Psalms 83:18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.

“governors” Hebrew H4910 · used in 74 verses

  • Genesis 1:18 And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good.
  • Psalms 8:6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
  • Isaiah 3:12 As for my people, children are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.

“kingdom” Hebrew H4467 · used in 113 verses

  • Genesis 10:10 And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Erech, and Accad, and Calneh, in the land of Shinar.
  • 2 Kings 14:5 And it came to pass, as soon as the kingdom was confirmed in his hand, that he slew his servants which had slain the king his father.
  • Isaiah 14:16 They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms;