Read the Bible
KING JAMES BIBLE · PCE

2 Chronicles 23:1–4

TEXT EDITION
Pure Cambridge Edition selected
AND in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him.
And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.
And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as the Lord hath said of the sons of David.
This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doors;
Share
Email linkOpen a new message in your email app
Read chapter
More
Report an issueTell us about a text or study problem

PASSAGE SELECTION

Build from either side

4 selected · 6 available

Choose up to 10 verses in this chapter. The study tools update with the selected passage.

SCRIPTURE WITH SCRIPTURE

Cross References

19 Essential passages are open for comparison.

Reference depth

From verse 1

  1. 1 Samuel 18:3Rank 1 from verse 1
    Open

    3Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

  2. 2 Chronicles 15:12Rank 2 from verse 1
    Open

    12And they entered into a covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;

  3. 2 Kings 11:4–20Rank 3 from verse 1
    Open

    4¶ And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the Lord, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the Lord, and shewed them the king’s son.

    5And he commanded them, saying, This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you that enter in on the sabbath shall even be keepers of the watch of the king’s house;

    6And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of the house, that it be not broken down.

    7And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of the Lord about the king.

    8And ye shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand: and he that cometh within the ranges, let him be slain: and be ye with the king as he goeth out and as he cometh in.

    9And the captains over the hundreds did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest commanded: and they took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that should go out on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.

    10And to the captains over hundreds did the priest give king David’s spears and shields, that were in the temple of the Lord.

    11And the guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, round about the king, from the right corner of the temple to the left corner of the temple, along by the altar and the temple.

    12And he brought forth the king’s son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king.

    13¶ And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the Lord.

    14And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason.

    15But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the Lord.

    16And they laid hands on her; and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the king’s house: and there was she slain.

    17¶ And Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people, that they should be the Lord’s people; between the king also and the people.

    18And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal, and brake it down; his altars and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the Lord.

    19And he took the rulers over hundreds, and the captains, and the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from the house of the Lord, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king’s house. And he sat on the throne of the kings.

    20And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king’s house.

  4. Nehemiah 9:38Rank 4 from verse 1
    Open

    38And because of all this we make a sure covenant, and write it; and our princes, Levites, and priests, seal unto it.

From verse 2

  1. 2 Chronicles 11:13–17Rank 1 from verse 2
    Open

    13¶ And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.

    14For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest’s office unto the Lord:

    15And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.

    16And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the Lord God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the Lord God of their fathers.

    17So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.

  2. 1 Chronicles 15:12Rank 2 from verse 2
    Open

    12And said unto them, Ye are the chief of the fathers of the Levites: sanctify yourselves, both ye and your brethren, that ye may bring up the ark of the Lord God of Israel unto the place that I have prepared for it.

  3. 1 Chronicles 24:6Rank 3 from verse 2
    Open

    6And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites: one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.

  4. 2 Chronicles 21:2Rank 4 from verse 2
    Open

    2And he had brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, Azariah, and Jehiel, and Zechariah, and Azariah, and Michael, and Shephatiah: all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel.

  5. Ephesians 5:15Rank 5 from verse 2
    Open

    15See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

From verse 3

  1. 2 Chronicles 21:7Rank 1 from verse 3
    Open

    7Howbeit the Lord would not destroy the house of David, because of the covenant that he had made with David, and as he promised to give a light to him and to his sons for ever.

  2. 2 Chronicles 6:16Rank 2 from verse 3
    Open

    16Now therefore, O Lord God of Israel, keep with thy servant David my father that which thou hast promised him, saying, There shall not fail thee a man in my sight to sit upon the throne of Israel; yet so that thy children take heed to their way to walk in my law, as thou hast walked before me.

  3. 2 Samuel 7:12Rank 3 from verse 3
    Open

    12¶ And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

  4. 1 Kings 2:4Rank 4 from verse 3
    Open

    4That the Lord may continue his word which he spake concerning me, saying, If thy children take heed to their way, to walk before me in truth with all their heart and with all their soul, there shall not fail thee (said he) a man on the throne of Israel.

  5. 2 Chronicles 7:18Rank 5 from verse 3
    Open

    18Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.

From verse 4

  1. 1 Chronicles 23:3–6Rank 1 from verse 4
    Open

    3Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand.

    4Of which, twenty and four thousand were to set forward the work of the house of the Lord; and six thousand were officers and judges:

    5Moreover four thousand were porters; and four thousand praised the Lord with the instruments which I made, said David, to praise therewith.

    6And David divided them into courses among the sons of Levi, namely, Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

  2. 1 Chronicles 24:3–6Rank 2 from verse 4
    Open

    3And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service.

    4And there were more chief men found of the sons of Eleazar than of the sons of Ithamar; and thus were they divided. Among the sons of Eleazar there were sixteen chief men of the house of their fathers, and eight among the sons of Ithamar according to the house of their fathers.

    5Thus were they divided by lot, one sort with another; for the governors of the sanctuary, and governors of the house of God, were of the sons of Eleazar, and of the sons of Ithamar.

    6And Shemaiah the son of Nethaneel the scribe, one of the Levites, wrote them before the king, and the princes, and Zadok the priest, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and before the chief of the fathers of the priests and Levites: one principal household being taken for Eleazar, and one taken for Ithamar.

  3. 1 Chronicles 26:13–16Rank 3 from verse 4
    Open

    13¶ And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate.

    14And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counseller, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.

    15To Obed-edom southward; and to his sons the house of Asuppim.

    16To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the going up, ward against ward.

  4. 1 Chronicles 9:25Rank 4 from verse 4
    Open

    25And their brethren, which were in their villages, were to come after seven days from time to time with them.

  5. Luke 1:8–9Rank 5 from verse 4
    Open

    8And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his course,

    9According to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the temple of the Lord.

WORDS IN THIS PASSAGE

Definitions

Open a word for its full definition and concordance.

DEFINED WORDS

2 Chronicles 23:1

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

strengthened

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of strengthen, meaning to make stronger, confirm, encourage, fortify, or increase in power.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

son

↗

1. A male child or descendant. 2. One belonging to, related to, or characterized by the person, people, place, condition, or quality named.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

covenant

↗

Sense 1: A binding agreement, promise, pledge, or appointed order. Sense 2: The stated words, terms, testimony, or written record of such an agreement or promise.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

strenghtened

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of strengthen, meaning to make stronger, confirm, encourage, fortify, or increase in power.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

2 Chronicles 23:2

COMBINED MEANING

about

↗

1. Around or near in place, position, or movement; on every side, in a circuit, from place to place, or turned from one direction or state toward another. 2. Approximately in number, measure, distance, or time. 3. Concerning, occupied with, or engaged in a matter. 4. On the point of, intending, or attempting an action.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

gathered

↗

Past-tense, participial, or adjectival form of gather, meaning to collect, bring together, or assemble.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

Levites

↗

Members of the tribe of Levi, especially those appointed to service connected with the tabernacle or temple.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

out

↗

Outside, away from within, forth, absent, or no longer in a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

chief

↗

1. First, principal, highest, leading, greatest, most excellent, most important, or most responsible in rank, order, degree, value, or guilt. 2. A leader, head, principal ruler, officer, or principal member of a group.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

Israel

↗

The name given to Jacob and, by extension, his descendants, their nation, or the people so called.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

2 Chronicles 23:3

COMBINED MEANING

congregation

↗

1. A gathered assembly, company, or community of people, or the people considered together as a body. 2. In the fixed expressions "tabernacle of the congregation" and "tent of the congregation," part of the name of the appointed meeting place.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

made

↗

Formed, caused, prepared, appointed, or brought into a stated condition.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

covenant

↗

Sense 1: A binding agreement, promise, pledge, or appointed order. Sense 2: The stated words, terms, testimony, or written record of such an agreement or promise.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

king

↗

A sovereign ruler; one exercising royal authority over a kingdom.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

in

↗

1. A preposition marking position, presence, state, circumstance, manner, means, sphere, reference, relation, association, or participation. 2. As an adverb, inward, inside, or into the place or position referred to.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

house

↗

Sense 1: A building or dwelling. Sense 2: The people of a household or family. Sense 3: A lineage or family line. Sense 4: As a verb, to shelter, lodge, or provide a dwelling for.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

house of God

↗

Sense 1: A dwelling or place of worship identified with God. Sense 2: The household or church of God.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

behold

↗

1. Used as an attention word or command directing someone to look at or take notice of the person, thing, statement, or event presented: look; see; take notice. 2. As a verb, to look upon, see, observe, or witness.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

son

↗

1. A male child or descendant. 2. One belonging to, related to, or characterized by the person, people, place, condition, or quality named.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

reign

↗

Sense 1: To exercise kingly rule, dominion, governing power, or controlling power. Sense 2: Royal rule or dominion, or the period during which a ruler governs.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

DEFINED WORDS

2 Chronicles 23:4

COMBINED MEANING

ye

↗

The second-person plural subject pronoun, referring to the persons being addressed as those who are, do, or receive the stated predicate.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

shall

↗

An auxiliary verb expressing future action, intention, promise, command, requirement, or determination.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

part

↗

Sense 1: A portion or division of a whole. Sense 2: To divide, separate, depart, or share.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

you

↗

The second-person plural pronoun referring to those being addressed.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references · Webster 1828

COMBINED MEANING

entering

↗

Present-participial or verbal-noun form of enter, meaning to go or come in; to penetrate; to become an ingredient or constituent part; to enter the mind.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

on

↗

1. At, upon, or in contact with the named place, object, side, or time. 2. Toward, against, concerning, depending upon, or directed to the named person or thing. 3. Forward or continuing; in joined expressions such as go on, put on, and lay hold on, the other words supply the particular action.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

sabbath

↗

An appointed holy rest or cessation from ordinary labour; especially the seventh-day rest, or a sabbatical rest for the land.

Meaning drawn from: Direct Scripture definition · KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

priests

↗

Persons set apart to religious service, sanctuary duty, sacrifice, intercession, teaching, or representation before a deity.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

COMBINED MEANING

Levites

↗

Members of the tribe of Levi, especially those appointed to service connected with the tabernacle or temple.

Meaning drawn from: KJV context and cross-references

FOLLOW THE THEME

Related Concepts

Choose a connected KJV word or phrase to find where it appears in scripture.

READ BEFORE AND AFTER

Surrounding Verses

Nearby Scripture remains separate from the selected passage until you add it.

1AND in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him.

Selected passage

2And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.

Selected passage

3And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as the Lord hath said of the sons of David.

Selected passage

4This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doors;

Selected passage

5And a third part shall be at the king’s house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord.

LOCAL PASTOR DIRECTORY

Find a Pastor Near You

Enter a U.S. ZIP code to find nearby pastors committed to holding fast the faithful word.

Your ZIP is processed in this browser from local data. It is not sent to a ZIP lookup service or to a church. ZIP coordinates from GeoNames, licensed under CC BY 4.0.