2 Kings11

New American Standard

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¹When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and eliminated all the royal children.

²But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and abducted him from among the king’s sons who were being put to death, and put him and his nurse in the bedroom. So they hid him from Athaliah, and he was not put to death.

³So he was kept hidden with her in the house of the Lord for six years, while Athaliah was reigning over the land.

⁴Now in the seventh year Jehoiada sent orders and brought the captains of hundreds of the Carites and of the guards, and brought them to himself at the house of the Lord. Then he made a covenant with them and put them under oath at the house of the Lord, and showed them the king’s son.

⁵And he commanded them, saying, “This is the thing that you shall do: a third of you, who come in on the Sabbath and keep watch over the king’s house

⁶(a third also shall be at the gate Sur, and a third at the gate behind the guards), shall keep watch over the house for defense.

⁷And two parts of you, all who go out on the Sabbath, shall also keep watch over the house of the Lord for the king.

⁸Then you shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes within the ranks shall be put to death. And you are to be with the king when he goes out and when he comes in.”

⁹So the captains of hundreds acted in accordance with everything that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each one of them took his men who were to come in on the Sabbath, along with those who were to go out on the Sabbath, and they came to Jehoiada the priest.

¹⁰Then the priest gave the captains of hundreds the spears and shields that had been King David’s, which were in the house of the Lord.

¹¹The guards stood, each with his weapons in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, by the altar and by the house, around the king.

¹²Then he brought the king’s son out, and put the crown on him and gave him the testimony; and they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!”

¹³When Athaliah heard the noise of the guards and of the people, she came to the people at the house of the Lord.

¹⁴And she looked, and behold, the king was standing by the pillar according to the custom, with the captains and the trumpeters beside the king; and all the people of the land were joyful and were blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, “Conspiracy! Conspiracy!”

¹⁵And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds who were appointed over the army and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks, and whoever follows her, put to death with the sword!” For the priest said, “She is not to be put to death at the house of the Lord.”

¹⁶So they seized her, and when they brought her to the horses’ entrance of the king’s house, she was put to death there.

¹⁷Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people, that they would be the Lord’s people, and between the king and the people.

¹⁸And all the people of the land came to the house of Baal and tore it down; they thoroughly smashed his altars and his images in pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. Then the priest appointed sentries over the house of the Lord.

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

²⁰So all the people of the land rejoiced and the city was peaceful. For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword at the king’s house.

²¹Jehoash was seven years old when he became king.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: Athaliah usurps the government of Judah, Jehoash made king. (1–12). Athaliah put to death. (13–16). The worship of the Lord restored. (17–21).

vv1-12

Athaliah destroyed all she knew to be akin to the crown. Jehoash, one of the king's sons, was hid. Now was the promise made to David bound up in one life only, and yet it did not fail. Thus to the Son of David, the Lord, according to his promise, will secure a spiritual seed, hidden sometimes, and unseen, but hidden in God's pavilion, and unhurt. Six years Athaliah tyrannized. Then the king was brought forward. A child indeed, but he had a good guardian, and, what was better, a good God to go to With such joy and satisfaction must the kingdom of Christ be welcomed into our hearts, when his throne is set up there, and Satan the usurper is cast out. Say, Let the King, even Jesus, live, for ever live and reign in my soul, and in all the world.

vv13-16

Athaliah hastened her own destruction. She herself was the greatest traitor, and yet was first and loudest in crying, Treason, treason! The most guilty are commonly the most forward to reproach others.

vv17-21

King and people would cleave most firmly to each other, when both had joined themselves to the Lord. It is well with a people, when all the changes that pass over them help to revive, strengthen, and advance the interests of religion among them. Covenants are of use, both to remind us of, and bind us to, the duties already binding on us. They immediately abolished idolatry; and, pursuant to the covenant with one another, they expressed mutual readiness to help each other. The people rejoiced, and Jerusalem was quiet. The way for people to be joyful and at peace, is to engage fully in the service of God; for the voice of joy and thanksgiving is in the dwellings of the righteous, but there is no peace for the wicked.

Key Words

AthaliahH6271Hebrew

עֲתַלְיָה: Athaljah, the name of an Israelitess and two Israelites

motherH517Hebrew

אֵם: a mother (as the bond of the family); in a wide sense (both literally and figuratively (like father))

AhaziahH274Hebrew

אֲחַזְיָה: Achazjah, the name of a Jewish and an Israelite king

sawH7200Hebrew

רָאָה: to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

thatH3588Hebrew

כִּי: (by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

sonH1121Hebrew

בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)

deadH4191Hebrew

מוּת: to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

aroseH6965Hebrew

קוּם: to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative)

destroyedH6Hebrew

אָבַד: properly, to wander away, i.e. lose oneself; by implication to perish (causative, destroy)

allH3605Hebrew

כֹּל: properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)