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2 Kings

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2 Kings 11

Commentary · verses 1-21

This chapter introduced young king Joash.

1Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.

2But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons that were slain, even him and his nurse, and put them in the bedchamber; and they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not slain; 3And he was with her hid in the house of Jehovah six years. And Athaliah reigned over the land.

1And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.

2But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain.

3And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land.

Commentary · verses 1-3

Athaliah was the granddaughter of Omri and the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. This made Ahaziah the grandson of Ahab and Jezebel. Athaliah tried to kill all the sons of Ahaziah after Ahaziah's death. However, Ahaziah's sister (Jehosheba) took the only remaining male in the lineage of Christ, Joash, and hid him in the safest place to be during a time of wickedness: the house of God. Jehosheba was married to Jehoiada the high priest.

4And in the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the captains over hundreds of the Carites and of the guard, and brought them to him into the house of Jehovah; and he made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of Jehovah, and showed them the king’s son.

5And he commanded them, saying, This is the thing that ye shall do: a third part of you, that come in on the sabbath, shall be keepers of the watch of the king’s house; 6and a third part shall be at the gate Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of the house, and be a barrier.

7And the two companies of you, even all that go forth on the sabbath, shall keep the watch of the house of Jehovah 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 ranks, let him be slain: and be ye with the king when he goeth out, and when he cometh in.

4And 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.

Commentary · verses 4-8

Jehoiada organized the captains of the Carites and showed them Joash. "Carites" were executioners. His intentions were to overthrow Athaliah and put Joash, the son of Ahaziah, in the throne.

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

10And the priest delivered to the captains over hundreds the spears and shields that had been king David’s, which were in the house of Jehovah.

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

12Then he brought out 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, Long live the king.

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.

Commentary · verses 9-12

Joash, the son of Ahaziah, was crowned the king of Judah.

13And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the house of Jehovah: 14and she looked, and, behold, the king stood by the pillar, as the manner was, and the captains and the trumpets by the king; and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew trumpets. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason! treason!

13And 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.

Commentary · verses 13-14

The people were rejoicing at the coming end of Athaliah's reign.

15And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth between the ranks; and him that followeth her slay with the sword. For the priest said, Let her not be slain in the house of Jehovah.

16So they made way for her; and she went by the way of the horses’ entry to the king’s house: and there was she slain.

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

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.

17And 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.

Commentary · verses 15-17

Athaliah was slain and Jehoiada led the people back towards God.

18And all the people of the land went to 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 Jehovah.

19And he took the captains over hundreds, and the Carites, and the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from the house of Jehovah, and came by the way of the gate of the guard unto 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 quiet. And Athaliah they had slain with the sword at the king’s house.

21Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.

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.

21Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign.

Commentary · verses 18-21

Within this chapter, the son of Ahaziah was called Joash and "Jehoash". There would be a king of Israel named "Jehoash". In order to avoid confusion, we refer to the kings by their names commonly referred to by historians: "Jehoash" (Israel) and Joash (Judah). Joash, son of Ahaziah, was only seven years old when he began to reign over Judah.

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