2 Kings 11

Athaliah Reigns in Judah

1 ¹Now when ²Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family.

2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took ³Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king's sons who were being put to death, and she put^[a] him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus they^[b] hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not put to death.

3 And he remained with her six years, hidden in the house of the LORD, while Athaliah reigned over the land.

Joash Anointed King in Judah

4 ⁴But in the seventh year ⁵Jehoiada sent and brought the captains of ⁶the Carites and of the guards, and had them come to him in the house of the LORD. And he made a covenant with them and put them under oath in the house of the LORD, and he showed them the king's son.

5 And he commanded them, "This is the thing that you shall do: one third of you, ⁷those who come off duty on the Sabbath and guard the king's house

6 (⁸another third being at the gate Sur and a third at the gate behind the guards) shall guard the palace.^[c]

7 And the two divisions of you, which come on duty in force on the Sabbath and guard the house of the LORD on behalf of the king,

8 shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand. And whoever approaches the ranks is to be put to death. Be with the king ⁹when he goes out and when he comes in."

9 The captains did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded, and they each brought his men who were to go off duty on the Sabbath, with those who were to come on duty on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.

10 And the priest gave to the captains the spears and ¹⁰shields that had been King David's, which were in the house of the LORD.

11 And the guards stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the south side of the house to the north side of the house, around the altar and the house on behalf of the king.

12 Then he brought out the king's son and put ¹¹the crown on him and gave him ¹²the testimony. And they proclaimed him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, ¹³"Long live the king!"

13 When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she went into the house of the LORD to the people.

14 And when she looked, there was the king standing ¹⁴by the pillar, according to the custom, and the captains and the trumpeters beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and ¹⁵blowing trumpets. And Athaliah ¹⁶tore her clothes and cried, "Treason! Treason!"

15 Then Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains who were set over the army, "Bring her out between the ranks, and put to death with the sword anyone who follows her." For the priest said, "Let her not be put to death in the house of the LORD."

16 So they laid hands on her; and she went through the horses' entrance to the king's house, and there she was put to death.

17 And Jehoiada ¹⁷made a covenant between the LORD and the king and people, that they should be the LORD's people, and also ¹⁸between the king and the people.

18 Then all the people of the land went to ¹⁹the house of Baal and tore it down; ²⁰his altars and his images they broke in pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest posted watchmen over the house of the LORD.

19 And he took the captains, ²¹the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD, marching through ²²the gate of the guards to the king's house. And he took his seat on the throne of the kings.

20 So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been put to death with the sword at the king's house.

Jehoash Reigns in Judah

21 ^[d]23Jehoash^[e] was seven years old when he began to reign.

2 Kings 11 Commentary

Chapter 11

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)

Verses 1-12 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.

Verses 13-16 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.

Verses 17-21 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.

Cross References

• 1. For ver. 1-3, see 2 Chronicles 22:10-12
• 2. 2 Kings 8:26
• 3. [ver. 21; 2 Kings 12:1]
• 4. For ver. 4-20, see 2 Chronicles 23:1-21
• 5. ver. 9
• 6. ver. 19
• 7. [1 Chronicles 9:25]
• 8. [2 Chronicles 23:5]
• 9. [Numbers 27:17]
• 10. 2 Samuel 8:7; 1 Chronicles 18:7
• 11. [2 Samuel 1:10]
• 12. Exodus 25:16; Exodus 31:18; See Deuteronomy 17:18-20
• 13. 1 Samuel 10:24; 2 Samuel 16:16; 1 Kings 1:39
• 14. 2 Kings 23:3; [2 Chronicles 34:31]
• 15. 1 Kings 1:34
• 16. See Genesis 44:13
• 17. [Joshua 24:25]
• 18. 2 Samuel 5:3
• 19. 2 Kings 10:21, 23, 26
• 20. [Deuteronomy 12:3]
• 21. ver. 4
• 22. ver. 6; [2 Chronicles 23:20]
• 23. For ch. 11:21 - 12:15, see 2 Chronciles 24:1-4

Footnotes

• [a]. Compare 2 Chronicles 22:11; Hebrew lacks and she put
• [b]. Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate (compare 2 Chronicles 22:11) she
• [c]. The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
• [d]. Ch 12:1 in Hebrew
• [e]. Jehoash is another spelling of Joash (son of Ahaziah) as in verse 2

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 11

This chapter relates how that Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, being hid and preserved, when his grandmother murdered all the seed royal, after six years was produced, 2Ki 11:1-3, when Jehoiada the priest set a sufficient guard about him, and the king's house, and anointed him king, 2Ki 11:4-12, and Athaliah his grandmother, who had reigned six years, was put to death by the order of the priest, 2Ki 10:13-16, and then a covenant was made between the Lord, and the king, and the people, and between the king and the people; and he was placed on the throne, to the satisfaction of the people, and the quiet thereof, 2Ki 10:17-21.