The Second Book of the Kings

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- Chapter 11 -

(2 Chronicles 22:10–12)

Truly, Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, seeing that her son was dead, rose up and put to death all the royal offspring.

But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, the sister of Ahaziah, taking Jehoash, the son of Ahaziah, stole him away from the midst of the sons of the king who were being killed, out of the bedroom, with his nurse. And she hid him from the face of Athaliah, so that he would not be killed.

And he was with her for six years, hidden in the house of the Lord. But Athaliah reigned over the land.

Joash Anointed King of Judah

(2 Chronicles 23:1–11)

Then, in the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for and took centurions and soldiers, and he brought them to himself in the temple of the Lord. And he formed a pact with them. And taking an oath with them in the house of the Lord, he revealed to them the son of the king.

And he commanded them, saying: “This is the word that you must do.

Let one third part of you enter on the Sabbath, and keep watch on the house of the king. And let one third part be at the gate of Sur. And let one third part be at the gate behind the dwelling place of the shield bearers. And you shall keep the watch on the house of Mesha.

Yet truly, let two parts of you, all who depart on the Sabbath, keep watch over the house of the Lord concerning the king.

And you shall surround him, having weapons in your hands. But if anyone will have entered the precinct of the temple, let him be killed. And you shall be with the king, entering and departing.”

And the centurions acted in accord with all the things that Jehoiada, the priest, had instructed them. And taking each one of their men who would enter on the Sabbath, with those who would depart on the Sabbath, they went to Jehoiada, the priest.

And he gave to them the spears and weapons of king David, which were in the house of the Lord.

And they stood, each one having his weapons in his hand, before the right side of the temple, all the way to the left side of the altar and of the shrine, surrounding the king.

And he led forth the son of the king. And he placed the diadem on him, and the testimony. And they made him king, and they anointed him. And clapping their hands, they said: “The king lives!”(a)

The Death of Athaliah

(2 Chronicles 23:12–15)

Then Athaliah heard the sound of the people running. And entering to the crowd at the temple of the Lord,

she saw the king standing upon a tribunal, according to custom, and the singers and trumpets near him, and all the people of the land rejoicing and sounding the trumpets. And she tore her garments, and she cried out: “Conspiracy! Conspiracy!”(b)

(c)

But Jehoiada gave orders to the centurions who were over the army, and he said to them: “Lead her away, beyond the precinct of the temple. And whoever will have followed her, let him be struck with the sword.” For the priest had said, “Do not allow her to be killed in the temple of the Lord.”

And they laid hands on her. And they pushed her through the way by which horses enter, beside the palace. And she was killed there.

Jehoiada Restores the Worship of the LORD

(2 Chronicles 23:16–21)

Then Jehoiada formed a covenant between the Lord, and the king and the people, so that they would be the people of the Lord; and between the king and the people.

And all the people of the land entered the temple of Baal, and they tore down his altars, and they thoroughly crushed the statues. Also, they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, before the altar. And the priest placed guards in the house of the Lord.

And he took the centurions, and the legions of the Cherethites and Pelethites, and all the people of the land, and together they led the king from the house of the Lord. And they went by way of the gate of the shield bearers into the palace. And he sat upon the throne of the kings.

And all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quieted. But Athaliah was slain with the sword at the house of the king.

Now Jehoash was seven years old when he had begun to reign.

Footnotes

(a)11:12 The testimony:The book of the law.(Challoner)

(b)11:14 A tribunal is a seat of judgment; but notice that the king was standing, not sitting on the seat of judgment. He had to stand because he was but a young boy, standing where an adult king would be sitting.(Conte)

(2 Chronicles 22:10–12)

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

But 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 who were slain, even him and his nurse, and put them in the bedroom; and they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not slain.

He was with her hidden in the LORD’s house six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.

Joash Anointed King of Judah

(2 Chronicles 23:1–11)

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 LORD’s house; and he made a covenant with them, and made a covenant with them in the LORD’s house, and showed them the king’s son.

He commanded them, saying, “This is what you must do: a third of you, who come in on the Sabbath, shall be keepers of the watch of the king’s house;

a third of you shall be at the gate Sur; and a third of you at the gate behind the guard. So you shall keep the watch of the house, and be a barrier.

The two companies of you, even all who go out on the Sabbath, shall keep the watch of the LORD’s house around the king.

You shall surround the king, every man with his weapons in his hand; and he who comes within the ranks, let him be slain. Be with the king when he goes out, and when he comes in.”

The captains over hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded; and they each took his men, those who were to come in on the Sabbath with those who were to go out on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.

The priest delivered to the captains over hundreds the spears and shields that had been King David’s, which were in the LORD’s house.

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, around the king.

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

The Death of Athaliah

(2 Chronicles 23:12–15)

When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the LORD’s house;

and she looked, and behold, the king stood by the pillar, as the tradition was, with the captains and the trumpets by the king; and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!”

Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds who were set over the army, and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks. Kill anyone who follows her with the sword.” For the priest said, “Don’t let her be slain in the LORD’s house.”

So they seized her; and she went by the way of the horses’ entry to the king’s house, and she was slain there.

Jehoiada Restores the Worship of the LORD

(2 Chronicles 23:16–21)

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

All the people of the land went to the house of Baal, and broke it down. They broke his altars and his images in pieces thoroughly, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. The priest appointed officers over the LORD’s house.

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 LORD’s house, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king’s house. He sat on the throne of the kings.

So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. They had slain Athaliah with the sword at the king’s house.

Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.