2 Kingschapter 11

The Death of Athaliah — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain

A.A baby hidden six years in the house of Jehovahvv. 1-3

1 When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs. 2 But Jehosheba daughter of King Joram, the sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the sons of the king who were being murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah, and he was not killed. 3 And Joash remained hidden with his nurse in the house of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

B.Jehoiada arms the guard and crowns a seven-year-oldvv. 4-12

4 Then in the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards, and had them brought into the house of the LORD. There he made a covenant with them and put them under oath. He showed them the king’s son 5 and commanded them, “This is what you are to do: A third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath shall guard the royal palace, 6 a third shall be at the gate of Sur, and a third at the gate behind the guards. You are to take turns guarding the temple— 7 the two divisions that would go off duty on the Sabbath are to guard the house of the LORD for the king. 8 You must surround the king with weapons in hand, and anyone who approaches the ranks must be put to death. You must stay close to the king wherever he goes.” 9 So the commanders of hundreds did everything that Jehoiada the priest had ordered. Each of them took his men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 Then the priest gave to the commanders of hundreds the spears and shields of King David from the house of the LORD. 11 And the guards stood with weapons in hand surrounding the king by the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple. 12 Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, presented him with the Testimony, and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and declared, “Long live the king!”

C.Treason! Treason! — Athaliah taken out by the horse gatevv. 13-16

13 When Athaliah heard the noise from the guards and the people, she went out to the people in the house of the LORD. 14 And she looked out and saw the king standing by the pillar, according to the custom. The officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason! Treason!” 15 And Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the house of the LORD.” 16 So they seized Athaliah as she reached the horses’ entrance to the palace grounds, and there she was put to death.

D.A covenant made, and the house of Baal broken downvv. 17-21

17 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people that they would be the LORD’s people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people. 18 So all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. And Jehoiada the priest posted guards for the house of the LORD. 19 He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD and entered the royal palace by way of the Gate of the Guards. Then Joash took his seat on the royal throne, 20 and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been put to the sword at the royal palace. 21 Joash was seven years old when he became king.

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Chapter summary

Athaliah sees her son dead and destroys all the seed royal.

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Athaliah sees her son dead and destroys all the seed royal. The one moment when the promise to David hangs by a single thread. That thread is Joash, an infant stolen away by Jehosheba and hidden with his nurse in the house of Jehovah six years while Athaliah reigns. In the seventh year Jehoiada the priest takes the captains into covenant and arms them with king David's spears and shields from the temple. The boy is brought out, given the crown and the testimony, anointed and clapped to: 'Long live the king.' Athaliah tears her clothes and cries 'Treason! treason!' and is put to death outside the house. Then a covenant, and Baal's house torn down.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary and John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament.

Context

History · Jeremiah — 2 Kings overview

A. 1–3 A baby hidden six years in the house of Jehovah
B. 4–12 Jehoiada arms the guard and crowns a seven-year-old
C. 13–16 Treason! Treason! — Athaliah taken out by the horse gate
D. 17–21 A covenant made, and the house of Baal broken down

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

2 Kings 116 verses
- 2 Kings 11:4Then in the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards, and had them brought into the house of the LORD. There he made a covenant with them and put them under oath. He showed them the king’s son
- 2 Kings 11:5and commanded them, “This is what you are to do: A third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath shall guard the royal palace,
- 2 Kings 11:9So the commanders of hundreds did everything that Jehoiada the priest had ordered. Each of them took his men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—and came to Jehoiada the priest.
- 2 Kings 11:10Then the priest gave to the commanders of hundreds the spears and shields of King David from the house of the LORD.
- 2 Kings 11:15And Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the house of the LORD.”
- 2 Kings 11:19He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD and entered the royal palace by way of the Gate of the Guards. Then Joash took his seat on the royal throne,
- Read 2 Kings 11 →
2 Chronicles 236 verses
- 2 Chronicles 23:4This is what you are to do: A third of you priests and Levites who come on duty on the Sabbath shall keep watch at the doors,
- 2 Chronicles 23:5a third shall be at the royal palace, and a third at the Foundation Gate, while all the others are in the courtyards of the house of the LORD.
- 2 Chronicles 23:6No one is to enter the house of the LORD except the priests and those Levites who serve; they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the people are to obey the requirement of the LORD.
- 2 Chronicles 23:7The Levites must surround the king with weapons in hand, and anyone who enters the temple must be put to death. You must stay close to the king wherever he goes.”
- 2 Chronicles 23:8So the Levites and all Judah did everything that Jehoiada the priest had ordered. Each of them took his men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—for Jehoiada the priest had not released any of the divisions.
- 2 Chronicles 23:9Then Jehoiada the priest gave to the commanders of hundreds the spears and the large and small shields of King David that were in the house of God.
- Read 2 Chronicles 23 →
2 Chronicles 223 verses
- 2 Chronicles 22:10When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs of the house of Judah.
- 2 Chronicles 22:11But Jehoshabeath daughter of King Jehoram took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the sons of the king who were being murdered, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Because Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram and the wife of Jehoiada the priest, was Ahaziah’s sister, she hid Joash from Athaliah so that she could not kill him.
- 2 Chronicles 22:12And Joash remained hidden with them in the house of God for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.
- Read 2 Chronicles 22 →
1 Chronicles 262 verses
- 1 Chronicles 26:13They cast lots for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.
- 1 Chronicles 26:26This Shelomith and his brothers were in charge of all the treasuries for the things dedicated by King David, by the heads of families who were the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and by the army commanders.
- Read 1 Chronicles 26 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

2 Chronicles 151 verse
- 2 Chronicles 15:12Then they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and soul.
- Read 2 Chronicles 15 →
Jeremiah 411 verse
- Jeremiah 41:1In the seventh month, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family and one of the king’s chief officers, came with ten men to Gedaliah son of Ahikam at Mizpah, and they ate a meal together there.
- Read Jeremiah 41 →
2 Kings 251 verse
- 2 Kings 25:25In the seventh month, however, Ishmael son of Nethaniah, the son of Elishama, who was a member of the royal family, came with ten men and struck down and killed Gedaliah, along with the Judeans and Chaldeans who were with him at Mizpah.
- Read 2 Kings 25 →
Isaiah 71 verse
- Isaiah 7:6‘Let us invade Judah, terrorize it, and divide it among ourselves. Then we can install the son of Tabeal over it as king.’
- Read Isaiah 7 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.