1 And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.
2 But 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.
3 And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land.
4 And 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 showed them the king's son.
5 And 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;
6 And 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.
7 And 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.
8 And 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.
9 And 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.
10 And to the captains over hundreds did the priest give king David's spears and shields, that were in the temple of the LORD.
11 And 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.
12 And 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.
13 And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the LORD.
14 And 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.
15 But 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.
16 And 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.
17 And 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.
18 And 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.
19 And 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.
20 And 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.
21 Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign.
1 And when Athaliah H6271 the mother H517 of Ahaziah H274 saw H7200 that her son H1121 was dead, H4191 she arose H6965 and destroyed H6 all the seed H2233 royal. H4467
2 But Jehosheba, H3089 the daughter H1323 of king H4428 Joram, H3141 sister H269 of Ahaziah, H274 took H3947 Joash H3101 the son H1121 of Ahaziah, H274 and stole H1589 him from among H8432 the king's H4428 sons H1121 which were slain; H4191 and they hid H5641 him, even him and his nurse, H3243 in the bedchamber H2315 H4296 from H6440 Athaliah, H6271 so that he was not slain. H4191
3 And he was with her hid H2244 in the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 six H8337 years. H8141 And Athaliah H6271 did reign H4427 over the land. H776
4 And the seventh H7637 year H8141 Jehoiada H3077 sent H7971 and fetched H3947 the rulers H8269 over hundreds, H3967 with the captains H3746 and the guard, H7323 and brought H935 them to him into the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and made H3772 a covenant H1285 with them, and took an oath H7650 of them in the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and shewed H7200 them the king's H4428 son. H1121
5 And he commanded H6680 them, saying, H559 This is the thing H1697 that ye shall do; H6213 A third part H7992 of you that enter in H935 on the sabbath H7676 shall even be keepers H8104 of the watch H4931 of the king's H4428 house; H1004
6 And a third part H7992 shall be at the gate H8179 of Sur; H5495 and a third part H7992 at the gate H8179 behind H310 the guard: H7323 so shall ye keep H8104 the watch H4931 of the house, H1004 that it be not broken down. H4535
7 And two H8147 parts H3027 of all you that go forth H3318 on the sabbath, H7676 even they shall keep H8104 the watch H4931 of the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 about H413 the king. H4428
8 And ye shall compass H5362 the king H4428 round about, H5439 every man H376 with his weapons H3627 in his hand: H3027 and he that cometh H935 within the ranges, H7713 let him be slain: H4191 and be ye with the king H4428 as he goeth out H3318 and as he cometh in. H935
9 And the captains H8269 over the hundreds H3967 did H6213 according to all things that Jehoiada H3077 the priest H3548 commanded: H6680 and they took H3947 every man H376 his men H582 that were to come in H935 on the sabbath, H7676 with them that should go out H3318 on the sabbath, H7676 and came H935 to Jehoiada H3077 the priest. H3548
10 And to the captains H8269 over hundreds H3967 did the priest H3548 give H5414 king H4428 David's H1732 spears H2595 and shields, H7982 that were in the temple H1004 of the LORD. H3068
11 And the guard H7323 stood, H5975 every man H376 with his weapons H3627 in his hand, H3027 round about H5439 the king, H4428 from the right H3233 corner H3802 of the temple H1004 to the left H8042 corner H3802 of the temple, H1004 along by the altar H4196 and the temple. H1004
12 And he brought forth H3318 the king's H4428 son, H1121 and put H5414 the crown H5145 upon him, and gave him the testimony; H5715 and they made him king, H4427 and anointed H4886 him; and they clapped H5221 their hands, H3709 and said, H559 God save H2421 the king. H4428
13 And when Athaliah H6271 heard H8085 the noise H6963 of the guard H7323 and of the people, H5971 she came H935 to the people H5971 into the temple H1004 of the LORD. H3068
14 And when she looked, H7200 behold, the king H4428 stood H5975 by a pillar, H5982 as the manner H4941 was, and the princes H8269 and the trumpeters H2689 by the king, H4428 and all the people H5971 of the land H776 rejoiced, H8056 and blew H8628 with trumpets: H2689 and Athaliah H6271 rent H7167 her clothes, H899 and cried, H7121 Treason, H7195 Treason. H7195
15 But Jehoiada H3077 the priest H3548 commanded H6680 the captains H8269 of the hundreds, H3967 the officers H6485 of the host, H2428 and said H559 unto them, Have her forth H3318 without H1004 the ranges: H7713 and him that followeth H935 H310 her kill H4191 with the sword. H2719 For the priest H3548 had said, H559 Let her not be slain H4191 in the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068
16 And they laid H7760 hands H3027 on her; and she went H935 by the way H1870 by the which the horses H5483 came H3996 into the king's H4428 house: H1004 and there was she slain. H4191
17 And Jehoiada H3077 made H3772 a covenant H1285 between the LORD H3068 and the king H4428 and the people, H5971 that they should be the LORD'S H3068 people; H5971 between the king H4428 also and the people. H5971
18 And all the people H5971 of the land H776 went H935 into the house H1004 of Baal, H1168 and brake it down; H5422 his altars H4196 and his images H6754 brake they in pieces H7665 thoroughly, H3190 and slew H2026 Mattan H4977 the priest H3548 of Baal H1168 before H6440 the altars. H4196 And the priest H3548 appointed H7760 officers H6485 H6486 over the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068
19 And he took H3947 the rulers H8269 over hundreds, H3967 and the captains, H3746 and the guard, H7323 and all the people H5971 of the land; H776 and they brought down H3381 the king H4428 from the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 and came H935 by the way H1870 of the gate H8179 of the guard H7323 to the king's H4428 house. H1004 And he sat H3427 on the throne H3678 of the kings. H4428
20 And all the people H5971 of the land H776 rejoiced, H8055 and the city H5892 was in quiet: H8252 and they slew H4191 Athaliah H6271 with the sword H2719 beside the king's H4428 house. H1004
21 Seven H7651 years H8141 old H1121 was Jehoash H3060 when he began to reign. H4427
1 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.
2 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 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;
3 And he was with her hid in the house of Jehovah six years. And Athaliah reigned over the land.
4 And 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.
5 And 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;
6 And 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.
7 And 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.
8 And 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.
9 And 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.
10 And 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.
11 And 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.
12 Then 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.
13 And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard `and of' the people, she came to the people into the house of Jehovah:
14 and 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!
15 And 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.
16 So 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.
17 And 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.
18 And 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.
19 And 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.
20 So 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.
21 Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.
1 And Athaliah `is' mother of Ahaziah, and she hath seen that her son `is' dead, and she riseth, and destroyeth all the seed of the kingdom;
2 and Jehosheba daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, taketh Joash son of Ahaziah, and stealeth him out of the midst of the sons of the king who are put to death, him and his nurse, in the inner part of the bed-chambers, and they hide him from the presence of Athaliah, and he hath not been put to death,
3 and he is with her, in the house of Jehovah, hiding himself, six years, and Athaliah is reigning over the land.
4 And in the seventh year hath Jehoiada sent and taketh the heads of the hundreds, of the executioners and of the runners, and bringeth them in unto him, to the house of Jehovah, and maketh with them a covenant, and causeth them to swear in the house of Jehovah, and sheweth them the son of the king,
5 and commandeth them, saying, `This `is' the thing that ye do; The third of you `are' going in on the sabbath, and keepers of the charge of the house of the king,
6 and the third `is' at the gate of Sur, and the third at the gate behind the runners, and ye have kept the charge of the house pulled down;
7 and two parts of you, all going out on the sabbath -- they have kept the charge of the house of Jehovah about the king,
8 and ye have compassed the king round about, each with his weapons in his hand, and he who is coming unto the ranges is put to death; and be ye with the king in his going out and in his coming in.'
9 And the heads of the hundreds do according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded, and take each his men going in on the sabbath, with those going out on the sabbath, and come in unto Jehoiada the priest,
10 and the priest giveth to the heads of the hundreds the spears and the shields that king David had, that `are' in the house of Jehovah.
11 And the runners stand, each with his weapons in his hand, from the right shoulder of the house unto the left shoulder of the house, by the altar and by the house, by the king round about;
12 and he bringeth out the son of the king, and putteth on him the crown, and the testimony, and they make him king, and anoint him, and smite the hand, and say, `Let the king live.'
13 And Athaliah heareth the voice of the runners `and' of the people, and she cometh in unto the people, to the house of Jehovah,
14 and looketh, and lo, the king is standing by the pillar, according to the ordinance, and the heads, and the trumpets, `are' by the king, and all the people of the land are rejoicing, and blowing with trumpets, and Athaliah rendeth her garments, and calleth, `Conspiracy! conspiracy!'
15 And Jehoiada the priest commandeth the heads of the hundreds, inspectors of the force, and saith unto them, `Bring her out unto the outside of the ranges, and him who is going after her, put to death by the sword:' for the priest had said, `Let her not be put to death in the house of Jehovah.'
16 And they make for her sides, and she entereth the way of the entering in of the horses to the house of the king, and is put to death there.
17 And Jehoiada maketh the covenant between Jehovah and the king and the people, to be for a people to Jehovah, and between the king and the people.
18 And all the people of the land go in to the house of Baal, and break it down, its altars and its images they have thoroughly broken, and Mattan priest of Baal they have slain before the altars; and the priest setteth inspectors over the house of Jehovah,
19 and taketh the heads of the hundreds, and the executioners, and the runners, and all the people of the land, and they bring down the king from the house of Jehovah, and come by the way of the gate of the runners, to the house of the king, and he sitteth on the throne of the kings.
20 And all the people of the land rejoice, and the city `is' quiet, and Athaliah they have put to death by the sword in the house of the king;
21 a son of seven years is Jehoash in his reigning.
1 And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she rose up and destroyed all the royal seed.
2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, the sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, [and hid] him and his nurse in the bedchamber; and they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not slain.
3 And he was with her hid in the house of Jehovah six years. And Athaliah reigned over the land.
4 And in the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the captains of the hundreds, of the bodyguard and the couriers, and brought them to him into the house of Jehovah, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of Jehovah, and shewed them the king's son.
5 And he commanded them saying, This is the thing which 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;
6 and a third part shall be at the gate of Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the couriers; and ye shall keep the watch of the house for a defence.
7 And the two parts of you, all those that go forth on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of Jehovah about the king.
8 And ye shall encompass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and he that comes within the ranks shall be put to death; and ye shall be with the king when he goes out and when he comes in.
9 And the captains of the 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 them that were to go forth on the sabbath, and they came to Jehoiada the priest.
10 And the priest gave to the captains of the hundreds king David's spears and shields which were in the house of Jehovah.
11 And the couriers stood by the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, toward the altar and the house.
12 And 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, Long live the king!
13 And Athaliah heard the noise of the couriers [and] of the people; and she came to the people into the house of Jehovah.
14 And she looked, and behold, the king stood on the dais, according to the custom, and the princes and the trumpeters were by the king; and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets. And Athaliah rent her garments and cried, Conspiracy! Conspiracy!
15 And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds that were set over the host, and said to them, Lead her forth without the ranks; and whosoever follows her, slay with the sword; for the priest said, Let her not be put to death in the house of Jehovah.
16 And they made way for her, and she went by the way by which the horses entered the king's house, and there was she put to death.
17 And Jehoiada made a covenant between Jehovah and the king and the people, that they should be the people of Jehovah; and between the king and the people.
18 Then all the people of the land went into the house of Baal, and broke it down: his altars and his images they broke in pieces completely, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of Jehovah.
19 And he took the captains of the hundreds, and the bodyguard, and the couriers, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from the house of Jehovah, and came by the way through the gate of the couriers into the king's house. And he sat upon the throne of the kings.
20 And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet; and they had slain Athaliah with the sword [beside] the king's house.
21 Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.
1 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.
2 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 bedchamber; and they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not slain;
3 He was with her hid in the house of Yahweh six years. Athaliah reigned over the land.
4 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 Yahweh; and he made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of Yahweh, and shown them the king's son.
5 He commanded them, saying, This is the thing that you shall do: a third part of you, who come in on the Sabbath, shall be keepers of the watch of the king's house;
6 A third part shall be at the gate Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall you keep the watch of the house, and be a barrier.
7 The two companies of you, even all who go forth on the Sabbath, shall keep the watch of the house of Yahweh about the king.
8 You shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and he who comes within the ranks, let him be slain: and be you with the king when he goes out, and when he comes in.
9 The captains over hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded; and they took every man 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.
10 The priest delivered to the captains over hundreds the spears and shields that had been king David's, which were in the house of Yahweh.
11 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.
12 Then he brought out the king's son, 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.
13 When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard [and of] the people, she came to the people into the house of Yahweh:
14 and 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 tore her clothes, and cried, Treason! treason!
15 Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds who were set over the host, and said to them, Have her forth between the ranks; and him who follows her kill with the sword. For the priest said, Don't let her be slain in the house of Yahweh.
16 So 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.
17 Jehoiada made a covenant between Yahweh and the king and the people, that they should be Yahweh's people; between the king also and the people.
18 All the people of the land went to the house of Baal, and broke it down; his altars and his images broke they in pieces thoroughly, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. The priest appointed officers over the house of Yahweh.
19 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 Yahweh, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king's house. He sat on the throne of the kings.
20 So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. Athaliah they had slain with the sword at the king's house.
21 Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.
1 Now when Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she had all the rest of the seed of the kingdom put to death.
2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, secretly took Joash, the son of Ahaziah, with the woman who took care of him, away from among the king's sons who were put to death, and put him in the bedroom; and they kept him safe from Athaliah, so that he was not put to death.
3 And for six years she kept him safe in the house of the Lord, while Athaliah was ruling over the land.
4 Then in the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the captains of hundreds of the Carians, and the armed men, and taking them into the house of the Lord, made an agreement with them, and made them take an oath in the house of the Lord, and let them see the king's son.
5 And he gave them orders, saying, This is what you are to do: the third part of you, who come in on the Sabbath and keep the watch of the king's house,
6 ...
7 And the two divisions of you, who go out on the Sabbath and keep the watch of the house of the Lord,
8 Will make a circle round the king, every man being armed; and whoever comes inside your lines is to be put to death; keep with the king, when he goes out and when he comes in.
9 And the captains of hundreds did as Jehoiada the priest gave them orders; every one took with him his men, those who came in and those who went out on the Sabbath, and they came in to Jehoiada the priest.
10 And the priest gave to the captains of hundreds the spears and body-covers which had been King David's, and which were kept in the house of the Lord.
11 Then the armed men took up their positions, every man with his instruments of war in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left, round about the altar and the house.
12 Then he made the king's son come out, and put the crown on him and the arm-bands, and made him king, and put the holy oil on him; and they all, making sounds of joy with their hands, said, Long life to the king.
13 Now Athaliah, hearing the noise made by the people, came to the people in the house of the Lord;
14 And looking, she saw the king in his regular place by the pillar, and the captains and the horns near him; and all the people of the land giving signs of joy and sounding the horns. Then Athaliah, violently parting her robes, gave a cry, saying, Broken faith, broken faith!
15 Then Jehoiada the priest gave orders to those who were placed in authority over the army, saying, Take her outside the lines, and let anyone who goes after her be put to death with the sword, for he said, Let her not be put to death in the house of the Lord.
16 So they put their hands on her, and she went to the king's house by the doorway of the horses, and there she was put to death.
17 And Jehoiada made an agreement between the Lord and the king and the people, that they would be the Lord's people; and in the same way between the king and the people.
18 Then all the people of the land went to the house of Baal and had it pulled down: its altars and images were all broken to bits, and Mattan, the priest of Baal, they put to death before the altars. And the priest put overseers over the Lord's house.
19 Then he took the captains of hundreds, and the Carians, and the armed men, and all the people of the land; and they came down with the king from the house of the Lord, through the doorway of the armed men, to the king's house. And he took his place on the seat of the kings.
20 So all the people of the land were glad, and the town was quiet; and they had put Athaliah to death with the sword at the king's house.
21 And Jehoash was seven years old when he became king.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » John Gill's Exposition of the Bible » Commentary on 2 Kings 11
Commentary on 2 Kings 11 John Gill's Exposition of the Bible
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, 2 Kings 11:1, when Jehoiada the priest set a sufficient guard about him, and the king's house, and anointed him king, 2 Kings 11:4, and Athaliah his grandmother, who had reigned six years, was put to death by the order of the priest, 2 Kings 10:13, 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, 2 Kings 10:17.
And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead,.... Who was the daughter of Ahab, and granddaughter of Omri 2 Kings 8:18, she arose:
and destroyed all the seed royal; that were left, for many had been slain already; the sons of Jehoshaphat, the brothers of Joram, were slain by him, 2 Chronicles 21:4 and all Joram's sons, excepting Ahaziah, were slain by the Arabians, 2 Chronicles 22:1, and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah were slain by Jehu, 2 Kings 11:8, these therefore seem to be the children of Ahaziah, the grandchildren of this brutish woman, whom she massacred out of her ambition of rule and government, which perhaps she was intrusted with while her son went to visit Joram king of Israel; other reasons are by some assigned, but this seems to be the chief. For the same reason Laodice, who had six sons by Ariarathes king of the Cappadocians, poisoned five of them; the youngest escaping her hands, was murdered by the peopleF24Justin. e Trogo, l. 37. c. 1. , as this woman also was.
But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram,.... Not by Athaliah, but another woman; for an high priest, as her husband was, would not have married the daughter of such an idolatrous woman, nor would she have married her to him:
sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons which were slain: among whom he lay; either being cast there by the murderer, or her associates, supposed to be dead, or by his nurse, that he might be thought to be so, who acquainting his aunt with it, went and privately took him away:
and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain; that is, Jehosheba and her husband hid him and his nurse in a bedchamber; or "chamber of beds"F25בחדר המטות "in cubiculo lectorum", Pagninus, Montanus. So Sept. &c. , in which there were more beds than one; one of the chambers of the priests and Levites in the temple, that is, which were adjoining to it; for into the sanctuary itself it was not usual to bring bedsF26T. Bab. Tamid, c. 1. fol. 26. 2. ; wherefore
the house of the Lord, in the next verse, must be understood largely as including all the appendages of it.
And he was with her hid in the house of the Lord six years,.... In the temple; not in the holy of holies, as Jarchi, but in a chamber of the priests and Levites, of which there were several in a temple, as Kimchi, and others; and the husband of Jehosheba, being high priest, had one of them for his own use; and here the child was hid six years, so that he was but a year old when he was first taken and preserved, for he was made king when seven years of age, 2 Kings 11:21,
and Athaliah did reign over the land; the only instance we hear of a woman reigning in Israel, and this was not by right, but by usurpation; and so, according to the Jewish canons, a woman might not rule; which thus runsF1Maimon. Hilchot Melachim, c. 1. sect. 5. , they do not set a woman in the kingdom, as it is said, Deuteronomy 17:15, "a king over them", not a queen; and so, in all places of power and authority in Israel, they put in them none but a man.
And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard,.... This was the husband of Jehosheba, who was high priest, 2 Chronicles 22:11 these
rulers over hundreds were not those appointed over the people for civil affairs, as by the advice of Jethro, but over the priests and Levites in their courses; five of whom are mentioned by name, and were employed in gathering together the Levites, and the chief of the fathers, throughout all the cities of Judah, 2 Chronicles 23:1, and the "captains" here are the heads of the fathers there, who were the heads of the courses they were sent to gather; and the "guard", those of the late king, whom Athaliah had turned out of their post, and took in others in their room, unless rather the temple guard is meant:
and brought them to him into the house of the Lord; the temple, that part of it where was the court of the priests and Levites:
and made a covenant with them; to join with him, assist him, and stand by him in the restoration of the king, and the reformation of the kingdom:
and took an oath of them in the house of the Lord; to keep secrecy, and be faithful to him:
and showed them the king's son; for the truth of which he could produce his wife, the sister of the late king, and also the nurse of this child with him.
And he commanded them, saying, this is the thing that ye shall do,.... These were the rulers over hundreds among the priests and Levites, and which he, as high priest, could command, and whom he could convene without suspicion, being such as he had a connection with, and were unarmed men: and for the better understanding of what follows, it should be observed, that the priests, in the times of David, were divided into twenty four courses, which were by turns to serve a week in the temple; the course that came in entered when the sabbath began, and that which went out went out when it ended, and each course consisted of a thousand men: now with respect to both these courses, both that which went in and that which went out, Jehoiada gave them the following charge:
a third part of you that enter in on the sabbath; on the beginning of it, to do duty in the temple the week following:
shall even be keepers of the watch of the king's house, which, according to some, was that part of the temple where the king was hid and brought up, supposed to be the north part of it: or rather these were set at the north gate of the temple, which led to the royal palace, lest any should rush out of that, and kill the king.
And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur,.... Generally thought by the Jews to be the eastern gate, so called, as they say, because such as were defiled were bid to depart, or go back, as this word signifies, and not enter the temple; it is called "the gate of the foundation", 2 Chronicles 23:5 because, according to Ben Gersom, here the foundation of the sanctuary was first laid; it is saidF2T. Hieros. Yoma apud Beckium in Targ. in 2 Chron. xxiii. 5. to have five other names besides these:
and a third part at the gate behind the guard; the temple guard, which had a captain of them, Acts 4:1 this gate is supposed to be the same with "sippim", or the threshold gate, 2 Chronicles 23:4 and to be the southern one:
so shall ye keep the watch of the house, that it be not broken down; guard the temple, that none break or rush into it, of Athaliah's party.
And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath,.... The course that went out of service at the end of the sabbath; these were not suffered, not any of them, to go into the country, but were detained for the present purpose, and divided into two parts:
even they shall keep the watch of the house of the Lord about the king, these were placed in the temple where the king was, or where he should be brought forth, and be a guard on his right and left; this interpretation seems to be agreeably to the order of the text here, and is the sense of Jarchi; but there is this objection to it, that, by such a distribution of both courses, no provision is made for the services of the temple; wherefore Dr. LightfootF3Prospect of the Temple, c. 20. divides them into six parts, each into three, one third of the course that came in for service, the other to keep the watch at the king's house, and the other third at the gate Sur; and the course that went out, one third of them was placed at the gate behind the guard, and the other two to keep the watch of the house for the king's safety; but according to the account in 2 Chronicles 23:4, there were but three ranks or orders of them in all; wherefore the sense of Kimchi, Ben Gersom, and Abarbinel, seems most agreeable, that the first consisted of those that went in on the sabbath, not of all, but half of them, the other half being employed in the service of the sanctuary; and the other two of the course that went out, even all of them, they being entirely at leisure, who were divided into two parts, and disposed of as above.
And ye shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand,.... Afterwards given them, 2 Kings 11:10,
and he that cometh within the ranges, let him be slain; any strange man that was not of them, that came into the ranks in which they were formed, was to be put to death as a spy, who might go and inform the queen what was doing; according to Jarchi, the word for "ranges" signifies the place through which the king went from his own house to the house of GodF4Vid. David. de Pomis Lexic. fol. 205. 3. ; and here it seems the guards were placed:
and be ye with the king as he goeth out and as he cometh in when brought forth to be crowned and anointed, and returned again.
And the captains over the hundreds did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest commanded,.... Of whom see 2 Kings 11:4.
and they took every man his men; everyone his hundred:
that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that should go out on the sabbath; both the courses, of which see 2 Kings 11:5.
and came to Jehoiada the priest; with the said courses, at least as many of them as were to be employed in the present service.
And to the captains over hundreds did the priest give King David's spears and shields, that were in the temple of the Lord. Such as he had taken in war from his enemies, and had dedicated for the service of the temple, to defend it on occasion, and laid up there; those the priests gave to the captains, to arm their men with, who came unarmed, and so unsuspected, and in this way might be armed without being seen and known.
And the guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, round about the king,.... As ordered, 2 Kings 11:8.
from the right corner of the temple to the left corner of the temple from the northeast to the southeast:
along by the altar and the temple: the altar of burnt offering, which stood in the court.
And he brought forth the king's son,.... Out of the apartment in the temple where he had been brought up:
and put the crown upon him; the crown royal, which seems to have been kept in the temple:
and gave him the testimony; the book of the law, which he was to read in all his days, and according to it govern the people; and which was a testimony of the will of God both to him and them: Kimchi and Ben Melech interpret it of royal garments put upon him:
and they made him king, and anointed him; proclaimed and declared him king, and anointed him, for the confirmation of it, because of the pretension Athaliah made to the kingdom; otherwise, as the Jewish writers say, the son of a king was not anointed; and hence, they say, it was, that Solomon was anointed, because of the claim of Adonijah:
and they clapped their hands; in token of joy:
and said, God save the king; or, "let the king live"; or, "may he prosper", as the Targum; may health and prosperity attend him in his government. In 2 Chronicles 23:11, it is said; "Jehoiada and his sons anointed him", and said those words; among whom must be Zechariah, whom this king afterwards slew, which was an instance of great ingratitude, 2 Chronicles 24:20.
And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard, and of the people,.... Their acclamations and shouts at the coronation of the king; for by this time the people had some knowledge of the affair, and ran, and came flocking to see the new king, and express their joy on this occasion, and whom they greatly praised, 2 Chronicles 23:12.
she came to the people into the temple of the Lord; the outward court, where the people were assembled; and she seems to come alone, unattended, in great surprise and consternation, and was admitted to pass the guards, being the queen, and alone, and perhaps by the particular order of Jehoiada, though contrary to the general orders he gave, 2 Kings 11:8.
And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was,.... Of kings, when they came into the temple on any occasion, civil or religious, therefore it is called his pillar, 2 Chronicles 23:13, some think this was the brazen scaffold erected by Solomon, 2 Chronicles 6:13, though VitringaF5Proleghom. de Synagog. Vet. c. 4. p. 32. and Bishop Patrick suppose it to be the post of the east gate of the inner court, from Ezekiel 46:2, according to Jacob LeoF6Apud Wagenseil. Sotah, p. 680. , this was the royal throne in the court of the Israelites, near the high or upper gate, on a marble pillar, where the kings of the house of David sat, when they came into the sanctuary to see the Lord in the second temple; this throne was like an high tower, standing upon two pillars, each twenty cubits high, and their circumference twelve; here sat Joash, and Hezekiah, and Josiah; however, Athaliah saw Jehoash with the crown on his head, and in the place where kings used to sit or stand:
and the princes and the trumpeters by the king; the rulers of the courses of the priests, and the Levites, blowing the trumpets:
and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets; it is added, in 2 Chronicles 23:13 that the singers played also on musical instruments; that were then and there assembled:
and Athaliah rent her clothes; through grief, and as one almost distracted:
and cried, treason, treason! to try if she could get any to take her part, and seize on the new king, and those that set him up.
But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host,.... Of the priests and Levites:
and said unto them, have her forth without the ranges; the ranks of the guards, which were at the gate leading to the palace, or rather "within" themF7מבית לשדרת "intra ordines", Munster, Junius, Tremellius, Piscator, Noldius, p. 79. No. 365. So Jarchi, Kimchi, Ben Gersom, & Ben Melech. ; the meaning is, that he ordered her to be had out of the court of the temple, and be put within their ranks, and enclosed by them, that her blood might not be shed in the temple, and yet not escape them:
and him that followeth her, kill with the sword: that takes her part, and offers to help and assist her, passing through the ranks after her, dispatch him at once:
for the priest had said, let her not be slain in the house of the Lord: that it might not be defiled with her blood; by which it appears that the guards had orders concerning her before, should she come to the temple, see 2 Kings 11:13.
And they laid hands on her,.... Or rather,"set a place for her',as the Targum; so Jarchi and Kimchi; made a space, opened a way for her to come out of the temple into their ranks, that she might be there taken and slain, and not in the temple:
and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the king's house; either the high road in which the horses and carriages went to the palace, or the way to the king's stables near the palace: and there was she slain; they let her go so far, which was far enough from the temple, and then they slew her.
And Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people, that they should be the Lord's people,.... Renewed the covenant between the Lord on the one part, and the king and the people on the other; assuring them, that as God had declared that he would be their God, he would yet be their God to bless and protect them, they continuing in obedience to him; and obliging them to promise that they would serve the Lord their God, and him only, and root out all idolatry from the land, and restore, and continue in, the pure worship of God:
between the king also and the people; he promising, on his part, that he would govern them according to the law of God, and protect them in their rights and properties, privileges and liberties; and they, on their part, that they would honour and obey him, and be his faithful subjects. In 2 Chronicles 23:16 Jehoiada is said to make this covenant between him, &c. which may be understood of the Lord; or if of himself, the meaning is, that it was made between him, the king and people, and the Lord.
And all the people of the land,.... That were at Jerusalem, and the parts adjacent, that came from the country, hearing what was done: went into the house of Baal; a temple of his Athaliah had built, either in Jerusalem, or near it; perhaps on the mount of Olives, called the mount of corruption, 2 Kings 23:13 from the idolatry there committed:
and brake it down, his altars and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly; made an entire destruction of them all, temple, altars, the images of Baal and other deities:
and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altar; either as he was sacrificing, or that he might be a sacrifice, or where he had fled for refuge:
and the priest appointed officers over the house of the Lord; priests to offer sacrifices, Levites to sing the praises of God, porters at the door of the temple, and watches in it, and restored the courses of the priests, and everything to its proper order, which had been neglected, or had ceased, during the usurpation of Athaliah; see 2 Chronicles 23:18.
And he took the rulers over hundreds, and the captains, and the guard,.... Of which 2 Kings 11:4 and all the people of the land; as many as were assembled together on this occasion:
and they brought down the king from the house of the Lord; the temple, which was built on an eminence:
and came by the way of the gate to the king's house; the gate of the royal palace, where the king's guards were placed, and did their duty: and he sat on the throne of the kings: where the kings of Judah used to sit, and this finished the formality of his being made king.
And all the people of the land rejoiced,.... That one of the house of David was set upon the throne, which they might fear was extinct, as it very near was; the lamp of David was almost quenched, only this single life left, from whom a line of kings proceeded, and the King Messiah; the promise of God cannot fail see Psalm 132:11, this occasioned great joy:
and the city was quiet: was very easy at, yea, pleased with, the dethroning and death of Athaliah; there was no tumult on account thereof, nor such disturbances as she occasioned in her life:
and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king's house; as related in 2 Kings 11:16 where she was buried, or what became of her carcass, is not said; some have thought she was cast into the brook Kidron, because Josephus saysF8Antiqu. l. 9. c. 7. sect. 3. Jehoiada ordered her to be had into that valley, and there slain.
Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign. Being a year old when his father was killed and having been hid six years in the temple.