2 Kings 11

2 KINGS CHAPTER 11

Athaliah Reigns in Judah

      • When Athaliah, Ahaziah’s mother, saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy all of the royal heirs. So Jehosheba, who was King Jehoram’s daughter and Ahaziah’s sister, secretly rescued Ahaziah’s son Joash from among the royal princes who were about to be killed. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom. So he was hidden from Athaliah and escaped execution. Joash remained hidden with his nurse at the house of Yahweh for six years while Athaliah ruled over the land.

        • ESV Study Bible writes, “The destruction of the house of Ahab has greatly affected the house of David: Ahaziah (of Judah) has been killed, just like Jehoram (of Israel), and a number of his relatives have suffered the same fate as Ahab’s relatives (10:12-14). Have the two houses become so identified in intermarriage (8:18, 27) that a distinction no longer exists between them? Chapters 11-12 clarify in fact the distinction remains, for David’s house survives even the assault of the wicked Queen Athaliah, a Judean ‘Jezebel.’”

        • NLT Illustrated Study Bible notes, “Athaliah, the mother of King Ahaziah of Judah, was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel and the wife of King Jehoram of Judah (8:18, 26). As queen mother she yielded powerful influence. Unfortunately, it was for evil (8:18, 27; 2 Chr 22:3-4) and included her plans to destroy the rest of the royal family (see 2 Chr 22:10)…Jehosheba was probably born to Jehoram by a wife other than Athaliah and was therefore Ahaziah’s half-sister (cp Josephus, Antiquities 9.7.1). The infant Joash was born to Zibia of Beersheba (2 Chr 24:1), perhaps a lesser wife of Ahaziah. The baby’s birth might therefore have escaped Athaliah’s notice. Jehosheba’s concealment of Joash for six years was punishable by death if discovered. Athaliah ruled over the land from 841-835 BC.”

        • HCSB adds, “Jehosheba was also the wife of the priest Jehoiada according to 2 Ch 22:11.”

Joash Anointed King in Judah

      • But in the 7th year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of the units of hundreds of the Carites and the royal runners, and had them brought to him at the house of Yahweh. He made a covenant with them and put them under oath at Yahweh’s house. Then he showed them the king’s son. He ordered them, “This is what you are to do: You who are in the three companies that are going on duty on the Sabbath- a third of you guarding the king’s house, a third at the Sur Gate, and a third at the gate behind the runners, who take turns guarding the house- and you who are in the other two companies that normally go off duty on the Sabbath are all to guard the house for the king. Station yourselves around the king, each of you with a weapon in hand. Anyone who approaches your ranks is to be killed. Stay close to the king wherever he goes.

        • Comparing translations it becomes apparent that Jehoida’s orders are very difficult to translate. NET Bible’s text critical notes explain, “The precise meaning of this text is impossible to determine. It would appear that the Carians and royal bodyguard were divided into three units. One unit would serve during the Sabbath; the other two would be off duty on the Sabbath. Jehoiada divided the first unit into three groups and assigned them different locations. The two off duty units were assigned the task of guarding the king.”

        • On the identity of the Carites, the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible writes, “They also appear in consonantal Hebrew text of 2 Sam 20:23 as part of the elite royal bodyguard alongside the Pelethites. They may well be essentially the same body as the Kerethites, with whom the Pelethites normally appear in the OT (2 Sa 8:18; 15:18; 20:7, 23; 1 Ki 1:38, 44). The Pelethites were perhaps Philistines, and the Kerethites Cretans- mercenaries who served as David’s bodyguard in the period after his service to Achish king of Gath (1 Sam 27; 29); the Carites were the later royal bodyguard of Davidic kings.”

        • On the Sur Gate, ESV Archaeology Study Bible notes, “The gate Sur was in the walled enclosure surrounding the temple precincts and royal residences in Jerusalem, probably to be identified with the ‘gate of Shallecheth’ of 1 Chron 26:16 (called the ‘Gate of the Foundation’ in 2 Chron 23:5). From this gate a road ascended to the Fish Gate at the northwest corner of the city’s outer defensive wall. The gate behind the guards was apparently located in a wall separating the temple and palace complexes (2 Kgs 11:19) and is called the ‘upper gate’ in 2 Chron 23:20 (cf 2 Kgs 15:35).”

      • The commanders of the units of hundreds did just as the priest Jehoiada ordered. Each of them took his men, those who were on duty during the Sabbath as well as those who were off duty during the Sabbath, and came to the priest Jehoiada. Then he gave the commanders of the units of hundreds King David’s spears and shields that were in Yahweh’s house. The royal runners, each with weapon in hand, stationed themselves around the king- from the right side of the house to the left side, by the altar and by the house. Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, placed the crown on his head, gave him the testimony, and made him king. They anointed him, clapped their hands, and cried out, “Long live the king!”

        • Guzik says, “Jehoiada chose the Sabbath for the day of the coup because that was the day when the guards changed their shifts, and they could assemble two groups of guards at the temple at the same time without attracting attention… This was a dramatic moment. For six years everyone believed there were no more surviving heirs of David’s royal line, and there was no legitimate ruler to displace the wicked Athaliah. The secret had to be secure, because the king’s son would be immediately killed if his existence were revealed. The captains and bodyguards and escorts must have been shocked by the sight of this six-year-old heir to the throne…First the king’s son had to be revealed. No one could support him and he could not take his rightful throne until he was brought out before the people. Next the king’s son had to be crowned. This was the public and official recognition of him as king. The king’s son had to come with the Word of God. Joash appeared before the people holding the scrolls of God’s Word.” On this last point, there is some debate concerning what exactly is meant by the “testimony.” However, Guzik cites Wiseman, “Deuteronomy 17:18 says that the king should have his own copy of the Scriptures. ‘This is the basis for the British custom of presenting the monarch with a copy of the Bible during the coronation service.’

      • When Athaliah heard the noise from the royal runners and the people, she went out to the people at the house of Yahweh. And when she looked, she saw the king standing by the pillar, according to the custom. The commanders and the trumpeters were by the king and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her robes and cried out, “Treason! Treason!” Then Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of the units of hundreds in charge of the army, “Bring her out between the ranks and put anyone who follows her to death with the sword.” The priest gave this order because he had said, “She is not to be killed in Yahweh’s house.” So they seized her, and she went out by way of the horse’s entrance to the king’s house, where she was executed.

        • On the pillar, ESV Study Bible writes, “In 1-2 Kings the Hebrew ‘ammud has appeared thus far only in 1 Kings 7, referring to the pillars of the Solomonic palace (1 Kgs 7:2-3, 6) and temple (1 Kgs 7:15-22, 41-42). Either Jachin or Boaz is probably in view here (1 Kgs 7:21); ‘Jachin’ may mean ‘the establisher,’ and would thus provide a fitting location for a coronation. The emphasis on custom is important in a context where the authors are trying to stress the legitimacy of Joah’s claim to the throne; the coronation takes place in line with the law and custom, and in full view of the people of the land.”

        • Guzik remarks, “For the usurper queen mother this was a horrifying sight. For six years she ruled because she believed there were no legitimate claimants to the throne of David. Now she sees that one son of Ahaziah – Joash, her own grandson – escaped her murderous intent.”

        • NLT Illustrated Study Bible says, “Athaliah’s cry of treason is ironic, considering her own treasonous murders to seize the throne (2 Kgs 11:1). Athaliah’s death at the gate where horses enter the palace grounds is reminiscent of her mother Jezebel’s death under the hooves of Jehu’s horses (9:33).”

Jehoiada’s Reforms

      • Then Jehoiada made a covenant between Yahweh, the king, and the people, that they would be Yahweh’s people. Then all the people of the land went and tore down the house of Baal. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces. They killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars. Then Jehoiada the priest posted guards at the house of Yahweh. He took the commanders of the units of hundreds, the Carites, the royal runners, and all the people of the land, and together they led the king down from Yahweh’s house and entered the king’s house by way of the runner’s gate. Then the king took his seat on the throne. So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been killed by the sword at the king’s house.

        • NLT Illustrated Study Bible writes, “The renewal of the covenant was especially important after years of pagan rule. Covenant faithfulness accompanied by periodic renewal was mandated in the law (Deut 31:9-13), and Israel observed it at junctures in its history (see 2 Kgs 23:1-3; Josh 24). The temple of Baal may be the temple discovered in Ramat Rahel about three miles south of Jerusalem. As Jehu destroyed Baal worship in the northern kingdom (10:18-27) so the people of Judah tore…down the pagan temple and executed its priest. Jehoiada stationed guards at the Temple as a precaution against further reprisal by those loyal to Athaliah and her false religion.”

        • Guzik adds, “One reason the people resented this worship of Baal in Jerusalem so much was because Athaliah had directed that sacred objects from the temple of the LORD be put into the temple of Baal: For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house of God, and had also presented all the dedicated things of the house of the LORD to the Baals (2 Chronicles 24:7).”

        • HCSB remarks, “The usual final summary notations about Athaliah’s rule were omitted. Clearly, the author did not consider her rule to have been legitimate, and so undeserving of the same treatment as a ‘real’ ruler.”

Judah’s King Joash

      • Joash was 7 years old when he began to reign.

        • Seems like an odd place to end a chapter. NET Bible explains, “Beginning with 11:21, the verse numbers through 12:21 in the English Bible differ from the verse numbers in the Hebrew text (BHS), with 11:21 ET = 12:1 HT, 12:1 ET = 12:2 HT, 12:2 ET = 12:3 HT, etc., through 12:21 ET = 12:22 HT. With 13:1 the verse numbers in the ET and HT are again the same.”

        • Why do some translations say Jehoash here instead of Joash? ESV Study Bible explains, “Joash, introduced by that name in v. 2, will be called Jehoash throughout most of ch. 12, to be called Joash again only in 12:19, where his death is reported.” NET Bible adds, “Jehoash is an alternate version of the name Joash.”

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