2 Kings 11:1-21 NIV
Athaliah and Joash
1When
Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to
destroy the whole royal family. 2But
Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehorama and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of
Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be
murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so
he was not killed. 3He
remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the Lord for six years while Athaliah ruled the
land.
4In the
seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of units of a hundred, the
Carites and the guards and had them brought to him at the Temple
of the Lord. He made a covenant with
them and put them under oath at the Temple of the Lord. Then he showed them the
king’s son. 5He commanded
them, saying, “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 royal palace, 6a third at the
Sur Gate, and a third at the gate behind the guard, who take turns guarding the
Temple— 7and
you who are in the other two companies that normally go off Sabbath duty are
all to guard the Temple for the king. 8Station
yourselves around the king, each of you with weapon in hand. Anyone who
approaches your ranksb is to be put to death. Stay close to the
king wherever he goes.”
9The
commanders of units of a hundred did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each
one took his men—those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were
going off duty—and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10Then he gave
the commanders the spears and shields that had belonged to King David and that
were in the Temple of the Lord. 11The guards,
each with weapon in hand, stationed themselves around the king—near the altar
and the Temple, from the south side to the north side of the Temple.
12Jehoiada
brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him; he presented him with a
copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people
clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!”
13When
Athaliah heard the noise made by the guards and the people, she went to the
people at the Temple of the Lord. 14She looked
and there was the king, standing by the pillar, as the custom was. The officers
and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were
rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her robes and called out,
“Treason! Treason!”
15Jehoiada
the priest ordered the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of
the troops: “Bring her out between the ranksc and put to the sword anyone who follows
her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the Temple
of the Lord.” 16So they
seized her as she reached the place where the horses enter the palace grounds,
and there she was put to death.
17Jehoiada
then made a covenant between the Lord and the king and people that they
would be the Lord’s
people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people. 18All the people
of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and
idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.
Then Jehoiada the priest posted
guards at the Temple of the Lord. 19He took with
him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards and all the people of
the land, and together they brought the king down from the Temple
of the Lord and went into the palace, entering by
way of the gate of the guards. The king then took his place on the royal
throne. 20All the
people of the land rejoiced, and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been
slain with the sword at the palace.
David’s Line Did Not Fail
Athaliah destroyed all she knew to be akin to
the crown. Jehoash, one of the king's sons, was safely and hidden. 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 Jesus Christ, 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, forever live and
reign in my soul, and in all the world.
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