Dusk in a small, plain room among the temple's side rooms: a low wooden bed with a folded striped wool blanket, a tiny pair of child's leather sandals on the floor, and one clay oil lamp burning in a wall niche; dim plastered walls and shadow above.

The Book of

2 Kings 11

A queen kills her own grandsons to keep a throne. One baby is hidden in the house of the LORD.

21 verses≈ 5 min4 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

1–8ElishaThe prophet's double portion
9–12JehuThe house of Ahab fallsChapter 11
13–17Last kings of IsraelSamaria falls
18–20HezekiahTrust in the LORD
21–23JosiahThe Book found
24–25ExileJerusalem falls

Athaliah and Joash

When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs.

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Night in a lamplit stone passage of the palace in Jerusalem, seen from behind: a young woman with a dark mantle over her head hurries ahead holding a small clay lamp, and an older nurse follows with a baby wrapped tight in a woven blanket against her shoulder, toward a low doorway.

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.

2 Kings 11:3

Joash Anointed King of Judah

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

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, 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— the two divisions that would go off duty on the Sabbath are to guard the house of the LORD for the king. 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.”

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. Then the priest gave to the commanders of hundreds the spears and shields of King David from the house of the LORD.

Reflect

Hidden in the house of the LORD

For six years the promise to David hung on one small boy, hidden in God’s house “while Athaliah ruled the land.” No one outside could see that God was keeping His word. When God’s promises seem small or hidden in your life, what helps you keep trusting that He is still keeping them?

The Death of Athaliah

Plan to scale in cubits · north at the top

Where it stood

The king by the pillar

The guards stood in a line across the court “from the south side to the north side of the temple”, by the altar and the house. Within their ranks the boy king stood by the pillar at the porch, “according to the custom”.

When Athaliah heard the noise from the guards and the people, she went out to the people in the house of the LORD. 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.

Athaliah

Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason! Treason!”

Jehoiada

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.”

So they seized Athaliah as she reached the horses’ entrance to the palace grounds, and there she was put to death.

Question

Quick question

Jehosheba stole her baby nephew away from among the king’s sons and hid him.

How long was Joash hidden in the house of the LORD?

Jehoiada Restores the Worship of the LORD

2 Kings 11:17

Afternoon, seen across Jerusalem's flat rooftops: townspeople with ropes and wooden levers pull down the walls of a plain stone shrine, its roof beams fallen in and dust rising, a stone altar before it broken in pieces.

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.

Morning in Jerusalem: the crowned boy king, in a blue-purple robe too long for him, walks down a broad stone stair and road between two lines of royal guards toward a plain stone palace gateway, the white-bearded priest Jehoiada beside him and people crowding the road and roofs; clear sky above.

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,

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.

0:21

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Joash was seven years old when he became king.

Pray

The LORD’s people

Thank the LORD that He kept His promise to David when it hung on one hidden child. Pray for children in danger today, and for people with Jehosheba’s courage to protect them. And ask that you, like the king and the people that day, would be “the LORD’s people” in every part of your life.

You’ve experienced

2 Kings 11

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A verse to carry with you

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.

2 Kings 11:17

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