2 Kings 11:14

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!

2 Kings 11:14 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 11:14

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 ) ( 2 Kings 23:3 ) ( 2 Chronicles 34:1 ) , some think this was the brazen scaffold erected by Solomon, ( 2 Chronicles 6:13 ) , though Vitringa F5 and Bishop Patrick suppose it to be the post of the east gate of the inner court, from ( Ezekiel 46:2 ) , according to Jacob Leo F6, 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.


FOOTNOTES:

F5 Proleghom. de Synagog. Vet. c. 4. p. 32.
F6 Apud Wagenseil. Sotah, p. 680.

2 Kings 11:14 In-Context

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.
The Darby Translation is in the public domain.