2 Kings 11:20

20 All the people of the land were celebrating. But the city was quiet because they had killed Athaliah with a sword at the royal palace.

2 Kings 11:20 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 11:20

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 ( Psalms 132:11 Psalms 132:17 ) , 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 says ^F8 Jehoiada ordered her to be had into that valley, and there slain.

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FOOTNOTES:

F8 Antiqu. l. 9. c. 7. sect. 3.

2 Kings 11:20 In-Context

18 Then all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed Baal's altars and his statues and killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars. Next, the priest appointed officials to be in charge of the LORD's temple.

19 He took the company commanders of the Carites and the guards and all the people of the land, and they brought the king from the LORD's temple. They went down the street that goes through Guards' Gate to the royal palace. Then Joash sat on the royal throne.

20 All the people of the land were celebrating. But the city was quiet because they had killed Athaliah with a sword at the royal palace.

21 Joash was seven years old when he began to rule.