2 Kings 11:3

3 The child remained hidden with his nurse at the LORD's temple for six years. Athaliah ruled over the land during that time.

2 Kings 11:3 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 11:3

And he was with her hid in the house of the Lord six years,
&c.] In the temple; not in the holy of holies, as Jarchi, but in a chamber of the priests and Levites, of which there were several in a temple, as Kimchi, and others; and the husband of Jehosheba, being high priest, had one of them for his own use; and here the child was hid six years, so that he was but a year old when he was first taken and preserved, for he was made king when seven years of age, ( 2 Kings 11:21 ) ,

and Athaliah did reign over the land;
the only instance we hear of a woman reigning in Israel, and this was not by right, but by usurpation; and so, according to the Jewish canons, a woman might not rule; which thus runs ^F1, they do not set a woman in the kingdom, as it is said, ( Deuteronomy 17:15 ) , "a king over them", not a queen; and so, in all places of power and authority in Israel, they put in them none but a man.

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FOOTNOTES:

F1 Maimon. Hilchot Melachim, c. 1. sect. 5.

2 Kings 11:3 In-Context

1 Athaliah was Ahaziah's mother. She saw that her son was dead. So she began to wipe out the whole royal house of Judah.

2 But Jehosheba went and got Joash, the son of Ahaziah. She was the daughter of King Jehoram and the sister of Ahaziah. She stole Joash away from among the royal princes. All of them were about to be murdered. She put Joash and his nurse in a bedroom. That's how she hid him from Athaliah. And that's why Athaliah didn't kill him.

3 The child remained hidden with his nurse at the LORD's temple for six years. Athaliah ruled over the land during that time.

4 In the seventh year the priest Jehoiada sent for the commanders of companies of 100 men. They were the commanders over the Carites and guards. He had them brought to him at the temple of the Lord. He made a covenant with them. He made them take an oath at the temple. Then he showed them the king's son.

5 He gave them a command. He said, "Here's what you must do. There are five companies of you. Some of you are in the three companies that are going on duty on the Sabbath day. A third of you must guard the royal palace.