2 Kings 11:17-21

17 Jehoiada 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.

18 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 killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. Then Jehoiada the priest posted guards at the temple of the LORD.

19 He 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.

20 All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the palace.

21 Joash^[a] was seven years old when he began to reign.^[b]

2 Kings 11:17-21 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 2 KINGS 11

This chapter relates how that Joash the son of Ahaziah, king of Judah, being hid and preserved, when his grandmother murdered all the seed royal, after six years was produced, 2Ki 11:1-3, when Jehoiada the priest set a sufficient guard about him, and the king's house, and anointed him king, 2Ki 11:4-12, and Athaliah his grandmother, who had reigned six years, was put to death by the order of the priest, 2Ki 10:13-16, and then a covenant was made between the Lord, and the king, and the people, and between the king and the people; and he was placed on the throne, to the satisfaction of the people, and the quiet thereof, 2Ki 10:17-21.

Cross References

• 1. S Exodus 24:8; 2 Samuel 5:3; 2 Chronicles 15:12; 2 Chronicles 23:3; 2 Chronicles 29:10; 2 Chronicles 34:31; Ezra 10:3
• 2. 2 Kings 23:3; Jeremiah 34:8
• 3. S 1 Kings 16:32
• 4. S Deuteronomy 12:3
• 5. 1 Kings 18:40; 2 Kings 10:25; 2 Kings 23:20
• 6. ver 4
• 7. Proverbs 11:10; Proverbs 28:12; Proverbs 29:2

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew "Jehoash," a variant of "Joash"
• [b]. In Hebrew texts this verse (11:21) is numbered 12:1.