2 Kings 11

1 Athalia vero mater Ahaziae videns mortuum filium suum surrexit et interfecit omne semen regium

2 tollens autem Iosaba filia regis Ioram soror Ahaziae Ioas filium Ahaziae furata est eum de medio filiorum regis qui interficiebantur et nutricem eius de triclinio et abscondit eum a facie Athaliae ut non interficeretur

3 eratque cum ea in domo Domini clam sex annis porro Athalia regnavit super terram

4 anno autem septimo misit Ioiada et adsumens centuriones et milites introduxit ad se in templum Domini pepigitque cum eis foedus et adiurans eos in domo Domini ostendit eis filium regis

5 et praecepit illis dicens iste sermo quem facere debetis

6 tertia pars vestrum introeat sabbato et observet excubitum domus regis tertia autem pars sit ad portam Sir et tertia pars ad portam quae est post habitaculum scutariorum et custodietis excubitum domus Messa

7 duae vero partes e vobis omnes egredientes sabbato custodiant excubias domus Domini circum regem

8 et vallabitis eum habentes arma in manibus vestris si quis autem ingressus fuerit septum templi interficiatur eritisque cum rege introeunte et egrediente

9 et fecerunt centuriones iuxta omnia quae praeceperat eis Ioiada sacerdos et adsumentes singuli viros suos qui ingrediebantur sabbatum cum his qui egrediebantur e sabbato venerunt ad Ioiada sacerdotem

10 qui dedit eis hastas et arma regis David quae erant in domo Domini

11 et steterunt singuli habentes arma in manu sua a parte templi dextra usque ad partem sinistram altaris et aedis circum regem

12 produxitque filium regis et posuit super eum diadema et testimonium feceruntque eum regem et unxerunt et plaudentes manu dixerunt vivat rex

13 audivit Athalia vocem currentis populi et ingressa ad turbas in templum Domini

14 vidit regem stantem super tribunal iuxta morem et cantores et tubas propter eum omnemque populum terrae laetantem et canentem tubis et scidit vestimenta sua clamavitque coniuratio coniuratio

15 praecepit autem Ioiada centurionibus qui erant super exercitum et ait eis educite eam extra consepta templi et quicumque secutus eam fuerit feriatur gladio dixerat enim sacerdos non occidatur in templo Domini

16 inposueruntque ei manus et inpegerunt eam per viam introitus equorum iuxta palatium et interfecta est ibi

17 pepigit igitur Ioiada foedus inter Dominum et inter regem et inter populum ut esset populus Domini et inter regem et populum

18 ingressusque est omnis populus terrae templum Baal et destruxerunt aras eius et imagines contriverunt valide Matthan quoque sacerdotem Baal occiderunt coram altari et posuit sacerdos custodias in domo Domini

19 tulitque centuriones et Cherethi et Felethi legiones et omnem populum terrae deduxeruntque regem de domo Domini et venerunt per viam portae scutariorum in palatium et sedit super thronum regum

20 laetatusque est omnis populus terrae et civitas conquievit Athalia autem occisa est gladio in domo regis

21 septemque annorum erat Ioas cum regnare coepisset

2 Kings 11 Commentary

Chapter 11

Athaliah usurps the government of Judah, Jehoash made king. (1-12) Athaliah put to death. (13-16) The worship of the Lord restored. (17-21)

Verses 1-12 Athaliah destroyed all she knew to be akin to the crown. Jehoash, one of the king's sons, was hid. Now was the promise made to David bound up in one life only, and yet it did not fail. Thus to the Son of David, the Lord, according to his promise, will secure a spiritual seed, hidden sometimes, and unseen, but hidden in God's pavilion, and unhurt. Six years Athaliah tyrannized. Then the king was brought forward. A child indeed, but he had a good guardian, and, what was better, a good God to go to With such joy and satisfaction must the kingdom of Christ be welcomed into our hearts, when his throne is set up there, and Satan the usurper is cast out. Say, Let the King, even Jesus, live, for ever live and reign in my soul, and in all the world.

Verses 13-16 Athaliah hastened her own destruction. She herself was the greatest traitor, and yet was first and loudest in crying, Treason, treason! The most guilty are commonly the most forward to reproach others.

Verses 17-21 King and people would cleave most firmly to each other, when both had joined themselves to the Lord. It is well with a people, when all the changes that pass over them help to revive, strengthen, and advance the interests of religion among them. Covenants are of use, both to remind us of, and bind us to, the duties already binding on us. They immediately abolished idolatry; and, pursuant to the covenant with one another, they expressed mutual readiness to help each other. The people rejoiced, and Jerusalem was quiet. The way for people to be joyful and at peace, is to engage fully in the service of God; for the voice of joy and thanksgiving is in the dwellings of the righteous, but there is no peace for the wicked.

Chapter Summary

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.