2 Kings 11:3

3 He remained hidden with his nurse in the LORD's temple for six years while Athaliah ruled the country.

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 When Athaliah, Ahaziah's mother, learned of her son's death, she immediately destroyed the entire royal family.

2 But Jehosheba, King Jehoram's daughter and Ahaziah's sister, secretly took Ahaziah's son Jehoash from the rest of the royal children who were about to be murdered and hid him in a bedroom along with his nurse. In this way Jehoash was hidden from Athaliah and wasn't murdered.

3 He remained hidden with his nurse in the LORD's temple for six years while Athaliah ruled the country.

4 But in the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of the Carites and of the guards and had them come to him at the LORD's temple. He made a covenant with them, and made them swear a solemn pledge in the LORD's temple. Then he showed them the king's son.

5 He commanded them, "This is what you must do: A third of you coming on sabbath duty will guard the palace,