2 Kings 11:15

15 Then the priest Jehoiada commanded the captains who were set over the army, "Bring her out between the ranks, and kill with the sword anyone who follows her." For the priest said, "Let her not be killed in the house of the Lord."

2 Kings 11:15 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 11:15

But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the
hundreds, the officers of the host
Of the priests and Levites:

and said unto them, have her forth without the ranges;
the ranks of the guards, which were at the gate leading to the palace, or rather "within" them ^F7; the meaning is, that he ordered her to be had out of the court of the temple, and be put within their ranks, and enclosed by them, that her blood might not be shed in the temple, and yet not escape them:

and him that followeth her, kill with the sword:
that takes her part, and offers to help and assist her, passing through the ranks after her, dispatch him at once:

for the priest had said, let her not be slain in the house of the Lord:
that it might not be defiled with her blood; by which it appears that the guards had orders concerning her before, should she come to the temple, see ( 2 Kings 11:13 ) .

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FOOTNOTES:

F7 (trdvl tybm) "intra ordines", Munster, Junius, Tremellius, Piscator, Noldius, p. 79. No. 365. So Jarchi, Kimchi, Ben Gersom, & Ben Melech.

2 Kings 11:15 In-Context

13 When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she went into the house of the Lord to the people;

14 when she looked, there was the king standing by the pillar, according to custom, with the captains and the trumpeters beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, "Treason! Treason!"

15 Then the priest Jehoiada commanded the captains who were set over the army, "Bring her out between the ranks, and kill with the sword anyone who follows her." For the priest said, "Let her not be killed in the house of the Lord."

16 So they laid hands on her; she went through the horses' entrance to the king's house, and there she was put to death.

17 Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and people, that they should be the Lord's people; also between the king and the people.