2 Kings 11:8-18

8 You are to surround the king, each man with his weapons in his hand. Anyone who penetrates the ranks is to be killed. Stay with the king whenever he leaves or enters."

9 The captains over hundreds did exactly as Y'hoyada the cohen ordered. Each took his men, those coming on duty on Shabbat and those going off duty on Shabbat, and came to Y'hoyada the cohen.

10 The cohen issued to the captains of hundreds the spears and shields that had been King David's and were kept in the house of ADONAI.

11 The guards then took positions, each man with his weapons in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, alongside the altar, alongside [the exterior of] the house and around the king.

12 Then he brought out the king's son, crowned him, gave him [a copy of] the testimony and thus made him king; they anointed him, clapped their hands and shouted, "Long live the king!"

13 When 'Atalyah heard the shouting of the guard and the people, she entered the house of ADONAI where the people were,

14 looked and saw the king standing there on the platform, in keeping with the rule, with the leaders and trumpeters next to the king. All the people of the land were celebrating and blowing the trumpets. At this 'Atalyah tore her clothes and cried, "Treason! Treason!"

15 Y'hoyada the cohen ordered the captains of hundreds, the army officers, "Escort her out past the ranks [of guards]; but anyone who follows her, kill with the sword." For the cohen had said, "She must not be put to death in the house of ADONAI."

16 So they took her by force and led her through the horses' entry to the royal palace, and there she was put to death.

17 Y'hoyada made a covenant between ADONAI, the king and the people, that they would be ADONAI's people, and [a covenant] between the king and the people.

18 Then all the people of the land went to the house of Ba'al and broke it down; they completely smashed its altars and images and killed Mattan the priest of Ba'al in front of the altars. Next, the cohen appointed officers over the house of ADONAI.

2 Kings 11:8-18 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.