2 Kings 11 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.
Time Period
841-835 BC, the six years Athaliah held the throne in Jerusalem, the only woman ever to rule the southern kingdom
Location
Jerusalem, centered on the temple complex and the adjoining royal palace on the eastern ridge of the city
Audience
Judean readers for whom the survival of David's royal line was the thread holding the whole national story together
Situation
When her son Ahaziah is killed, Athaliah destroys the royal family and seizes power, but the infant Joash is hidden in the temple for six years by his aunt. The priest Jehoiada arranges a guarded coronation during a Sabbath shift change, and Athaliah is executed outside the temple grounds.
Key Background
Athaliah came from the house of Ahab in the north, so her rule imported the religion Jehu had just wiped out and left David's line hanging by one hidden child. The temple and palace stood side by side within one royal compound, which is why a child could be raised in the temple quarters unnoticed and why the coup could move between the two buildings in minutes. Jehoiada times the change of temple guard so that both the outgoing and incoming shifts are armed and present at once, doubling his force, and the coronation includes handing the new king a copy of the covenant testimony, the document that bound an Israelite king to the law rather than placing him above it.
When the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she set out to destroy the
But — the daughter of King Jehoram and the sister of Ahaziah — took Ahaziah's son and smuggled him away from among the king's sons who were about to be killed. She hid him and his nurse in a bedroom, keeping him out of Athaliah's sight so he wasn't murdered.
He stayed hidden with her in for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.
In the seventh year, sent for the commanders of the and the royal runners and brought them to him at Yahweh's temple. He made a with them, making them swear an oath in Yahweh's temple, and then he showed them the king's son.
He gave them their orders: "A third of you who come on duty on the will guard the royal palace,
a third will be at the and a third at the behind the runners. You will take turns guarding the palace —
and the two units among you that go off duty on the Sabbath will guard Yahweh's temple and protect the king.
You are to surround the king on all sides, each man with his weapons ready. Anyone who comes near your ranks is to be killed. Stay close to the king wherever he goes."
The commanders did exactly what Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one brought his men—both those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off—and reported to Jehoiada the priest.
Then the priest gave the commanders the and that had to which were kept in Yahweh's temple.
The guards took their positions, each man with his weapon in hand, from the south side of the temple to the north side, surrounding the and the temple building itself, forming a protective ring around the king.
Jehoiada brought out the king's son and placed the crown on him and gave him the of the They proclaimed him king and him. The people clapped their hands and shouted, "Long live the king!"
When Athaliah heard the noise of the guards and the people, she went to the crowd at Yahweh's temple.
She looked — and there was the king by the as was the custom, with the commanders and trumpeters beside him. All the people of the land were celebrating and blowing trumpets. Athaliah and screamed, "Treason! Treason!"
Jehoiada the priest ordered the military commanders, "Bring her out between the ranks, and kill anyone who follows her." The priest had specifically said, "Don't execute her in Yahweh's temple."
So they seized her, and when she reached the place where horses enter the palace grounds, she was killed there.
Then Jehoiada made a between Yahweh, the king, and the people — that they would be Yahweh's people. He also made a between the king and the people.
Then all the people of the land went to the of and tore it down. They completely smashed its altars and idols, and they killed the priest of right in front of the altars. Jehoiada the priest posted guards at Yahweh's
He the commanders, the Carite guards, the runners, and all the people of the land, and together they brought the king down from Yahweh's temple. They entered the palace through the gate of the guards, and the king on the
All the people of the land celebrated, and the was As for Athaliah — she had been put to death by the sword at the palace.
Joash was when he became king.