II Kings 11:1-16
“And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.” (II Kings 11:1)
Jehoshaphat had been devoted to God and led Judah to serve him. However, he had wanted to maintain a close relationship to the nation of Israel and had become friends with Ahab’s family. As a result, his son Jehoram married Athaliah, one of Ahab’s daughters and adopted his in-law’s lifestyle. When Jehoram died, his son Ahaziah became king, following in hs father’s footsteps, and his mother‘s advice. He was killed by Jehu about a year after he became king, along with forty two of his relatives.
When Athaliah learned that Ahaziah had been killed, she had Ahaziah’s children and the rest of his uncles and cousins killed to eliminate any legitimate claims to the throne and usurped it for herself.
"But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain. And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years.
And Athaliah did reign over the land.” (II Kings 11:2-3)
Ahaziah’s sister hid his baby son Joash from his grand mother so he wasn’t killed with the others. For six years they kept him hidden in the temple with Jehoiada, the priest. During that time Athaliah reigned over Judah.
“And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and showed them the king's son.” (II Kings 11:4)
“And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king's son shall reign, as the LORD hath said of the sons of David.” (II Chronicles 23:2-3)
Judah had hated the corrupt reigns of both Jehoram and Ahaziah. Athaliah was just as bad. After six years with her as queen, Jehoiada called the leaders together and reviewed what God had said about David’s descendants being the rightful kings. They agreed to restore Joash to his rightful place
“And he commanded them, saying, This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you that enter in on the sabbath shall even be keepers of the watch of the king's house; And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of the house, that it be not broken down. And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD about the king.” (II Kings 11:5-7)
“But let none come into the house of the LORD, save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall go in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD. And the Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whosoever else cometh into the house, he shall be put to death: but be ye with the king when he cometh in, and when he goeth out.” (II Chronicles 23:6-7)
“And ye shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand: and he that cometh within the ranges, let him be slain: and be ye with the king as he goeth out and as he cometh in.” (II Kings 11:8)
Knowing that Athaliah would not willingly give up the throne, even for her grandson, Jehoiada divided up the palace guards into three groups to protect Joash. One group was to protect the palace itself while another group was stationed at each of the main gates leading to the temple and palace area.
No one but the Levites and priests were to be allowed into the temple, and they were to carry their weapons while performing their duties to help protect the rightful heir to the throne. Any unauthorized people were to be killed on the spot.
“So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.” (II Chronicles 23:8)
“And the captains over the hundreds did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest commanded: and they took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that should go out on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.
And to the captains over hundreds did the priest give king David's spears and shields, that were in the temple of the LORD. And the guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, round about the king, from the right corner of the temple to the left corner of the temple, along by the altar and the temple.” (II Kings 11:9-11)
This was not just a military coup but a wide spread rebellion against Athaliah’s usurping the throne, supported by a majority of the people including the military, the priests and Levites and the common people. The guard was armed with the ceremonial weapons that David had made, and completely blocked any entrance into the temple. No one was allowed to leave his place until the coronation was complete to prevent any confusion or possibility of attack.
“And he brought forth the king's son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king.” (II Kings 11:12)
With Joash’s protection assured, Jehoiada proceeded with the coronation,m and to anoint him designating him as the official king. The observers rejoiced to see him in that position.
“And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the LORD. And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason.” (II Kings 11:13-14)
When Athaliah realized what had happened, she accused the people of treason, of betraying their government. Like many rulers since, she overlooked the fact that a real authority comes from the people, and from God, not from one’s power. By illegally seizing power and usurping the throne, Athaliah had betrayed the people of Judah. She was the real traitor.
In the last few months, we have had several whistle blowers who revealed illegal activity by the US government accused of treason. Those who protect and enable the illegal activities are the real traitors, violating their trust, regardless of their attempts to justify it.
“But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD.
And they laid hands on her; and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the king's house: and there was she slain.” (II Kings 11:15-16)
Jehoiada ordered that she be taken outside the camp and executed along with her supporters. They refused to stain the temple floor with such a wicked person’s blood, giving her even a semblance of legitimacy.
“And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.” (II Kings 11:1)
Jehoshaphat had been devoted to God and led Judah to serve him. However, he had wanted to maintain a close relationship to the nation of Israel and had become friends with Ahab’s family. As a result, his son Jehoram married Athaliah, one of Ahab’s daughters and adopted his in-law’s lifestyle. When Jehoram died, his son Ahaziah became king, following in hs father’s footsteps, and his mother‘s advice. He was killed by Jehu about a year after he became king, along with forty two of his relatives.
When Athaliah learned that Ahaziah had been killed, she had Ahaziah’s children and the rest of his uncles and cousins killed to eliminate any legitimate claims to the throne and usurped it for herself.
"But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain. And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years.
And Athaliah did reign over the land.” (II Kings 11:2-3)
Ahaziah’s sister hid his baby son Joash from his grand mother so he wasn’t killed with the others. For six years they kept him hidden in the temple with Jehoiada, the priest. During that time Athaliah reigned over Judah.
“And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and showed them the king's son.” (II Kings 11:4)
“And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king's son shall reign, as the LORD hath said of the sons of David.” (II Chronicles 23:2-3)
Judah had hated the corrupt reigns of both Jehoram and Ahaziah. Athaliah was just as bad. After six years with her as queen, Jehoiada called the leaders together and reviewed what God had said about David’s descendants being the rightful kings. They agreed to restore Joash to his rightful place
“And he commanded them, saying, This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you that enter in on the sabbath shall even be keepers of the watch of the king's house; And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of the house, that it be not broken down. And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD about the king.” (II Kings 11:5-7)
“But let none come into the house of the LORD, save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall go in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD. And the Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whosoever else cometh into the house, he shall be put to death: but be ye with the king when he cometh in, and when he goeth out.” (II Chronicles 23:6-7)
“And ye shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand: and he that cometh within the ranges, let him be slain: and be ye with the king as he goeth out and as he cometh in.” (II Kings 11:8)
Knowing that Athaliah would not willingly give up the throne, even for her grandson, Jehoiada divided up the palace guards into three groups to protect Joash. One group was to protect the palace itself while another group was stationed at each of the main gates leading to the temple and palace area.
No one but the Levites and priests were to be allowed into the temple, and they were to carry their weapons while performing their duties to help protect the rightful heir to the throne. Any unauthorized people were to be killed on the spot.
“So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.” (II Chronicles 23:8)
“And the captains over the hundreds did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest commanded: and they took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that should go out on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.
And to the captains over hundreds did the priest give king David's spears and shields, that were in the temple of the LORD. And the guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, round about the king, from the right corner of the temple to the left corner of the temple, along by the altar and the temple.” (II Kings 11:9-11)
This was not just a military coup but a wide spread rebellion against Athaliah’s usurping the throne, supported by a majority of the people including the military, the priests and Levites and the common people. The guard was armed with the ceremonial weapons that David had made, and completely blocked any entrance into the temple. No one was allowed to leave his place until the coronation was complete to prevent any confusion or possibility of attack.
“And he brought forth the king's son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king.” (II Kings 11:12)
With Joash’s protection assured, Jehoiada proceeded with the coronation,m and to anoint him designating him as the official king. The observers rejoiced to see him in that position.
“And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the LORD. And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason.” (II Kings 11:13-14)
When Athaliah realized what had happened, she accused the people of treason, of betraying their government. Like many rulers since, she overlooked the fact that a real authority comes from the people, and from God, not from one’s power. By illegally seizing power and usurping the throne, Athaliah had betrayed the people of Judah. She was the real traitor.
In the last few months, we have had several whistle blowers who revealed illegal activity by the US government accused of treason. Those who protect and enable the illegal activities are the real traitors, violating their trust, regardless of their attempts to justify it.
“But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD.
And they laid hands on her; and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the king's house: and there was she slain.” (II Kings 11:15-16)
Jehoiada ordered that she be taken outside the camp and executed along with her supporters. They refused to stain the temple floor with such a wicked person’s blood, giving her even a semblance of legitimacy.
It is amazing to consider the depths of depravity that people will stoop to in order to satisfy their lust for power. But there are always consequences for sin, and God will repay with His perfect justice and timing. Thanks as always for the thoughtful explanation of Scripture.
ReplyDeleteGod bless,
Laurie
Thanks, Laurie.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad God is keeping track today just as he did back then. They won't get by with such sin.