CHAPTER XI _Athaliah destroys all that remain of the seed royal of Judah_, 1. _Jehosheba hides Joash the son of Ahaziah, and he remains hidden_ _in the house of the Lord six years; and Athaliah reigns over the_ _land_, 2, 3. _Jehoiada, the high priest, calls the nobles privately together_ _int... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 11:2. _DAUGHTER OF - JORAM, SISTER OF AHAZIAH_] It is not likely that Jehosheba was the daughter of _Athaliah_; she was sister, we find, to Ahaziah the son of Athaliah, but probably by a different mother. The mother of Jehoash was Zibiah of Beer-sheba; see 2 Kings 12:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 11:3. _HE WAS - HID IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD_] This might be readily done, because none had access to the temple but the priests; and the high priest himself was the chief manager of this business.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 11:4. _AND THE SEVENTH YEAR JEHOIADA SENT_] He had certainly sounded them all, and brought them into the interests of the young king, before this time; the plot having been laid, and now ripe for execution, he brings the chief officers of the army and those of the body guard into the t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 11:5. _THAT ENTER IN ON THE SABBATH_] It appears that Jehoiada chose the _Sabbath day_ to proclaim the young king, because as that was a day of public concourse, the gathering together of the people who were in this secret would not be noticed; and it is likely that they all came _unar... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 11:10. _KING DAVID'S SPEARS AND SHIELDS_] Josephus expressly says that David had provided an arsenal for the temple, out of which Jehoiada took those arms. His words are; Ανοιξας δε Ιωαδος την εν τῳ ἱερῳ ὁπλοθηκην, ἡν Δαβιδης κατεσκευασε, διεμερισε τοις ἑκατονταρχαις ἁμα και ἱε... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 11:12. _PUT THE CROWN UPON HIM_] This was a _diadem_ or _golden_ _band_ that went round the head. _AND - THE TESTIMONY_] Probably the _book of the law_, written on a roll of vellum. This was his _sceptre_. Some think that it was placed _upon his head_, as well as the diadem. The _diad... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 11:14. _THE KING STOOD BY A PILLAR_] _Stood ON a pillar_ or _tribunal_; the place or throne on which they were accustomed to put the kings when they proclaimed them. _TREASON, TREASON._] קשר קשר _kesher, kasher; A conspiracy, A_ _conspiracy_! from _kashar, to bind, unite together_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 11:15. _HAVE HER FORTH_] She had pressed in among the guards into the temple. _AND HIM THAT FOLLOWETH_] The person who takes her part, let him instantly be slain.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 11:16. _BY THE WAY - WHICH THE HORSES CAME_] They probably brought her out near the king's stables. It has been supposed, from Ezekiel 46:1, that the _east gate_ of the inner court was that by which the king entered on the _Sabbath day_, whereas on all other days he entered by the _sou... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 11:17. _JEHOIADA MADE A COVENANT_] A _general_ covenant was _first_ made between the _Lord_, the Supreme King, the _king_ his viceroy, and the _people_, that they should all be _the Lord's people_; each being equally bound to live according to the Divine law. Then, _secondly_, a _part... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 11:18. _HIS ALTARS AND IMAGES BRAKE THEY IN PIECES_] It is probable that Athaliah had set up the worship of Baal in Judah, as Jezebel had done in Israel; or probably it had never been removed since the days of Solomon. It was no wonder that Jehoiada began his reform with this act, when... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 11:20. _THE PEOPLE - REJOICED_] They were glad to get rid of the tyranny of Athaliah. _AND THE CITY WAS IN QUIET_] She had no _partisans_ to rise up and disturb the king's reign.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 2 Kings 11:21. _SEVEN YEARS OLD_ WAS _JEHOASH_] The first instance on record of making a child seven years old the king of any nation, and especially of such a nation as the Jews, who were at all times very difficult to be governed.... [ Continue Reading ]