2 Kings 11:1

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

into the temple, shows them the kings son, takes an oath of

them, arms them, places guards around the temple, and around

the young king's person; they anoint and proclaim him, 4-12.

Athaliah is alarmed, comes into the temple, is seized, carried

forth, and slain, 13-16.

Jehoiada causes the people to enter into a covenant with the

Lord; they destroy Baal's house, priest, and images, 17, 18.

Joash is brought to the king's house, reigns, and all the land

rejoices, 19-21.

NOTES ON CHAP. XI

Verse 2 Kings 11:1. Athaliah] This woman was the daughter of Ahab, and grand-daughter of Omri, and wife of Joram king of Judah, and mother of Ahaziah.

Destroyed all the seed royal.] All that she could lay her hands on whom Jehu had left; in order that she might get undisturbed possession of the kingdom.

How dreadful is the lust of reigning! it destroys all the charities of life; and turns fathers, mothers, brothers, and children, into the most ferocious savages! Who, that has it in his power, makes any conscience

"To swim to sovereign rule through seas of blood?"

In what a dreadful state is that land that is exposed to political revolutions, and where the succession to the throne is not most positively settled by the clearest and most decisive law! Reader, beware of revolutions; there have been some useful ones, but they are in general the heaviest curse of God.