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Judah’s Jezebel

2 Kings 11:1-21 (JDV).

2 Kings 11:1 When Athaliah, Ahaziah’s mother, saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs.
2 Kings 11:2 Jehosheba, who was King Jehoram’s daughter and Ahaziah’s sister, secretly rescued Joash son of Ahaziah from among the king’s sons who were being killed and put him and the one who nursed him in a bedroom. So, he was hidden from Athaliah and was not killed.
2 Kings 11:3 Joash was in hiding with her in Yahveh’s temple for six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.
2 Kings 11:4 In the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards. He had them come to him in Yahveh’s temple, where he made a covenant with them and put them under oath. He showed them the king’s son
2 Kings 11:5 and commanded them, “This is what you are to do: A third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath are to provide protection for the king’s palace.
2 Kings 11:6 A third are to be at the Foundation Gate and a third at the gate behind the guards. You are to take turns providing protection for the palace.
2 Kings 11:7 “Your two divisions that go off duty on the Sabbath are to provide the king protection at Yahveh’s temple.
2 Kings 11:8 Completely surround the king with weapons in hand. Anyone who approaches the ranks is to be put to death. Be with the king in all his daily tasks.”
2 Kings 11:9 So the commanders of hundreds did everything the priest Jehoiada commanded. They each brought their men — those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty– and came to the priest Jehoiada.
2 Kings 11:10 The priest gave to the commanders of hundreds King David’s spears and shields that were in Yahveh’s temple.
2 Kings 11:11 Then the guards stood with their weapons in hand surrounding the king — from the right side of the temple to the left side, by the altar and by the temple.
2 Kings 11:12 Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, gave him the testimony, and made him king. They anointed him and clapped their hands and cried, “Long live the king!”
2 Kings 11:13 When Athaliah heard the noise from the guard and the crowd, she went out to the people at Yahveh’s temple.
2 Kings 11:14 She looked, and there was the king standing by the pillar according to custom. The commanders and the trumpeters were by the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed “Treason! Treason!”
2 Kings 11:15 Then the priest Jehoiada ordered the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, “Take her out between the ranks, and put to death by the sword anyone who follows her,” for the priest had said, “She is not to be put to death in Yahveh’s temple.”
2 Kings 11:16 So they arrested her, and she went through the horse entrance to the king’s palace, where she was put to death.
2 Kings 11:17 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between Yahveh, the king, and the people that they would be Yahveh’s people and another covenant between the king and the people.
2 Kings 11:18 So all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed its altars and images to pieces, and they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, at the altars. Then Jehoiada the priest appointed guards for Yahveh’s temple.
2 Kings 11:19 He took the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king from Yahveh’s temple. They entered the king’s palace by way of the guards’ gate. Then Joash sat on the throne of the kings.
2 Kings 11:20 All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet, because they had put Athaliah to death by the sword in the king’s palace.
2 Kings 11:21 Joash was seven years old when he became king.

Judah’s Jezebel

The Southern kingdom had its Jezebels as well – and Athalia was one of them. She attempted to wipe out the entire royal line of Judah so that she would reign. Thwarting that plan was another woman: Jehosheba, who hides young Joash. God is at work behind the scenes preventing the elimination of David’s line, because Christ will come from that family. When Joash is seven years old he is proclaimed king, and Athaliah is put to death, and Baalism is dealt another crushing blow. The high priest and the palace guards cooperated with God’s plan.

LORD, give us the wisdom and courage to cooperate with your plan.