2 Kings 11

King James Version

Full text for 2 Kings Chapter 11

1¶ And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.

2But 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.

3And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land.

4¶ 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 shewed them the king's son.

5And 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;

6And 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.

7And 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.

8And 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.

9And 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.

10And to the captains over hundreds did the priest give king David's spears and shields, that [were] in the temple of the LORD.

11And 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.

12And 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.

13¶ And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard [and] of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the LORD.

14And 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.

15But 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.

16And 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.

17¶ And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD'S people; between the king also and the people.

18And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal, and brake it down; his altars and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the LORD.

19And he took the rulers over hundreds, and the captains, and the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from the house of the LORD, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king's house. And he sat on the throne of the kings.

20And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword [beside] the king's house.

21Seven years old [was] Jehoash when he began to reign.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

After her son Ahaziah's death, Athaliah seized power by destroying the royal seed, but Joash, the infant son of Ahaziah, was secretly hidden in the house of the LORD for six years. In the seventh year, Jehoiada the priest orchestrated a coup, revealing Joash and crowning him king in the temple. Athaliah was subsequently captured and executed, and the people destroyed the house of Baal. Joash, at seven years old, began his reign, restoring legitimate rule to Judah.

Medium Summary

Upon the death of her son Ahaziah, Athaliah attempted to exterminate all the royal offspring to secure her own reign. However, Joash, Ahaziah's infant son, was rescued by his aunt Jehosheba and hidden in the house of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled. In the seventh year, Jehoiada the priest initiated a carefully planned rebellion, gathering the captains and guards, securing their loyalty, and revealing the young king. Joash was then publicly crowned and anointed in the temple, receiving the testimony. Athaliah, hearing the commotion, appeared and cried "Treason," but was apprehended by Jehoiada's command and executed outside the temple. Following this, Jehoiada established a covenant between the LORD, the king, and the people. The populace then dismantled the house of Baal and slew its priest, restoring the worship of the LORD. Joash was then brought to the royal palace and ascended the throne, bringing peace to the land.

Long Summary

Upon the death of her son Ahaziah, Queen Athaliah initiated a ruthless purge, attempting to destroy all members of the royal family to secure her own power. However, Jehosheba, King Joram's daughter and Ahaziah's sister, secretly rescued Joash, Ahaziah's infant son, from the massacre. Joash, along with his nurse, was hidden within a bedchamber and subsequently concealed in the house of the LORD for six years, during which Athaliah reigned as queen over Judah. In the seventh year, Jehoiada the priest began to execute a plan to restore the rightful heir. He summoned the captains of the hundreds and the guard to the temple, where he made a covenant with them and administered an oath of loyalty, revealing the hidden king's son. Jehoiada meticulously organized the temple guard, assigning specific duties to those entering and leaving on the Sabbath, ensuring the king's protection. He armed them with King David's spears and shields, which were stored in the temple. With the security established, Jehoiada brought forth Joash, placed the crown upon him, and presented him with the testimony, formally anointing him king. The people responded with acclamation, crying, "God save the king." Athaliah, alerted by the celebratory noise, entered the temple, where she witnessed the coronation and cried out, "Treason, Treason." Jehoiada swiftly commanded the captains to remove her from the temple precincts and execute anyone who followed her, specifically forbidding her death within the holy place. She was taken outside the temple and slain near the king's house. Following Athaliah's demise, Jehoiada established a pivotal covenant, binding the LORD, the king, and the people together, affirming their identity as the LORD's people. The populace then demonstrated their renewed commitment by destroying the house of Baal, breaking its altars and images, and slaying Mattan, its priest. Jehoiada also appointed officers over the house of the LORD to ensure proper worship. Finally, Joash, accompanied by the captains and the people, was brought from the temple to the king's house and seated upon the royal throne. The land rejoiced, and the city experienced quiet and stability under the new reign, with Joash being seven years old when he began to rule.

Core Concepts

  • Athaliah's UsurpationAthaliah, upon her son's death, seized power by attempting to eradicate the entire royal lineage, establishing herself as queen over Judah for six years.
  • Preservation of JoashThe infant Joash, the rightful heir, was secretly rescued by his aunt Jehosheba and hidden within the house of the LORD, thus preserving the Davidic line from Athaliah's purge.
  • Jehoiada's CoupJehoiada the priest meticulously planned and executed a rebellion in the seventh year, gathering loyal captains and guards to restore the legitimate king.
  • Coronation of JoashJoash was publicly crowned and anointed king in the temple, receiving the "testimony" and the acclamation of the people, signifying the restoration of the rightful monarchy.
  • Execution of AthaliahAthaliah's reign ended abruptly when she was apprehended and executed outside the temple by Jehoiada's command, bringing her tyrannical rule to an end.
  • Covenant and Religious ReformJehoiada established a covenant reaffirming the people's commitment to the LORD, leading to the destruction of Baal worship and the re-establishment of proper service in the house of the LORD.
  • Restoration of Davidic LineThe chapter culminates in Joash, at seven years old, ascending the throne, signifying the successful restoration of the Davidic dynasty and legitimate rule in Judah.