ATHALIAH AND JOASH 2 KINGS 11:1-21

Transcription

1 1 ATHALIAH AND JOASH 2 KINGS 11:1-21

2 2 Athaliah and Joash Text: 2 Kings 11:1-21, 1. When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family. 2. But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed. 3. He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land. 4. In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of units of a hundred, the Carites and the guards and had them brought to him at the temple of the LORD. He made a covenant with them and put them under oath at the temple of the LORD. Then he showed them the king s son. 5. He commanded them, saying, This is what you are to do: You who are in the three companies that are going on duty on the Sabbath a third of you guarding the royal palace, 6. a third at the Sur Gate, and a third at the gate behind the guard, who take turns guarding the temple 7. and you who are in the other two companies that normally go off Sabbath duty are all to guard the temple for the king. 8. Station yourselves around the king, each of you with weapon in hand. Anyone who approaches your ranks is to be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes. 9. The commanders of units of a hundred did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one took his men those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were going off duty and came to Jehoiada the priest.

3 3 10. Then he gave the commanders the spears and shields that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of the LORD. 11. The guards, each with weapon in hand, stationed themselves around the king near the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple. 12. Jehoiada brought out the king s son and put the crown on him; he presented him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and shouted, Long live the king! 13. When Athaliah heard the noise made by the guards and the people, she went to the people at the temple of the LORD. 14. She looked and there was the king, standing by the pillar, as the custom was. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her robes and called out, Treason! Treason! 15. Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of the troops: Bring her out between the ranks and put to the sword anyone who follows her. For the priest had said, She must not be put to death in the temple of the LORD. 16. So they seized her as she reached the place where the horses enter the palace grounds, and there she was put to death. 17. Jehoiada then made a covenant between the LORD and the king and people that they would be the LORD s people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people. 18. All the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. Then Jehoiada the priest posted guards at the temple of the LORD. 19. He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards and all the people of the land, and together they brought the king down from the temple of the LORD and

4 4 went into the palace, entering by way of the gate of the guards. The king then took his place on the royal throne. 20. All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the palace. 21. Joash was seven years old when he began to reign. (NIV 1984) Introduction: I. Identifying the people named in 2 Kings 11 will help the student to understand the events addressed. A. Ahaziah (the Lord sustains) was the son and successor of Joram king of Judah, nephew of another Ahaziah, king of Israel. He was also known as Jehoahaz. His mother was Athaliah. He reigned only one (1) year (841 B.C.) He was killed by Jehu. (Youngblood) B. Athaliah (the Lord is strong) was queen/ruler of Judah for six (6) years, the daughter of King Ahab of Israel. Athaliah married Jehoram/Joram, son of Jehoshaphat, king of Judah, who reigned eight (8) years. His son Ahaziah then reigned one (1) year. She ruthlessly killed heirs to the throne and took charge of the government of Judah. In time she was murdered. (Youngblood) C. Cherethites were mercenary troops who helped guard the palace and temple at the request of Jehoiada. They evidently were natives of Caria in southwest Asia Minor perhaps near Philistia. (Bromiley) D. Jehoiada was priest during the reigns of Ahaziah, Athaliah, and Joash of Judah. He helped hide Joash from the wrath of Athaliah and courageously acted to preserve the dynasty of David. (Youngblood)

5 5 E. Jehoram/Joram was the fifth (5 th ) king of Judah. This Jehoram/Joram is not to be confused with the ninth (9 th ) king of Israel of the same name. (Youngblood) F. Jehosheba/Jehoshabeath (the Lord is her oath) was the courageous woman who rescued her nephew Joash from certain death at the hands of Athaliah, the wicked queen of Judah. Jehosheba was the half-sister of King Ahaziah (Youngblood). G. Joash/Jehoash (the Lord supports) was the eighth (8 th ) king of Judah, the son of Ahaziah and Zibiah of Beersheba. Joash was seven (7) years old when he became king, and he reigned forty (40) years in Jerusalem. (Youngblood) H. Matten (gift [of God] ) was a priest of Baal in Jerusalem during the days of Queen Athaliah. (Youngblood) II. Smith wrote, The revolution of 841 B.C. was crucial in the history of Judah as well as of Israel. The execution of the fortytwo (42) princes by Jehu set the stage for a usurper to take over the throne of David in Jerusalem. III. The House of David, Long wrote, placed the following kings on the throne during this present period; viz., Jehoshaphat, his son Jehoram, his son Ahaziah and his son Joash. (Long) A. Jehoshaphat had six (6) sons beside Jehoram. (Long) 1. 2 Chronicles 21:2, Jehoram s brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat, were Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariahu, Michael and Shephatiah. All these were sons of Jehoshaphat king of Israel. (NIV 1984)

6 6 B. Jehoram s sons, except for his son Ahaziah, were abducted by the Philistines and Arabs. (Long) 1. 2 Chronicles 21:16-17, The LORD aroused against Jehoram the hostility of the Philistines and of the Arabs who lived near the Cushites. They attacked Judah, invaded it and carried off all the goods found in the king s palace, together with his sons and wives. Not a son was left to him except Ahaziah, the youngest. (NIV 1984) 2. Jehoram s daughter by Athaliah and Jezebel s granddaughter by Ahab also survived. C. Following Athaliah s murderous spree, only Joash of Ahaziah s sons survived. (Long) D. Jehosheba was the wife of the priest Jehoiada to which union was born Zechariah, et. al. (Long) 1. 2 Chronicles 24:20-22, Then the Spirit of God came upon Zechariah son of Jehoiada the priest. He stood before the people and said, This is what God says: Why do you disobey the LORD s commands? You will not prosper. Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has forsaken you. But they plotted against him, and by order of the king they stoned him to death in the courtyard of the LORD s temple. King Joash did not remember the kindness Zechariah s father Jehoiada had shown him but killed his son, who said as he lay dying, May the LORD see this and call you to account. (NIV 1984) 2. 2 Chronicles 22:11, But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes who

7 7 were about to be murdered and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Because Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of the priest Jehoiada, was Ahaziah s sister, she hid the child from Athaliah so she could not kill him. (NIV 1984) E. In the Northern Kingdom, the house of Ahab, Jezebel and Baal had been dealt a death blow, but in the Southern Kingdom a daughter of Ahab and Jezebel sat on the throne in Jerusalem and the worship of Baal flourished. Commentary: 1. This situation was intolerable! 2 Kings 11:1, When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family. (NIV 1984) I. When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son (Ahaziah) was dead,... A. Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, the wife of Jehoram/Joram of Judah and the mother of Ahaziah. (See Smith.) She was the granddaughter of Omri. (Clarke) 1. Smith further wrote, Through her influence King Jehoram had introduced the Tyrian Baal into Judah. a. 2 Kings 8:18, 27, He walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter of Ahab. He did evil in the eyes of the LORD. He walked in the ways of the house of Ahab and did evil in the eyes of the LORD, as the house of Ahab

8 8 had done, for he was related by marriage to Ahab s family. (NIV 1984) b. 2 Chronicles 21:5, 11, Jehoram was thirtytwo years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He had also built high places on the hills of Judah and had caused the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves and had led Judah astray. (NIV 1984) c. 2 Kings 11:18, All the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. Then Jehoiada the priest posted guards at the temple of the LORD. (NIV 1984) d. 2 Chronicles 22:3, He too walked in the ways of the house of Ahab, for his mother encouraged him in doing wrong. (NIV 1984) 2. When Ahaziah was killed by Jehu s forces, Ahaziah s oldest son was in line to become king of Judah and the prominent position of Queen Mother would pass from Athaliah to Ahaziah s widow. (Smith) II. she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family. A. Wicked Athaliah, in order to usurp the throne of David, set about to eliminate all competition for the crown. 1. Those killed included Athaliah s own grandsons. a. How destructive is the lust for power? (Clark)

9 9 2. She was resolved to destroy all David s descendants, the royal family, but she missed one. 3. Coffman wrote, Athaliah was a true daughter of Jezebel... she murdered all of her own grandchildren and everyone else whom she recognized as a possible threat to her authority. She saw to it that all of her husband s (Jehoram s) brothers were murdered so that her authority might not be challenged. She made the worship of Baal the national religion of Judah. She was not recognized by Judah as a legitimate ruler, but she nevertheless exercised tyrannical authority for over six (6) years in Jerusalem. a. 2 Chronicles 21:4, When Jehoram established himself firmly over his father s kingdom, he put all his brothers to the sword along with some of the princes of Israel. (NIV 1984) B. Athaliah s purpose was to destroy the house of David and, except for the providence of God, she would have succeeded. 1. She also was determined to firmly establish Baal worship as the official and exclusive religion in Judah. (Coffman) C. The royal house, even before Athaliah, had been greatly depleted Chronicles 21:4, 17, When Jehoram established himself firmly over his father s kingdom, he put all his brothers to the sword along with some of the princes of Israel. They attacked Judah, invaded it and carried off all the goods found in the king s palace, together with his sons and wives. Not a son

10 10 was left to him except Ahaziah, the youngest. (NIV 1984) 2. 2 Kings 10:14, Take them alive! he ordered. So they took them alive and slaughtered them by the well of Beth Eked forty-two men. He left no survivor. (NIV 1984) 2 Kings 11:2, But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed. (NIV) I. But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram/Joram and halfsister of Ahaziah,... A. Jehosheba thwarted Athaliah s plans by hiding the royal infant Joash in the chamber of mattresses, a storage room in the palace. 1. This was an extremely dangerous thing for her to do because, if Athaliah had known of this, Jehosheba would certainly have been killed along with Joash. 2. It is amazing, except for her marriage to the priest Jehoiada, that this granddaughter of Jezebel, was the instrument God used to overthrow Athaliah and restore the house of David to the throne of David in Judah. a. God surely works in mysterious ways his wonders to perform. b. Athaliah was not Jehosheba s mother, but Jehosheba was the daughter of another wife of

11 11 Jehoram, perhaps Zibiah of Beersheba, the mother of Joash. i. 2 Kings 12:1, In the seventh year of Jehu, Joash became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba. (NIV 1984) II. took Joash/Jehoash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. A. This was a perfectly kept secret of which Athaliah evidently knew nothing for the next six (6) years. III. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed. A. Coffman defined this bedroom as a storage room where mattresses and such things were kept. 2 Kings 11:3, He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land. (NIV 1984) I. He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land. A. Thereafter he was moved to the temple where he was sequestered for six (6) years Kings 6:5-8, Against the walls of the main hall and inner sanctuary he built a structure around the building, in which there were side rooms. The lowest floor was five cubits wide, the middle floor six cubits

12 12 and the third floor seven. He made offset ledges around the outside of the temple so that nothing would be inserted into the temple walls. In building the temple, only blocks dressed at the quarry were used, and no hammer, chisel or any other iron tool was heard at the temple site while it was being built. The entrance to the lowest floor was on the south side of the temple; a stairway led up to the middle level and from there to the third. (NIV 1984) 2. Nehemiah 13:5-9, and he had provided him with a large room formerly used to store the grain offerings and incense and temple articles, and also the tithes of grain, new wine and oil prescribed for the Levites, singers and gatekeepers, as well as the contributions for the priests. But while all this was going on, I was not in Jerusalem, for in the thirtysecond year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I had returned to the king. Some time later I asked his permission and came back to Jerusalem. Here I learned about the evil thing Eliashib had done in providing Tobiah a room in the courts of the house of God. I was greatly displeased and threw all Tobiah s household goods out of the room. I gave orders to purify the rooms, and then I put back into them the equipment of the house of God, with the grain offerings and the incense. (NIV 1984) B. Jehosheba was the wife of Jehoiada, the temple priest, high priest, and would have access to the temple. (See Smith.) 1. 2 Kings 12:4, Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy

13 13 yoke he put on us, and we will serve you. (NIV 1984) 2. 2 Chronicles 22:11, But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes who were about to be murdered and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Because Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of the priest Jehoiada, was Ahaziah s sister, she hid the child from Athaliah so she could not kill him. (NIV 1984) C. Evil, idolatrous Athaliah ruled in Jerusalem six (6) years ( B.C.) during which time Baal worship flourished in Judah and the Lord s temple in Jerusalem fell into disrepair. (Smith) 1. However, Smith wrote that Athaliah was apparently afraid to challenge Jehoiada s position and temple services and temple armories were left intact. a. 2 Chronicles 23:4-8, Now this is what you are to do: A third of you priests and Levites who are going on duty on the Sabbath are to keep watch at the doors, a third of you at the royal palace and a third at the Foundation Gate, and all the other men are to be in the courtyards of the temple of the LORD. No one is to enter the temple of the LORD except the priests and Levites on duty; they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the other men are to guard what the LORD has assigned to them. The Levites are to station themselves around the king, each man with his weapons in his hand. Anyone who enters the temple must be

14 14 put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes. The Levites and all the men of Judah did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one took his men those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were going off duty for Jehoiada the priest had not released any of the divisions. (NIV 1984) b. God and his people were unhappy with Athaliah s suppression of the service of Jehovah. c. 2 Chronicles 24:1, Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba. (NIV 1984) d. 2 Chronicles 21:11, He had also built high places on the hills of Judah and had caused the people of Jerusalem to prostitute themselves and had led Judah astray. (NIV 1984) e. 2 Kings 12:5, Let every priest receive the money from one of the treasurers, and let it be used to repair whatever damage is found in the temple. (NIV) f. 2 Kings 11:18, All the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. Then Jehoiada the priest posted guards at the temple of the LORD. (NIV 1984) D. The temple was the perfect place to hide Joash because no one had access to the temple except the priests. (Clarke)

15 15 E. Even under the rule of wicked Baal worshiping Athaliah, the worshipers of Jehovah were able to continue temple services Chronicles 23:1-8, In the seventh year Jehoiada showed his strength. He made a covenant with the commanders of units of a hundred: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zicri. They went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites and the heads of Israelite families from all the towns. When they came to Jerusalem, the whole assembly made a covenant with the king at the temple of God. Jehoiada said to them, The king s son shall reign, as the LORD promised concerning the descendants of David. Now this is what you are to do: A third of you priests and Levites who are going on duty on the Sabbath are to keep watch at the doors, a third of you at the royal palace and a third at the Foundation Gate, and all the other men are to be in the courtyards of the temple of the LORD. No one is to enter the temple of the LORD except the priests and Levites on duty; they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the other men are to guard what the LORD has assigned to them. The Levites are to station themselves around the king, each man with his weapons in his hand. Anyone who enters the temple must be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes. The Levites and all the men of Judah did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one took his men those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were going off duty for

16 16 Jehoiada the priest had not released any of the divisions. (NIV 1984) 2. Jehoiada was a shrewd politician and designed and directed this coup d etat flawlessly. 2 Kings 11:4, In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of units of a hundred, the Carites and the guards and had them brought to him at the temple of the LORD. He made a covenant with them and put them under oath at the temple of the LORD. Then he showed them the king s son. (NIV 1984) I. In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of units of a hundred, the Carites and the guards and had them brought to him at the temple of the LORD. A. When Joash/Jehoash was seven (7) years of age, Jehoiada took action to restore the throne to the line of David. (Smith) B. Jehoiada summoned the five (5) commanders of Carites, the royal guard, to a secret meeting. 1. Jehoiada was the instigator and prime character in seeing this coup to a successful conclusion. 2. The Carites and Pelethites are mentioned as being bodyguards of the king s household in previous texts. a. 2 Samuel 20:23, Joab was over Israel s entire army; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; (NIV 1984) b. 1 Kings 1:38, So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites went down and

17 17 put Solomon on King David s mule and escorted him to Gihon. (NIV 1984) C. The response to Jehoiada s directives by the Carites and commanders of units shows how much Athaliah was detested by the people in general (Coffman), how glad they were to learn that a Davidic heir to the throne still lived! (McGee) 1. 2 Samuel 15:18, All his men marched past him, along with all the Kerethites and Pelethites; and all the six hundred Gittites who had accompanied him from Gath marched before the king. (NIV 1984) 2. 2 Samuel 8:18, Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David s sons were royal advisers. (NIV 1984) 3. 1 Kings 1:38, So Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites went down and put Solomon on King David s mule and escorted him to Gihon. (NIV 1984) 4. 1 Chronicles 18:17, Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Kerethites and Pelethites; and David s sons were chief officials at the king s side. (NIV 1984) D. Securing the support of these military units in total secret was a major accomplishment and speaks to the political expertise and finesse of Jehoiada. 1. If these Carites had been persuaded no Davidic heirs had survived Athaliah s purge, they may have reluctantly worked for her, but the Carites had for long years been loyal servants of the house of David.

18 18 2. They must have been overjoyed to learn that David s descendant lived and was to be king of Judah! II. He made a covenant with them and put them under oath at the temple of the LORD. A. These men took an oath of support for the young king, Joash. (Smith) B. They had had enough of this woman Athaliah, and they jumped at the chance to dethrone her. (McGee) C. This must have been an oath of secrecy (Clarke) as well as support for placing Joash on the throne rather than Athaliah. III. Then he showed them the king s (Ahaziah s) son. A. Smith further wrote that these captains/commanders visited the cities of Judah and gathered a strong force which came to the temple and swore an oath to Joash. 1. They received a charge from Jehoiada Chronicles 23:4-7, Now this is what you are to do: A third of you priests and Levites who are going on duty on the Sabbath are to keep watch at the doors, a third of you at the royal palace and a third at the Foundation Gate, and all the other men are to be in the courtyards of the temple of the LORD. No one is to enter the temple of the LORD except the priests and Levites on duty; they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the other men are to guard what the LORD has assigned to them. The Levites are to station themselves around the king, each man with his weapons in his hand. Anyone who

19 19 enters the temple must be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes. (NIV 1984) B. Joash, the king s son, at this time was only seven (7) years of age and incapable of making decisions required of a king. 1. Jehoiada the priest guided Joash and, until Jehoiada died, Joash did really well. 2 Kings 11:5-6, He commanded them, saying, This is what you are to do: You who are in the three companies that are going on duty on the Sabbath a third of you guarding the royal palace, a third at the Sur Gate, and a third at the gate behind the guard, who take turns guarding the temple (NIV 1984) I. He commanded them, saying, This is what you are to do: You who are in the three (3) companies that are going on duty on the Sabbath... A. Three (3) of the five (5) companies of royal bodyguards were deployed about the palace. (Smith) B. The other two (2) companies with other forces recruited from the cities of Judah were assigned to guard the young king in the temple. (Smith) C. The Sabbath was chosen as the day for the coronation of Joash as people would be congregating at the temple and extra people in the area would not be thought suspicious. Note: There was, according to 2 Chronicles and Josephus, a considerable interval of time between the events of verses 4 and 5. This was carefully planned. It is remarkable that word of this coup did not reach Athaliah. (See The Pulpit Commentary.)

20 20 II. a third of you guarding the royal palace, a third at the Sur Gate, and a third at the gate behind the guard (toward the east), who take turns guarding the temple A. In every way possible Joash/Jehoash was provided protection. B. The Sur Gate, not elsewhere mentioned, was an unidentified gate in Jerusalem, probably leading from the king s palace in the temple area. The parallel passage calls it the Gate of the Foundation. (Youngblood) 1. 2 Chronicles 23:4-7, Now this is what you are to do: A third of you priests and Levites who are going on duty on the Sabbath are to keep watch at the doors, a third of you at the royal palace and a third at the Foundation Gate, and all the other men are to be in the courtyards of the temple of the LORD. No one is to enter the temple of the LORD except the priests and Levites on duty; they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the other men are to guard what the LORD has assigned to them. The Levites are to station themselves around the king, each man with his weapons in his hand. Anyone who enters the temple must be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes. (NIV 1984) C. A force was gathered from the cities of Judah along with the Carites in Jerusalem and gave them similar but not identical charges. 1. The royal bodyguard consisted of five (5) divisions, each probably of a hundred (100) men and each

21 21 commanded by its own captain. (The Pulpit Commentary) a. 2 Chronicles 23:1, In the seventh year Jehoiada showed his strength. He made a covenant with the commanders of units of a hundred: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zicri. (NIV 1984) 2. It was usual on the Sabbath for three (3) divisions out of the five (5) to mount guard at the royal palace, while two (2) were engaged outside, keeping order in the city, and especially at the temple. 2 Kings 11:7, and you who are in the other two companies that normally go off Sabbath duty are all to guard the temple for the king. (NIV 1984) I. and you who are in the other two (2) companies that normally go off Sabbath duty are all to guard the temple for the king. A. Three (3) companies were to secure the palace and two (2) companies were to secure the temple and the person of the king. 2 Kings 11:8, Station yourselves around the king, each of you with weapon in hand. Anyone who approaches your ranks is to be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes. (NIV 1984) I. Station yourselves around the king, each man with his weapon in his hand.

22 22 A. Those guarding the king were to be fully armed and ready for protective action. II. Anyone who approaches your ranks must be put to death. A. Anyone who attempted to challenge the guards were to be killed. 1. There is no record that these guards were challenged and, consequently, no one was killed as a result of the military ranks being breached. III. Stay close to the king wherever he goes. A. This was of utmost importance! Protect the king! 1. As the young king moved about, the guards were to provide him absolute protection. 2 Kings 11:9, The commanders of units of a hundred did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one took his men those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were going off duty and came to Jehoiada the priest. (NIV 1984) I. The commanders of units of a hundred did just as Jehoiada the (high) priest ordered. A. These commanders did exactly as they had been ordered by Jehoiada the priest. 1. Without this co-operation between the religious and the military, Joash would never have become king.

23 23 2. The Pulpit Commentary identified these commanders as Azariah the son of Jeroham, Azariah the son of Obed, Ishmael, Maaseiah, and Elishaphat. II. Each one took his men those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were going off duty and came to Jehoiada the priest. A,. Jehoiada was actually High Priest Chronicles 22:11, But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes who were about to be murdered and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Because Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of the priest Jehoiada, was Ahaziah s sister, she hid the child from Athaliah so she could not kill him. (NIV 1984) 2 Kings 11:10, Then he gave the commanders the spears and shields that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of the LORD. (NIV 1984) I. Then he gave the commanders the spears and shields that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of the LORD. A. Smith noted these spears and shields had been taken by David in battle many years before. 1. Josephus speaks of spears (arrows), quivers, and all kinds of weapons kept in the temple for protection should it be attacked.

24 Samuel 8:7, David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. (NIV 1984) 3. 1 Kings 10:17, He also made three hundred small shields of hammered gold, with three minas of gold in each shield. The king put them in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon. (NIV 1984) 4. 1 Kings 14:26-27, He carried off the treasures of the temple of the LORD and the treasures of the royal palace. He took everything, including all the gold shields Solomon had made. So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and assigned these to the commanders of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace. (NIV 1984) B. The Wycliffe Old Testament Commentary via Coffman reads, The presence of a multitude indicates that this revolution occurred on a feast day. 1. Jehoiada had not neglected any of the details of his conspiracy against Athaliah, Coffman wrote. 2 Kings 11:11, The guards, each with weapon in hand, stationed themselves around the king near the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple. I. The guards, each with his weapon in his hand, stationed themselves around the king... A. The king was protected on all sides. II. near the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.

25 25 A. The altar here was the altar of burnt offerings which stood in the great court of the temple. (The Pulpit Commentary) 1. 2 Chronicles 23:6, No one is to enter the temple of the LORD except the priests and Levites on duty; they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the other men are to guard what the LORD has assigned to them. (NIV 1984) 2 Kings 11:12, Jehoiada brought out the king s son and put the crown on him; he presented him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and shouted, Long live the king! (NIV 1984) I. Jehoiada brought out the king s son and put the crown (diadem) on him;... A. The placement of the crown on Joash indicates his consecration to his duties Samuel 1:10, So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band on his arm and have brought them here to my lord. (NIV 1984) 2. Numbers 6:1-21, The LORD said to Moses, Speak to the Israelites and say to them: If a man or woman wants to make a special vow, a vow of separation to the LORD as a Nazirite, he must abstain from wine and other fermented drink and must not drink vinegar made from wine or from other fermented drink. He must not drink grape

26 26 juice or eat grapes or raisins. As long as he is a Nazirite, he must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins. During the entire period of his vow of separation no razor may be used on his head. He must be holy until the period of his separation to the LORD is over; he must let the hair of his head grow long. Throughout the period of his separation to the LORD he must not go near a dead body. Even if his own father or mother or brother or sister dies, he must not make himself ceremonially unclean on account of them, because the symbol of his separation to God is on his head. Throughout the period of his separation he is consecrated to the LORD. If someone dies suddenly in his presence, thus defiling the hair he has dedicated, he must shave his head on the day of his cleansing the seventh day. Then on the eighth day he must bring two doves or two young pigeons to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. The priest is to offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to make atonement for him because he sinned by being in the presence of the dead body. That same day he is to consecrate his head. He must dedicate himself to the LORD for the period of his separation and must bring a year-old male lamb as a guilt offering. The previous days do not count, because he became defiled during his separation. Now this is the law for the Nazirite when the period of his separation is over. He is to be brought to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. There he is to present his offerings to the LORD: a year-old male lamb without defect for a burnt offering, a year-old ewe lamb without defect for a sin offering, a ram without defect for a fellowship offering, together with their grain offerings and

27 27 drink offerings, and a basket of bread made without yeast cakes made of fine flour mixed with oil, and wafers spread with oil. The priest is to present them before the LORD and make the sin offering and the burnt offering. He is to present the basket of unleavened bread and is to sacrifice the ram as a fellowship offering to the LORD, together with its grain offering and drink offering. Then at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, the Nazirite must shave off the hair that he dedicated. He is to take the hair and put it in the fire that is under the sacrifice of the fellowship offering. After the Nazirite has shaved off the hair of his dedication, the priest is to place in his hands a boiled shoulder of the ram, and a cake and a wafer from the basket, both made without yeast. The priest shall then wave them before the LORD as a wave offering; they are holy and belong to the priest, together with the breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented. After that, the Nazirite may drink wine. This is the law of the Nazirite who vows his offering to the LORD in accordance with his separation, in addition to whatever else he can afford. He must fulfill the vow he has made, according to the law of the Nazirite. (NIV 1984) 3. 1 Chronicles 20:2, David took the crown from the head of their king its weight was found to be a talent of gold, and it was set with precious stones and it was placed on David s head. He took a great quantity of plunder from the city (NIV 1984) 4. Zechariah 9:16, The LORD their God will save them on that day as the flock of his people. They will

28 28 sparkle in his land like jewels in a crown. (NIV 1984) 5. Exodus 29:6, Put the turban on his head and attach the sacred diadem to the turban. (NIV 1984) 6. Exodus 39:30, They made the plate, the sacred diadem, out of pure gold and engraved on it, like an inscription on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD. (NIV 1984) II. Jehoiada presented him (Joash) with a copy of the covenant (testimony) and proclaimed him king. A. Joash was impressed with the fact that he was to reign in keeping with the Torah, the Law of Moses Chronicles 23:11, Jehoiada and his sons brought out the king s son and put the crown on him; they presented him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him and shouted, Long live the king! (NIV 1984) 2. 1 Kings 2:3, and observe what the LORD your God requires: Walk in his ways, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and requirements, as written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go, (NIV 1984) 3. 2 Kings 17:15, They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their fathers and the warnings he had given them. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the

29 29 LORD had ordered them, Do not do as they do, and they did the things the LORD had forbidden them to do. (NIV 1984) 4. 2 Kings 23:3, The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the LORD to follow the LORD and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant. (NIV 1984) 5. Psalm 132:12, if your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever. (NIV 1984) 6. Deuteronomy 17:18-20, When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the priests, who are Levites. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his brothers and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel. (NIV 1984) 7. Exodus 29:6, Put the turban on his head and attach the sacred diadem to the turban. (NIV 1984) 8. Exodus 39:30, They made the plate, the sacred diadem, out of pure gold and engraved on it, like an

30 30 inscription on a seal: HOLY TO THE LORD. (NIV 1984) 9. Exodus 16:34, As the LORD commanded Moses, Aaron put the manna in front of the Testimony, that it might be kept. (NIV 1984) 10. Exodus 25:16, 21, Then put in the ark the Testimony, which I will give you. Place the cover on top of the ark and put in the ark the Testimony, which I will give you. (NIV 1984) III. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and shouted, Long live the king! A. All of this, to this point, evidently happened without the knowledge of Athaliah. 1. The clapping and shouting of the people got Athaliah s attention. 2. She rushed over to the temple to investigate and protest! B. This was a very happy occasion! 1. Long noted that the king was crowned, presented with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed king of Judah by Jehoiada. 2. The people anointed him, clapped their hands and shouted, Long live the king! C. They included Jehoiada and his sons.

31 Chronicles 28:11, Now listen to me! Send back your fellow countrymen you have taken as prisoners, for the LORD s fierce anger rests on you. (NIV 1984) D. Clapping of the hands was a sign of joy. 1. Psalm 47:1, Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. NIV 1984) 2. Psalm 98:8, Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; (NIV 1984) 3. Isaiah 55:12, You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. (NIV 1984) 4. Nahum 3:19, Nothing can heal your wound; your injury is fatal. Everyone who hears the news about you claps his hands at your fall, for who has not felt your endless cruelty? (NIV 1984) E. Long live the king! 1. 1 Samuel 10:24, Samuel said to all the people, Do you see the man the LORD has chosen? There is no one like him among all the people. Then the people shouted, Long live the king! (NIV 1984) 2. 2 Samuel 16:16, Then Hushai the Arkite, David s friend, went to Absalom and said to him, Long live the king! Long live the king! (NIV 1984) 3. 1 Kings 1:25, 39, Today he has gone down and sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves,

32 32 and sheep. He has invited all the king s sons, the commanders of the army and Abiathar the priest. Right now they are eating and drinking with him and saying, Long live King Adonijah! Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, Long live King Solomon! (NIV 1984) 2 Kings 11:13, When Athaliah heard the noise made by the guards and the people, she went to the people at the temple of the LORD. (NIV 1984) I. When Athaliah heard the noise made by the guards and the people, she went to the people at the temple of the LORD. A. Hearing the noise, Athaliah went to the temple to investigate and was totally surprised by what she saw there! B. She inadvertently had placed herself in the hands of her enemies from which there was no escape. C. Athaliah evidently was in the palace adjacent to the temple when she heard the noise. D. Athaliah was not accustomed to going to the temple and went presently, not to worship, but to see who was making all the noise and why. (The Pulpit Commentary) 1. She took no guards with her indicating she did not perceive the danger that awaited her. 2 Kings 11:14, She looked and there was the king, standing by the pillar, as the custom was. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were

33 33 rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her robes and called out, Treason! Treason! (NIV 1984) I. She looked and there was the king, standing by the pillar, as the custom was. A. The pillars, Jakin and Boaz, signify, Long wrote, security and strength and by one of these Joash evidently stood. 1. The symbolism was clear to all Kings 7:13-32, King Solomon sent to Tyre and brought Huram, whose mother was a widow from the tribe of Naphtali and whose father was a man of Tyre and a craftsman in bronze. Huram was highly skilled and experienced in all kinds of bronze work. He came to King Solomon and did all the work assigned to him. He cast two bronze pillars, each eighteen cubits high and twelve cubits around, by line. He also made two capitals of cast bronze to set on the tops of the pillars; each capital was five cubits high. A network of interwoven chains festooned the capitals on top of the pillars, seven for each capital. He made pomegranates in two rows encircling each network to decorate the capitals on top of the pillars. He did the same for each capital. The capitals on top of the pillars in the portico were in the shape of lilies, four cubits high. On the capitals of both pillars, above the bowl-shaped part next to the network, were the two hundred pomegranates in rows all around. He erected the pillars at the portico of the temple. The pillar to the south he named Jakin and the one to the north Boaz. The capitals on top were in the shape of lilies. And so the work on the pillars was completed. He made the Sea

34 34 of cast metal, circular in shape, measuring ten cubits from rim to rim and five cubits high. It took a line of thirty cubits to measure around it. Below the rim, gourds encircled it ten to a cubit. The gourds were cast in two rows in one piece with the Sea. The Sea stood on twelve bulls, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south and three facing east. The Sea rested on top of them, and their hindquarters were toward the center. It was a handbreadth in thickness, and its rim was like the rim of a cup, like a lily blossom. It held two thousand baths. He also made ten movable stands of bronze; each was four cubits long, four wide and three high. This is how the stands were made: They had side panels attached to uprights. On the panels between the uprights were lions, bulls and cherubim and on the uprights as well. Above and below the lions and bulls were wreaths of hammered work. Each stand had four bronze wheels with bronze axles, and each had a basin resting on four supports, cast with wreaths on each side. On the inside of the stand there was an opening that had a circular frame one cubit deep. This opening was round, and with its basework it measured a cubit and a half. Around its opening there was engraving. The panels of the stands were square, not round. The four wheels were under the panels, and the axles of the wheels were attached to the stand. The diameter of each wheel was a cubit and a half. (NIV 1984) B. Joash stood on a raised platform and all, except Athaliah, greatly rejoiced!

35 Kings 23:3, The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the LORD to follow the LORD and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant. (NIV 1984) 2. 2 Chronicles 23:13, She looked, and there was the king, standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and singers with musical instruments were leading the praises. Then Athaliah tore her robes and shouted, Treason! Treason! (NIV 1984) 3. 2 Chronicles 34:31, The king stood by his pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the LORD to follow the LORD and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, and to obey the words of the covenant written in this book. (NIV 1984) 4. 2 Samuel 15:10, Then Absalom sent secret messengers throughout the tribes of Israel to say, As soon as you hear the sound of the trumpets, then say, Absalom is king in Hebron. (NIV 1984) 5. 1 Kings 1:39, Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted, Long live King Solomon! (NIV 1984)

36 36 II. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. A. This was an assembly of considerable size and the joy of the people upon the coronation of King Joash was truly wonderful! III. Then Athaliah tore her robes and called out, Treason! Treason! A. When Joram, king of Israel, became aware of Jehu s efforts to depose him, he yelled, Treachery! 1. 2 Kings 9:23, Joram turned about and fled, calling out to Ahaziah, Treachery, Ahaziah! (NIV 1984) 2. Conspiracy! Conspiracy! B. Under somewhat similar circumstances, Athaliah yelled, Treason! Treason!... and tore her robes in horror and despair. C. Athaliah was not at all happy! 1. She was about to reap what she had sown. D. When people opposed Athaliah, it was treason. When Athaliah killed her grandsons, it was just the expedient thing to do. E. Treason was a conspiracy. 2 Kings 11:15, Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of the troops: Bring

37 37 her out between the ranks and put to the sword anyone who follows her. For the priest had said, She must not be put to death in the temple of the LORD. (NIV 1984) I. Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of the troops:... A. Jehoiada now gave orders as to how Athaliah was to be killed and where she was not to be killed; that is, in the temple. II. Bring her out between the ranks and put to the sword anyone who follows her. A. Anyone who came to Athaliah s defense was to be killed! B. Athaliah was immediately to be placed under arrest and summarily executed! III. For the priest had said, She must not be put to death in the temple of the LORD. A. The temple was not to be polluted by being the site of Athaliah s execution. 2 Kings 11:16, So they seized her as she reached the place where the horses enter the palace grounds, and there she was put to death. (NIV 1984) I. So they seized her as she reached the place where the horses enter the palace grounds,... A. Once outside the temple precincts, Athaliah was killed. B. Clarke wrote, They probably brought her out near the king s stables.

38 38 1. It has been supposed 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 south gate. a. Ezekiel 46:1-2, This is what the Sovereign LORD says: The gate of the inner court facing east is to be shut on the six working days, but on the Sabbath day and on the day of the New Moon it is to be opened. The prince is to enter from the outside through the portico of the gateway and stand by the gatepost. The priests are to sacrifice his burnt offering and his fellowship offerings. He is to worship at the threshold of the gateway and then go out, but the gate will not be shut until evening. (NIV 1984) 2. The horse gate, in the wall of the city, which was for the king s horses to go out from the stables at Millo, was called the horse gate toward the king s house. a. Jeremiah 31:40, The whole valley where dead bodies and ashes are thrown, and all the terraces out to the Kidron Valley on the east as far as the corner of the Horse Gate, will be holy to the LORD. The city will never again be uprooted or demolished. (NIV 1984) b. 2 Chronicles 23:15, So they seized her as she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate on the palace grounds, and there they put her to death. (NIV 1984)