2 Kings 11:1-16 ASV

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 11:1-3

On learning the death of Ahaziah ( 2 Kings 9:27 ), Athaliah, daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, the queen-mother, murders all her grandchildren (except the youngest, Joash, who is secreted by his aunt, Jehosheba) and seizes the kingdom. No resistance is made to her, and she retains the sole authority for six years. The worship of Baal, introduced by Jehoram into Judah, and supported by Ahaziah ( 2 Kings 8:27 ), is maintained by her ( 2 Kings 11:18 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 11:1-3

Athaliah's usurpation. Athaliah was the evil genius of Judah, as Jezebel was of Israel. The mother was slain, but, unwarned by her fall, the daughter snatched at the reins of power, and held the throne for six years. The track of both was marked by violence, bloodshed, and political convulsion. I. THE WICKEDNESS OF ATHALIAH . Ahaziah's death gave Athaliah her opportunity. Nothing could more clearly reveal the wicked disposition of the woman than the means by which she raised... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 11:1-16

Athaliah and Jezebel, the wicked daughter and the wicked mother. It has often been noted that, while women are, as a general rule, better than men, in the cases where they enter upon evil courses their wickedness exceeds that of their male associates. The character of Lady Macbeth is true to nature. Wicked women are more thorough-going than wicked men, more bloody, more daring, more unscrupulous. In Athatiah we have a sort of repetition of Jezebel—a second picture on the same lines—the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 11:1-16

The preservation and coronation of Joash. This is a touching story of hymen wickedness and of God's overruling and preserving power. Three principal personages come before us here, from each of whom something may be learned. I. ATHALIAH AND HER WORK . Athaliah ' s life-work was a Work of destruction . She did much harm. She did no good. A daughter of Ahab and Jezebel (sometimes called a daughter of Omri, whose granddaughter she was), she had inherited all the evil... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 11:1-21

REVOLUTION IN JUDAH , FOLLOWING THE REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENTS IN ISRAEL . REIGN OF ATHALIAH OVER JUDAH . CONSPIRACY OF JEHOIADA , AND DEATH OF ATHALIAH . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 11:1-21

The history of Athaliah. "And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead," etc. Among the blackest names in the long roll of the world's infamy are those of kings and queens, and amongst them Athaliah is not the least abhorrent and revolting. She was the daughter of Ahab King of Israel, and of Jezebel, his notorious wife. She married Joram (or Jehoram) King of Judah. She was the mother of Ahaziah, and advised him in his wickedness. After Jehu had slain him, she resolved to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 11:2

But Jehosheba ("Jehoshabeath," Chronicles; "Josabethe," Josephus). The daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah—half-sister, according to Josephus ('Ant. Jud.,' 2 Kings 9:7 . § 1), the daughter of Joram by a secondary wife, not by Athaliah— took Jonah the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons which were slain. As aunt of the royal children, Jehosheba would have free entrance into the palace, and liberty to visit all the apartments. She did not dare openly to oppose... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 11:3

And he was with her —he, i.e. Joash, was with her, i.e. Jehosheba, his aunt—hid in the house of the Lord; i.e. the temple. We learn from Chronicles ( 2 Chronicles 22:11 ) that Jehosheba was married to Jehoiada, the high priest, and would thus have ready access to the temple. We must suppose that, after a few days' concealment in the "chamber of mattresses," Jehosheba found an opportunity of transferring him, with his nurse, to a chamber in the temple, where he was thenceforward... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 11:4

And the seventh year —literally, and in the seventh year ; i.e. in the course of it— Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard ; rather, the captains over hundreds (or, centurions) of the Carites and the guard (see the Revised Version). The "Carites," here first named, are generally regarded as identical with the Cherethites of earlier times ( 2 Samuel 8:18 ; 1 Kings 1:38 ; 1 Chronicles 18:17 ). They were undoubtedly a particular... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 11:4-16

Conspiracy of Jehoiada . After waiting, impatiently we may be sure, for six long years, and seeing the young prince grow from an infant to a boy of seven years of age, Jehoiada deemed that the time was come to venture on an effort. It was necessary for him to make his arrangements beforehand with great care. His first step was to sound the captains of the royal guard. To these men, five in number ( 2 Chronicles 23:1 ), he sent secretly, and in-wired them to confer with him in the temple... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 11:1-3

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 11:1-3

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 11:1-16

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 11:1-16

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 11:1-21

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 11:1-21

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 11:2

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 11:3

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 11:4

The Pulpit Commentary - 2 Kings 11:4-16

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