2 Kings 11:1-21

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 11:1-3

God had assured David of the continuance of his family, which is called his ordaining a lamp for his anointed; and this cannot but appear a great thing, now that we have read of the utter extirpation of so many royal families, one after another. Now here we have David's promised lamp almost extinguished and yet wonderfully preserved. I. It was almost extinguished by the barbarous malice of Athaliah, the queen-mother, who, when she heard that her son Ahaziah was slain by Jehu, arose and... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 11:4-12

Six years Athaliah tyrannised. We have not a particular account of her reign; no doubt it was of a piece with the beginning. While Jehu was extirpating the worship of Baal in Israel, she was establishing it in Judah, as appears, 2 Chron. 24:7. The court and kingdom of Judah had been debauched by their alliance with the house of Ahab, and now one of that house is a curse and a plague to both: sinful friendships speed no better. All this while, Joash lay hid, entitled to a crown and intended for... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 11:13-16

We may suppose it was designed when they had finished the solemnity of the king's inauguration, to pay a visit to Athaliah, and call her to an account for her murders, usurpation, and tyranny; but, like her mother Jezebel, she saved them the labour, went out to meet them, and hastened her own destruction. 1. Hearing the noise, she came in a fright to see what was the matter, 2 Kgs. 11:13. Jehoiada and his friends began in silence, but now that they found their strength, they proclaimed what... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 2 Kings 11:17-21

Jehoiada had now got over the harlot part of his work, when, by the death of Athaliah, the young prince had his way to the throne cleared of all opposition. He had now to improve his advantages for the perfecting of the revolution and the settling of the government. Two things we have an account of here:? I. The good foundations he laid, by an original contract, 2 Kgs. 11:17. Now that prince and people were together in God's house, as it should seem before they stirred, Jehoiada took care that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 11:1

And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead ,.... Who was the daughter of Ahab, and granddaughter of Omri 2 Kings 8:18 , she arose: and destroyed all the seed royal ; that were left, for many had been slain already; the sons of Jehoshaphat, the brothers of Joram, were slain by him, 2 Chronicles 21:4 and all Joram's sons, excepting Ahaziah, were slain by the Arabians, 2 Chronicles 22:1 , and the sons of the brethren of Ahaziah were slain by Jehu, 2 Kings 11:8 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 11:2

But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram ,.... Not by Athaliah, but another woman; for an high priest, as her husband was, would not have married the daughter of such an idolatrous woman, nor would she have married her to him: sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons which were slain : among whom he lay; either being cast there by the murderer, or her associates, supposed to be dead, or by his nurse, that he might be thought to be so,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 11:3

And he was with her hid in the house of the Lord six years ,.... In the temple; not in the holy of holies, as Jarchi, but in a chamber of the priests and Levites, of which there were several in a temple, as Kimchi, and others; and the husband of Jehosheba, being high priest, had one of them for his own use; and here the child was hid six years, so that he was but a year old when he was first taken and preserved, for he was made king when seven years of age, 2 Kings 11:21 , and Athaliah... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 11:4

And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard ,.... This was the husband of Jehosheba, who was high priest, 2 Chronicles 22:11 these rulers over hundreds were not those appointed over the people for civil affairs, as by the advice of Jethro, but over the priests and Levites in their courses; five of whom are mentioned by name, and were employed in gathering together the Levites, and the chief of the fathers, throughout all the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 11:5

And he commanded them, saying, this is the thing that ye shall do ,.... These were the rulers over hundreds among the priests and Levites, and which he, as high priest, could command, and whom he could convene without suspicion, being such as he had a connection with, and were unarmed men: and for the better understanding of what follows, it should be observed, that the priests, in the times of David, were divided into twenty four courses, which were by turns to serve a week in the temple;... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 2 Kings 11:6

And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur ,.... Generally thought by the Jews to be the eastern gate, so called, as they say, because such as were defiled were bid to depart, or go back, as this word signifies, and not enter the temple; it is called "the gate of the foundation", 2 Chronicles 23:5 because, according to Ben Gersom, here the foundation of the sanctuary was first laid; it is said F2 T. Hieros. Yoma apud Beckium in Targ. in 2 Chron. xxiii. 5. to have five other names... read more

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