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Matthew Henry

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

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 2 Kings 11:3

He was - hid in the house of the Lord - This might be readily done, because none had access to the temple but the priests; and the high priest himself was the chief manager of this business. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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 11:3

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

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