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<h2><a onclick="return mV('2Ki',11,'all');">2Ki 11</a> – The Young King Joash</h2>
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<p><span>A. The preservation of Joash.</span></p>
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<p class="c1"><span>1. (<a onclick="return mV('2Ki',11,'1-3');">1-3</a>) <span>The</span> queen mother reigns over Judah.</span></p>
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<p class="c2">When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs. But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons <i>who were </i>being murdered; and they hid him and his nurse in the bedroom, from Athaliah, so that he was not killed. So he was hidden with her in the house of the <span class="c6">Lord</span> for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land.</p>
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<p class="c4"><span>a. <b><span class="c3">When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead</span></b></span>: Ahaziah was executed by Jehu, as recorded in <a onclick="return mV('2Ki',9,'27-29');">2Ki 9:27-29</a>. She used the occasion of her son’s death to take power for <i>herself</i>, and she <b><span class="c3">reigned over the land</span></b> for six years.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. We remember that Athaliah was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, and was given to Jehoram, King of Judah as a bride. She was a bad influence on both her husband (Jehoram of Judah) and her son (King Ahaziah of Judah).</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">And destroyed all the royal heirs</span></b>: Athaliah was from the family of Ahab, and Jehu had completely destroyed all of Ahab’s descendants in Israel. Now, after Jehu’s coup, Athaliah tried to save something for Ahab’s family by trying to eliminate the house of David in Judah.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. “How dreadful is the lust of reigning! It destroys all the charities of life; and turns fathers, mothers, brothers, and children, into the most ferocious savages!” (Clarke)</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. Years before, the King of Judah – Jehoshaphat – married his son to this daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, hoping to make an alliance with those wicked and apostate leaders. “And this was the fruit of Jehoshaphat’s marrying his son to a daughter of that idolatrous and wicked house of Ahab, even the extirpation of all his posterity but one.” (Poole)</p>
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<p class="c5">iii. “No character in history, sacred or secular, stands out blacker or more hideous than this daughter-in-law of the godly Jehoshaphat.” (Knapp)</p>
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<p class="c4"><span>c</span>. <b><span class="c3">But Jehosheba</span></b>: This little-known woman had an important place in God’s plan of the ages. Through her courage and ingenuity, she preserved the royal line of David through which the Messiah would come. Evil people like Athaliah will begin their work, <b><span class="c3">but</span></b> God can always <span>raise</span> up a <b><span class="c3">Jehosheba</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c5"><span>i. “Thus evil always breaks down.</span> It is extremely clever, it calculates on all the changes, and seems to leave no unguarded place; but with unvarying regularity it fails somewhere to cover up its tracks, or to insure its victory.” (Morgan)</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. <a onclick="return mV('2Ch',22,11);">2Ch 22:11</a> <span>tells</span> us that Jehosheba was the wife of Jehoiada, the high priest. Yet, “It is not likely that Jehosheba was the daughter of <i>Athaliah</i>; she was a sister, we find, to Ahaziah the son of Athaliah, but probably by a different mother.” (Clarke)</p>
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<p class="c4">d. <b><span class="c3">He was hidden with her in the house of the <span class="c6">Lord</span> for six years</span></b>: Though Ahaziah was a bad king who made evil <span>alliances,</span> he was still a descendant of David and the successor of his royal line. For the sake of David, God remembered His promise and spared this one young survivor to the massacre of Athaliah. The line of David was almost extinguished and continued only in the presence of a small boy, but God preserved that flickering flame.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. “Josephus (<i>Antiquities</i> 9.7.1) says that the <i>bedroom</i> where the child and his nurse hid was room where spare furniture and mattresses were stored.” (Wiseman)</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. Like the boy Samuel, Joash grew up in the temple. Like Samuel, he probably found little ways to help the priests, whatever could be done without attracting too much attention.</p>
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<p class="c1"><span>2. (<a onclick="return mV('2Ki',11,'4-11');">4-11</a>) Jehoiada plans to reveal the hidden heir to the throne.</span></p>
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<p class="c2">In the seventh year Jehoiada sent and brought the captains of hundreds; of the bodyguards and the escorts; and brought them into the house of the <span class="c6">Lord</span> to him. And he made a covenant with them and took an oath from them in the house of the <span class="c6">Lord</span>, and showed them the king’s son. Then he commanded them, saying, “This <i>is </i>what you shall do: One-third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath shall be keeping watch over the king’s house, one-third <i>shall be </i>at the gate of Sur, and one-third at the gate behind the escorts. You shall keep the watch of the house, lest it be broken down. The two contingents of you who go off duty on the Sabbath shall keep the watch of the house of the <span class="c6">Lord</span> for the king. But you shall surround the king on all sides, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes within range, let him be put to death. You are to be with the king as he goes out and as he comes in.” So the captains of the hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each of them took his men who were to be on duty on the Sabbath, with those who were going off duty on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest. And the priest gave the captains of hundreds the spears and shields which <i>had belonged </i>to King David, that were in the temple of the <span class="c6">Lord</span>. Then the escorts stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, all around the king, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, by the altar and the house.</p>
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<p class="c4"><span>a. <b><span class="c3">Jehoiada sent and brought captains</span></b></span>: Jehoiada was a <span>godly man who was concerned with restoring the throne of David to the line of David, and taking it away from this daughter of Ahab and Jezebel.</span></p>
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<p class="c4"><span><span>b</span></span><span>. <b><span class="c3">On the Sabbath</span></b></span>: Jehoiada chose the Sabbath for the day of the coup, because that was the day when the guards changed their shifts and they could assemble two groups of guards at the temple at the same time without attracting attention.</p>
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<p class="c4"><span>c. </span><b><span class="c3">He made a covenant with them and took an oath from them in the house of the <span class="c6">Lord</span></span></b>: From the <i>place</i> where the oath was made and the <i>context</i> of the oath, we learn that the worship of the true God was not dead in Judah. These <b><span class="c3">captains</span></b> and <b><span class="c3">bodyguards</span></b> and <b><span class="c3">escorts</span></b> could respond to their responsibility before the <span class="c6">Lord</span>.</p>
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<p class="c4">d. <b><span class="c3">And showed them the king’s son</span></b>: This was a dramatic moment. For six years everyone believed there were no more surviving heirs of David’s royal line and there was no legitimate ruler to displace the wicked Athaliah. The secret had to be secure, because <b><span class="c3">the king’s son</span></b> would be immediately killed if his existence were revealed. The <b><span class="c3">captains</span></b> and <b><span class="c3">bodyguards</span></b> and <b><span class="c3">escorts</span></b> must have been shocked by the sight of this six-year old heir to the throne.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. One reason Athaliah was able to reign for six years was that <i>no one knew any alternative</i>. Many people live under the reign of Satan because they don’t really know there is a legitimate king ready to take reign in their life.</p>
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<p class="c4"><span>e. <b><span class="c3">The priest gave the captains of hundreds the spears and shields which had belonged to King David, that were in the temple of the <span class="c6">Lord</span></span></b></span>: It was fitting for these soldiers who would set the heir of David’s royal line back on the throne of Judah to use these weapons <b><span class="c3">which had belonged to King David</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c1"><span>3. (<a onclick="return mV('2Ki',11,12);">12</a>) Joash is crowned and received as king.</span></p>
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<p class="c2">And he brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, and <i>gave him </i>the Testimony; they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!”</p>
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<p class="c4"><span>a. <b><span class="c3">He brought out the king’s son</span></b></span>: First the <b><span class="c3">king’s son</span></b> had to be <i>revealed</i>. No one could support him and he could not take his rightful throne until he was <b><span class="c3">brought out</span></b> before the people.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">Put the crown on him</span></b>: Next the <b><span class="c3">king’s son</span></b> had to be <i>crowned</i>. This was the public and official recognition of him as king.</p>
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<p class="c4">c. <b><span class="c3">And gave him the Testimony</span></b>: The <b><span class="c3">king’s son</span></b> had to come <i>with the Word of God</i>. Joash appeared before the people holding the scrolls of God’s Word.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. <a onclick="return mV('Deu',17,18);">Deu 17:18</a> says that the king should have his own copy of the Scriptures. “This is the basis for the British custom of presenting the monarch with a copy of the Bible during the coronation service.” (Wiseman)</p>
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<p class="c4">d. <b><span class="c3">They made him king</span></b>: The <b><span class="c3">king’s son</span></b> had to be received. He had the royal right to impose his reign, but he instead allowed his rule to be received.</p>
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<p class="c4">e. <b><span class="c3">And anointed him</span></b>: The <b><span class="c3">king’s son</span></b> could never fulfill his office without a divine anointing.</p>
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<p class="c4">f. <b><span class="c3">They clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!”</span></b> The <b><span class="c3">king’s son</span></b> received praise once he was recognized as their king.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. We can and should follow the same pattern in our reception of Jesus Christ, the <i>true</i> <b><span class="c3">king’s son</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. “Is not the spiritual condition of too many children of God represented by the condition of the Temple, during the early years of the life of Joash? The king was within its precincts, the rightful heir of the crown and defender of the worship of Jehovah: but as a matter of fact, the crown was on the head of the usurper Athaliah, who was exercising a cruel and sanguinary tyranny. The king was limited to a chamber, and the majority of the priests, with all the people, had not even heard of his existence. There needs to be an anointing, an enthroning, <span>a</span> determination that He shall exercise his power over the entire Temple of our Being.” (Meyer)</p>
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<p><span>B. The death of the Queen Mother Athaliah.</span></p>
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<p class="c1"><span>1. (<a onclick="return mV('2Ki',11,'13-14');">13-14</a>) Joash, the rightful heir, is revealed to Athaliah.</span></p>
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<p class="c2">Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the escorts <i>and </i>the people, she came to the people <i>in </i>the temple of the <span class="c6">Lord</span>. When she looked, there was the king standing by a pillar according to custom; and the leaders and the trumpeters were by the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. So Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, “Treason! <span>Treason!”</span></p>
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<p class="c4"><span>a. <b><span class="c3">When she looked, there was the king</span></b></span>: For the usurper queen mother this was a horrifying sight. For six years she ruled because she believed there were no legitimate claimants to the throne of David. Now she sees that one son of Ahaziah – Joash, <i>her own grandson</i> – escaped her murderous intent.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">All the people of the land were rejoicing</span></b>: They were obviously weary of the wicked reign of Athaliah.</p>
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<p class="c4">c. <b><span class="c3">Treason! Treason!</span></b> The charge was not unfounded. This was treason against her government, but it was a well-founded and godly treason against a tyrannical, wicked ruler. </p>
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<p class="c1"><span>2. (<a onclick="return mV('2Ki',11,'15-16');">15-16</a>) Jehoiada commands the execution of Athaliah and her supporters.</span></p>
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<p class="c2">And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the army, and said to them, “Take her outside under guard, and slay with the sword whoever follows her.” For the priest had said, “Do not let her be killed in the house of the <span class="c6">Lord</span>.” So they seized her; and she went by way of the horses’ entrance <i>into </i>the king’s house, and there she was killed.</p>
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<p class="c4"><span>a. </span><b><span class="c3">Take her outside under guard, and slay with the sword whoever follows her</span></b>: This was both righteous and prudent. It was a just sentence against this woman who had murdered so many, and prudent precautions were taken so she could not mount a resistance.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">Do not let her be killed in the house of the <span class="c6">Lord</span></span></b>: As a priest, Jehoiada had a great concern for the sanctity and reputation of the temple. Yet in the place where horses entered, <b><span class="c3">there she was killed</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. “Thus Athaliah, the most infamous queen of Judah, died at the hands of her executioners, much as did her mother, Jezebel, queen of Israel.” (Patterson and Austel)</p>
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<p class="c1"><span>3. (<a onclick="return mV('2Ki',11,17);">17</a>) Jehoiada establishes a new covenant.</span></p>
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<p class="c2">Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the <span class="c6">Lord</span>, the king, and the people, that they should be the Lord’s people, and <i>also </i>between the king and the people.</p>
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<p class="c4"><span>a. </span><b><span class="c3">That they should be the Lord’s people</span></b>: The covenant was between the <span class="c6">Lord</span> and the king and the people. They re-committed themselves to honor, obey, and serve God.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">And also between the king and the people</span></b>: This shows that God intends that both kings and citizens have mutual obligations towards the other. Neither have absolute rights over or against the other.</p>
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<p class="c1"><span>4. (<a onclick="return mV('2Ki',11,'18-21');">18-21</a>) <span>The</span> reforms of Joash</span></p>
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<p class="c2">And all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal, and tore it down. They thoroughly broke in pieces its altars and images, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the <span class="c6">Lord</span>. Then he took the captains of hundreds, the bodyguards, the escorts, and all the people of the land; and they brought the king down from the house of the <span class="c6">Lord</span>, and went by way of the gate of the escorts to the king’s house. Then he sat on the throne of the kings. So all the people of the land rejoiced; and the city was quiet, for they had slain Athaliah with the sword <i>in </i>the king’s house. Jehoash <i>was </i>seven years old when he became king.</p>
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<p class="c4"><span>a. </span><b><span class="c3">And all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal, and tore it down</span></b>: In <a onclick="return mV('2Ki',10,'all');">2Ki 10</a> Jehu supervised the destruction of the temple of Baal in Samaria. Here the temple of Baal in Jerusalem was destroyed, and appropriately destroyed by <b><span class="c3">the people of the land</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c5">i. They didn’t stop at destroying the building itself; they went on to destroy both the sacred objects dedicated to Baal and to kill <b><span class="c3">Mattan the priest of Baal</span></b>.</p>
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<p class="c5">ii. One reason the people resented this worship of Baal in Jerusalem so much was because according to <a onclick="return mV('2Ch',24,7);">2Ch 24:7</a>, Athaliah had directed that sacred objects from the temple of the <span class="c6">Lord</span> be put into the temple of Baal: <i>For the sons of Athaliah, that wicked woman, had broken into the house of God, and had also presented all the dedicated things of the house of the <span class="c6">Lord</span> to the Baals</i>.</p>
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<p class="c4">b. <b><span class="c3">Then he sat on the throne of the kings</span></b>: After more than six dark years, now the rightful king of Judah once again ruled over his grateful people.</p>
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