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2 KINGS 11

PARAGRAPH DIVISIONS OF MODERN TRANSLATIONS

READING CYCLE THREE (see "Bible Interpretation Seminar")

FOLLOWING THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR'S INTENT AT THE PARAGRAPH LEVEL

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

Read the chapter in one sitting. Identify the subjects. Compare your subject divisions with the five translations above. Paragraphing is not inspired, but it is the key to following the original author's intent, which is the heart of interpretation. Every paragraph has one and only one subject.

1. First paragraph
2. Second paragraph
3. Etc.

WORD AND PHRASE STUDY

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 11:1-3
  ¹When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she rose and destroyed all the royal offspring. ²But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the king's sons who were being put to death, and placed him and his nurse in the bedroom. So they hid him from Athaliah, and he was not put to death. ³So he was hidden with her in the house of the Lord six years, while Athaliah was reigning over the land.

11:1 "Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah" She was the granddaughter of Omri, King of Israel (cf. 2 Kgs. 8:26). Both mother and son were Ba'al worshipers (2 Kgs. 8:27), following her parents, Ahab and Jezebel. Her marriage to Jehoram, King of Judah, was to form a political alliance with Israel (2 Kgs. 8:16-18).

SPECIAL TOPIC: FERTILITY WORSHIP OF THE ANE

▣ "she rose and destroyed all the royal offspring" She wanted to reign and acted to secure her reign by killing all the royal seed. But this would violate YHWH's promise to David in 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17.

She had all her relatives killed who were descendants of David. There were not many left.

1. her husband Jehoram (Joram) had his brothers killed (2 Chr. 21:1-4)
2. a divinely sent Arab raid took others into captivity (2 Chr. 21:16-17)
3. a divinely sent Jehu killed other relatives in 2 Kgs. 10:13-14

11:2 "Jehosheba" In 2 Chr. 22:11 she is named Jehoshabeath. She was

1. King Jehoram of Judah's daughter
2. wife of Jehoida the priest (2 Chr. 22:11)
3. sister of King Ahaziah (2 Chr. 22:11; Josephus, Antiq. 9.7.1, half sister)
4. Athaliah's daughter or the daughter of another/wife/concubine of Jehoram (cf. 2 Kgs. 12:11)

What a brave and godly woman! What a contrast to Athaliah.

SPECIAL TOPIC: WOMEN IN THE BIBLE

▣ "Joash the son of Ahaziah" He is called "Jehoash" in v. 21 (NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 279-280). The account of Ahaziah's death is recorded in 2 Kgs. 9:27-28.

The Jewish Study Bible, p. 747, has an interesting note about why the names of kings of this period have different spellings.

"Joash (cf. Also 12-19, 20; 13:1) is also called Jehoash (12:1, 5). The difference in the form of the name is due to peculiarities in regional pronunciations of Heb during the biblical period. Both forms are found in Kings because the author tended to write names as he found them in his sources."

The same kind of variation is found in the name Athaliah.

▣ "in the bedroom" This term (BDB 641) can mean

1. where one sleeps ‒ Exod. 8:3; 2 Sam. 4:7; 2 Kgs. 6:12
2. where extra bedding is stored ‒ 2 Kgs. 11:1; 2 Chr. 22:11

Later the boy was kept in the temple chambers reserved for the priests (or possibly the High Priest only, v. 3; suggestion by Rashi and Kimchi). This is why Athaliah could not find him.

11:3 "while Athaliah was reigning over the land" This means that during a period of six years Baalism was brought into Judah on a large scale (i.e., 2 Chr. 24:7). There was even a temple to Ba'al built in or near Jerusalem with its own high priest (cf. v. 18).

This same verse is the only summary statement of Athaliah's reign. She is not in any kings list.

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 11:4-8
  ⁴Now in the seventh year Jehoiada sent and brought the captains of hundreds of the Carites and of the guard, and brought them to him in the house of the Lord. Then he made a covenant with them and put them under oath in the house of the Lord, and showed them the king's son. ⁵He commanded them, saying, "This is the thing that you shall do: one third of you, who come in on the sabbath and keep watch over the king's house ⁶(one third also shall be at the gate Sur, and one third at the gate behind the guards), shall keep watch over the house for defense. ⁷Two parts of you, even all who go out on the sabbath, shall also keep watch over the house of the Lord for the king. ⁸Then you shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes within the ranks shall be put to death. And be with the king when he goes out and when he comes in."

11:4 "Jehoiada" This is the High Priest (lit. "the priest") married to Jehoshapbeath in 2 Chr. 22:11, who helped hide Joash in the temple chambers for six years.

The five men listed must also be of the tribe of Levi.

▣ "captains of hundreds" This includes some foreign mercenaries (cf. 1 Chr. 18:17). This may be the meaning of 2 Chr. 23:6, not just lay people (i.e., non-Levite), but not covenant people (i.e., Carites or Cherethites).

▣ "the Carites" This (BDB 501) seems to refer to the same foreign mercenaries that served David and Solomon. However, they are often called "Cherethites" (i.e., slight emendation, cf. 1 Sam. 30:14 and LXX). They are also associated with the "Pelethites" (cf. 2 Sam. 8:18; 20:23; 1 Kgs. 1:38). They were an extremely loyal foreign body of troops within the nation of Judah. They are not mentioned in the 2 Chronicles parallel. See Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, p. 221.

▣ "in the house of the Lord" This refers to Solomon's temple in Jerusalem.

▣ "made a covenant" This VERB is literally "cut" (BDB 503, KB 500, Qal IMPERFECT with waw). Apparently there is much more involved here than simply a religious oath taken by several men (vv. 5-8). From 2 Chr. 23:2 we learn that the majority of the Levites and priests of the kingdom of Judah were involved.

SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT

The parallel in 2 Chr. 23:5 has "the Gate of the Foundation." BDB 694 II calls it "proper name for an inner temple and palace gate" (i.e., to the surrounding compound wall).

1. Sur, סור (BDB 694 II, only here)
2. of the foundation, יסוד (BDB 414)

See a good brief note in ABD, vol. 6, p. 242.

The last word in the MT (BDB 587, KB 605) is unknown (possibly a place name). There are many guesses (KB, "alternating" or "in turn"). Several modern translations omit all of verse 6 as a gloss (NIDOTTE, vol. 3, p. 113).

11:8 There may have been an outer guard of mercenaries (2 Kings) and an inner guard of Levites (2 Chronicles).

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 11:9-12
  ⁹So the captains of hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each one of them took his men who were to come in on the sabbath, with those who were to go out on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest. ¹⁰The priest gave to the captains of hundreds the spears and shields that had been King David's, which were in the house of the Lord. ¹¹The guards stood each with his weapons in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, by the altar and by the house, around the king. ¹²Then he brought the king's son out and put the crown on him and gave him the testimony; and they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, "Long live the king!"

11:9 "on the Sabbath" See SPECIAL TOPIC: SABBATH (OT).

11:10 Jehoiada passed out weapons that were kept in the temple.

1. David's shields of gold ‒ 2 Sam. 8:7; 1 Chr. 18:7
2. Solomon's shields of gold ‒ 1 Kgs. 10:16-17; 14:26-27; 2 Chr. 9:16
3. Shishak of Egypt took Solomon's shields of gold and Rehoboam replaced them with bronze ones, 2 Chr. 12:9-10

The 2 Chr. 23:9 parallel adds another kind of "shield" (BDB 171) not mentioned here (i.e., "shields," BDB 1020).

▣ "spears" This spear (BDB 333; NIDOTTE, vol. 2, pp. 197-200) was a shorter and lighter spear (cf. 1 Sam. 18:11; 20:33). Another heavier spear (BDB 942) was also used (cf. 1 Kgs. 18:28; 2 Chr. 11:12; 12:9,25; 14:7; 25:5; 26:14). See Roland deVaux, Ancient Israel, p. 242.

The MT has a PARTICIPLE (BDB 930, KB 1207, Qal ACTIVE) which means "the ones running." This designation is used of royal servants and messengers.

1. royal bodyguard ‒ 1 Sam. 22:17; 1 Kgs. 14:27-28; 2 Kgs. 10:25; 11:4,6,11,19; 2 Chr. 12:10-11
2. runners ‒ 1 Sam. 8:11; 2 Sam. 15:1; 1 Kgs. 1:5
3. messengers ‒ 2 Sam. 18:21-26
4. #2 and #3 parallel in Jer. 51:31

▣ "the altar" See SPECIAL TOPIC: THE ALTAR OF SACRIFICE.

11:12 Notice all the elements of this procedure.

1. the special place ‒ the temple
2. put the crown on him (cf. 2 Sam. 1:10)
3. give him the testimony or bracelet
4. anointed him (by "the priest")
5. clapped their hands (a gesture of affirmation)
6. gave royal verbal affirmation ‒ "long live the King" (cf. 1 Sam. 10:24; 1 Kgs. 1:25,34,39)
7. later blew the trumpets (v. 14, cf. 2 Chr. 23:13)
8. later he sat on the throne (v. 19)

▣ "the crown" The Hebrew word for crown, "Nezer" (BDB 634; NIDOTTE, vol. 3, pp. 74-75) is related to the miter of the high priest (cf. Exod. 28:36-38; 29:6; 39:30,31). They both seem to involve a heightened sense of holiness, dedication, and commitment.

▣ "the testimony" This could refer to the Torah, the law of Moses, or the Pentateuch. It is improbable that the young king had the actual tablets of stone placed on his lap for they were in the Ark of the Covenant, and by this time, no one would open the ark because it had become so holy and renowned. It probably refers to a copy (cf. Exod. 25:16; 31:18; Deut. 17:18; see K. A. Kitchen, Ancient Orient and Old Testament, pp. 108-109).

The UBS Text Project, p. 354, mentions the similarities between

1. the armlet/bracelet (BDB 858, cf. Num. 31:50) of 2 Sam. 1:10, ואת - הצעדות
2. the testimony (BDB 730), here (cf. Exod. 16:34; 31:18; 32:15; 34:29; 40:20), ואת - העדות but gives "testimony" an "A" rating (high probability).

The "bracelet" (BDB 858) is not mentioned in this context. BDB 730 suggests that #1 is meant here (so too, JPSOA translation, "the insignia").

▣ "anointed him" The term Messiah also comes from the same root. It refers to the special choice and equipping of God for a task.

SPECIAL TOPIC: ANOINTING IN THE BIBLE

SPECIAL TOPIC: MESSIAH

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 11:13-16
  ¹³When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people in the house of the Lord. ¹⁴She looked and behold, the king was standing by the pillar, according to the custom, with the captains and the trumpeters beside the king; and all the people of the land rejoiced and blew trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, "Treason! Treason!" ¹⁵And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds who were appointed over the army and said to them, "Bring her out between the ranks, and whoever follows her put to death with the sword." For the priest said, "Let her not be put to death in the house of the Lord." ¹⁶So they seized her, and when she arrived at the horses' entrance of the king's house, she was put to death there.

11:14 "standing by the pillar" This refers either to

1. one of the two pillars of Solomon's temple (cf. 1 Kgs. 7:15-22), on each side of the entrance of the Holy Place where the king would have a prominent view and be conspicuous to all (cf. 1 Kgs. 7:21; 2 Chr. 3:17; 34:31)
2. a raised platform built especially for the king and his entourage (cf. 2 Chr. 6:13; 23:13 in Vulgate but especially in Neh. 8:4)

▣ "Athaliah tore her clothes" See SPECIAL TOPIC: GRIEVING RITES.

▣ "Treason! Treason!" This exclamation (BDB 905) is repeated for emphasis (cf. 2 Kgs. 9:23; 2 Chr. 23:13). What she considered "treason" was YHWH's justice!

The term "ranks" (BDB 690, KB 1310) can mean

1. a line of soldiers (KB #2)
2. a row of pillars (Egyptian root) or planks (KB, #1, cf. 1 Kgs, 6:9)

▣ "whoever follows her put to death" Josephus, Antiq. 9.7.3, says Athaliah came with her royal guard whom she ordered to kill the crowned child, but she was stopped and she and her supporters killed.

▣ "Let her not be put to death in the house of the Lord" This (BDB 559, KB 562, Hophal) is an IMPERFECT used as a JUSSIVE (cf. 2 Chr. 23:6,7).

11:16 Notice the parties to this covenant renewal event.

1. the new king
2. the High Priest
3. the people of Judah

SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 11:17-20
  ¹⁷Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people, that they would be the Lord's people, also between the king and the people. ¹⁸All the people of the land went to the house of Baal, and tore it down; his altars and his images they broke in pieces thoroughly, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the Lord. ¹⁹He took the captains of hundreds and the Carites and the guards and all the people of the land; and they brought the king down from the house of the Lord, and came by the way of the gate of the guards to the king's house. And he sat on the throne of the kings. ²⁰So all the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet. For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword at the king's house.

11:17 This was, in a sense, a covenant renewal ceremony, like Josh. 8:30-35; 24; 2 Sam. 5:3; 1 Chr. 11:3; 2 Chr. 29:1-11; or 2 Kings 22-23. It was a way of asserting

1. the uniqueness of YHWH (monotheism)
2. YHWH's choice of Abraham and his descendants
3. the validity and necessity of obedience to the Law of Moses
4. the continuation of the promises to David and his seed (2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17)

SPECIAL TOPIC: MONOTHEISM

SPECIAL TOPIC: COVENANT PROMISES TO THE PATRIARCHS

11:18 "the house of Baal" Ahab had built a house (temple) for Ba'al in the capital city of Samaria (cf. 1 Kgs. 16:32; 2 Kgs. 10:21,26,27). Since Ahab had married the daughter of the king of Tyre, Ethbaal, this was probably a temple to Ba'al Melqart.

But this house of Ba'al was in Jerusalem. The influence of Ahab and Jezebel had polluted Judah also. It must have been next to Solomon's temple or even on its grounds (cf. v. 18).

▣ "altars. . .images" An altar to Ba'al was located in every village in Canaan. Each locale had its own cut stone raised platform with a raised pillar and Asherah pole. The Judeans destroyed the central shrine in Jerusalem, as well as all the local pillars and poles. Athaliah may have had this Ba'al house in Jerusalem built, probably a copy of the one in Samaria.

▣ "they broke in pieces thoroughly" This is an intensified Hebrew grammatical feature.

1. VERB "to break in pieces" ‒ BDB 990, KB 1402, Piel PERFECT
2. Hiphil INFINITIVE ABSOLUTE ‒ BDB 405, KB 408 used in the sense of thoroughly (BDB 405, #3, cf. Deut. 9:21; 13:14; 17:4; 19:18; 27:8)

▣ "And the priest appointed officers over the house of the Lord" Apparently Athaliah had abandoned Solomon's temple for Ba'al's temple. With it destroyed, the neglected and looted Lord's house became a priority again.

The term "officers" (BDB 824) means "overseer." They are mentioned in 1 Chr. 23:11; 24:3,19.

11:19 Notice all the levels of society from the parallel in 2 Chr. 23:20.

1. all the people of the land (BDB 481 CONSTRUCT BDB 766 I)
2. captains of hundreds (military leaders, BDB 987)
3. foreign mercenaries (BDB 501)
4. 2 Chr. 23:20 adds "nobles" (BDB 12), which could refers to
   1. poor people (i.e., agricultural workers)
   2. wealthy landowners (cf. 2 Kgs. 21:24; i.e., the term is used this way in 2 Kings; 2 Chronicles; Jeremiah; Ezekiel)
   3. but here the wealthy fits best
5. 2 Chr. 23:20 adds "the rulers of the people" (BDB 766 I), which would denote civic leaders

11:20 The VERBS "rejoiced" (BDB 970, KB 1333, Qal IMPERFECT with waw) and "was quiet" (BDB 1052, KB 1641, Qal PERFECT) seem to conflict. Possibly

1. they occurred at different points
   1. rejoice at the king's coronation
   2. quiet at the death of Athaliah
2. "quiet" refers to the supporters of Athaliah and worshipers of Ba'al not causing trouble

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: 11:21
  ²¹Jehoash was seven years old when he became king.

11:21 Jehoash was only seven years old. This meant his godly counselors would control the nation for years (cf. 2 Chr. 24:1-16; like Josiah). The bad years are recorded in 2 Chr. 24:17-27.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. Why was Athaliah's murder of all the king's sons so egregious?
2. Who were the Carites?
3. List the aspects and procedures of coronation.
4. Who built the house of Ba'al in Jerusalem?
5. Explain the last sentence of v. 18.
6. How is "quiet" of v. 20 related to "rejoice" of v. 20?

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