2 Kings 11 Commentary

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Chart from recommended resource Jensen's Survey of the OT - used by permission
1 Kings Chart from Charles Swindoll

THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL

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Ryrie Study Bible - Borrow
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(NOTE: Many consider Amaziah and Hezekiah as "good" kings)
SEE ALSO:
ESV chart - kings of Israel - more information
ESV chart - kings of Judah - more information
Another Chart with Variable Dates for Reigns of Kings

Source: ConformingtoJesus.com

2 Kings 11:1 When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she rose and destroyed all the royal offspring.

• Athaliah: 2Ch 22:10 24:7 
• the mother: 2Ki 8:26 9:27 
• and destroyed: A similar history is related by Mr. Bruce, as having occurred in Abyssinia.  Judith "surprised the rock Damo, and slew the whole of the princes, to the number, it is said, of about 400;" while the infant king, Del Naad, was conveyed for safety to a loyal province, and afterwards restored. Mt 2:13,16 21:38,39 
• seed royal: Heb. seed of the kingdom, 2Ki 25:25 *marg: Jer 41:1 

When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she rose and destroyed all the royal offspring.

2 Kings 11:2 But 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.

• Jehosheba: 2Ch 22:11, Jehoshabeath
• Joram: 2Ki 8:16, Jehoram
• Joash: 2Ki 12:1,2, Jehoash
• they hid him: 2Ki 8:19 Pr 21:30 Isa 7:6,7 37:35 65:8,9 Jer 33:17,21,26 
• in the bedchamber: {Bachadar hammittoth,} "in a chamber of beds;" which Sir J. Chardin thinks does not mean a room to sleep in, but a chamber used as a repository for beds; for, in the East, they sleep upon cotton mattresses, "of which they have several in great houses, against they should have occasion, and a room on purpose for them." 1Ki 6:5,6,8,10 Jer 35:2 Eze 40:45 

But 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.

2 Kings 11:3 So he was hidden with her in the house of the LORD six years, while Athaliah was reigning over the land.  

• And Athaliah: 2Ch 22:12 Ps 12:8 Mal 3:15 

So he was hidden with her in the house of the LORD six years, while Athaliah was reigning over the land.  

2 Kings 11:4 Now 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.

• the seventh: 2Ch 23:1-15 
• rulers: 2Ki 11:9 1Ch 9:13 
• the captains: Ac 5:24,26 
• made a covenant: 2Ki 11:17 23:3 Jos 24:25 1Sa 18:3 23:18 2Ch 15:12 29:10 34:31,32 Ne 9:38 
• took an oath: Ge 50:25 1Ki 18:10 Ne 5:12 10:29 

Now 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.

2 Kings 11:5 He 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

• that enter: 1Ch 9:25 23:3-6,32 24:3-6 Lu 1:8,9 
• the watch: 2Ki 11:19 16:18 1Ki 10:5 Jer 26:10 Eze 44:2,3 46:2,3 

He 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

2 Kings 11:6 (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.

• the gate of Sur: 1Ch 26:13-19 2Ch 23:4,5 
• that it be not broken down: or, from breaking up

(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.

2 Kings 11:7 “Two parts of you, even all who go out on the sabbath, shall also keep watch over the house of the LORD for the king.

• go forth: 2Ki 11:5 2Ch 23:6 

Two parts of you, even all who go out on the sabbath, shall also keep watch over the house of the LORD for the king.

2 Kings 11:8 “Then 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.”  

• he that cometh: 2Ki 11:15 Ex 21:14 1Ki 2:28-31 2Ch 23:7 

Then 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

2 Kings 11:9 So 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.

• the captains: 2Ki 11:4 1Ch 26:26 2Ch 23:8 

So 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.

2 Kings 11:10 The 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. 

• king David's spears: Josephus states that, for fear of creating suspicion, they came unarmed, "and Jehoiada having opened the arsenal in the temple which David had prepared, he divided among the centurions, priests, and Levites, the spears (arrows), and quivers, and all other kinds of weapons which he found there." 1Sa 21:9 2Sa 8:7 1Ch 26:26,27 2Ch 5:1 23:9,10 

The 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. 

2 Kings 11:11 The 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.

• every man: 2Ki 11:8,10 
• corner: Heb. shoulder
• by the altar: Ex 40:6 2Ch 6:12 Eze 8:16 Joe 2:17 Mt 23:35 Lu 11:51 

The 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.

2 Kings 11:12 Then 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!”  

• he brought: 2Ki 11:2,4 2Ch 23:11 
• put the crown: 2Sa 1:10 12:30 Es 2:17 6:8 Ps 21:3 89:39 132:18 Mt 27:29 Heb 2:9 Rev 19:12 
• the testimony: Ex 25:16 31:18 De 17:18-20 Ps 78:5 Isa 8:16,20 
• anointed him: 2Ki 9:3 1Sa 10:1 16:13 2Sa 2:4,7 5:3 1Ki 1:39 La 4:20 Ac 4:27 2Co 1:21 Heb 1:9 
• and they clapped: {Wyyakkoo kaph,} "they clapped the hand," which Mr. Harmer thinks was similar to the mode in which Oriental females express their respect for persons of high rank, by gently applying one of their hands to their mouth.  So Pitts relates, that in some of the towns of Barbary, the leaders of the sacred caravan being received with loud acclamations, "the very women get upon the tops of the houses to view the parade, or fine show, where they keep striking their four fingers on their lips, as fast as they can, making a joyful noise all the while." Ps 47:1 98:8 Isa 55:12 
• and said: 1Ki 1:34 Ps 72:15-17 Da 3:9 6:21 Mt 21:9 
• God save the king: Heb. Let the king live, 1Sa 10:24 2Sa 16:16 *margins

Then 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!”  

2 Kings 11:13 When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people in the house of the LORD.

• 2Ch 23:12-15 

When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people in the house of the LORD.

2 Kings 11:14 She 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!”

• Nu 10:1-10 
• stood: The Orientals considered a seat by a pillar or column as particularly honourable.
• a pillar: 2Ki 23:3 2Ch 34:31 
• the princes: 2Ki 11:10,11 
• all the people: 1Ki 1:39,40 1Ch 12:40 Pr 29:2 Lu 19:37 Rev 19:1-7 
• Treason: 2Ki 11:1,2 9:23 1Ki 18:17,18 

She 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!”

2 Kings 11:15 And 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.”

• captains: 2Ki 11:4,9,10 2Ch 23:9,14 
• Have: Eze 21:14 
• followeth: 2Ki 11:8 
• Let: Eze 9:7 

And 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.

2 Kings 11:16 So they seized her, and when she arrived at the horses’ entrance of the king’s house, she was put to death there.  

• by the which: 2Ch 23:15 
• there was she slain: Ge 9:6 Judges 1:7 Mt 7:2 Jas 2:13 Rev 16:5-7 

So they seized her, and when she arrived at the horses’ entrance of the king’s house, she was put to death there.

2 Kings 11:17 Then 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.

• made a covenant: 2Ki 11:4 De 5:2,3 29:1-15 Jos 24:25 2Ch 15:12-14 29:10 34:31 Ezr 10:3 Ne 5:12,13 9:38 10:28,29 2Co 8:5 
• between the king: 1Sa 10:25 2Sa 5:3 1Ch 11:3 2Ch 23:16 Ro 13:1-6 

Then 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

2 Kings 11:18 All 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.

• went: 2Ki 9:25-28 10:26 18:4 23:4-6,10,14 2Ch 23:17 34:4,7 
• brake they: 2Ki 18:4 Ex 32:20 De 12:3 2Ch 21:17 Isa 2:18 Zec 13:2 
• slew Mattan: De 13:5,9 1Ki 18:40 Zec 13:2,3 
• appointed: 2Ch 23:18-20 
• officers: Heb. offices

All 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.

2 Kings 11:19 He 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.

• took: 2Ki 11:4-11 
• by the way: 2Ki 11:5 2Ch 23:5,19 
• he sat: 1Ki 1:13 1Ch 29:23 Jer 17:25 22:4,30 Mt 19:28 25:31 

He 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.

2 Kings 11:20 So 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.

• rejoiced: 2Ki 11:14 2Ch 23:21 Pr 11:10 29:2 
• slew Athaliah: 2Ki 11:15 

So 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.

2 Kings 11: 21 Jehoash was seven years old when he became king.

• 2Ki 11:4 22:1 2Ch 24:1-14 

Jehoash was seven years old when he became king.