2 Kings 11: Athaliah reigns, and the boy Joash is made king
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What happens?
When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, sees that her son is dead, she destroys all the royal offspring. But Ahaziah's sister Jehosheba steals away his son Joash with his nurse, and he is hidden in Yahweh's house for six years while Athaliah reigns. In the seventh year Jehoiada the priest makes a covenant with the captains of the guard, sets them around the house and the king, brings out the king's son, puts the crown on him, and they make him king and anoint him, crying "Long live the king!" Athaliah comes in, tears her clothes and cries "Treason!"; she is taken out and killed at the king's house. Jehoiada makes a covenant between Yahweh, the king and the people; the people tear down the house of Baal and kill Mattan the priest of Baal, and the king sits on the throne at seven years old.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. No verse is in gold: God speaks no words in this chapter. Jehoiada the priest gives his orders to the captains in verses 5 to 8 and in verse 15. The people cry "Long live the king!" in verse 12, and Athaliah cries "Treason! Treason!" in verse 14. Verse 17, that Jehoiada made a covenant between Yahweh, the king and the people, is the narrator's words. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal offspring.
In plain English: When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she set out and destroyed all the royal offspring (literally: the seed of the kingdom).
Good to know: names Ahaziah's mother: "Athaliah the daughter of Omri king of Israel". Ahaziah's death is told in . The same story is told in to 2 Chronicles 23. The text does not say why she did it.
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2But 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 who were slain, even him and his nurse, and put them in the bedroom; and they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not slain.
In plain English: But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king's sons who were being killed, him and his nurse, and put them in the bedroom (literally: the room of the beds). They hid him from Athaliah, so he was not killed.
Good to know: calls her Jehoshabeath, "the daughter of King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest". This chapter calls the boy both Joash (verse 2) and Jehoash (verse 21).
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3He was with her hidden in Yahweh’s house six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.
In plain English: He was with her, hidden in Yahweh's house, for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land.
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4In the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the captains over hundreds of the Carites and of the guard, and brought them to him into Yahweh’s house; and he made a covenant with them, and made a covenant with them in Yahweh’s house, and showed them the king’s son.
In plain English: In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of hundreds of the Carites and of the guard (literally: the runners), and brought them to him in Yahweh's house. He made a covenant with them and put them under oath in Yahweh's house, and he showed them the king's son.
The Hebrew word: "Carites" is kari, which the dictionary gives as "a life-guardsman". It is in only 3 verses of the Bible: here, verse 19, and , where this Bible prints "Cherethites". "The guard" is word for word "the runners".
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5He commanded them, saying, “This is what you must do: a third of you, who come in on the Sabbath, shall be keepers of the watch of the king’s house;
In plain English: He commanded them, "This is what you are to do. A third of you, who come on duty on the Sabbath, will keep watch over the king's house;
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6a third of you shall be at the gate Sur; and a third of you at the gate behind the guard. So you shall keep the watch of the house, and be a barrier.
In plain English: a third will be at the gate Sur, and a third at the gate behind the guard. So you will keep watch over the house, and be a barrier (or: take turns; see the note).
The Hebrew word: "Be a barrier" is massach, which the dictionary gives as "a cordon ... or (as a) military barrier". It is in only this verse of the Bible. The STEPBible meaning for this verse gives "by turns".
What changes: Read as "a barrier", the men are to stand as a wall of guards around the house. Read as "by turns", they are to keep the watch in turns. Either way, they keep watch over the house.
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7The two companies of you, even all who go out on the Sabbath, shall keep the watch of Yahweh’s house around the king.
In plain English: Your two companies (literally: two hands), all who go off duty on the Sabbath, will keep watch over Yahweh's house around the king.
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8You shall surround the king, every man with his weapons in his hand; and he who comes within the ranks, let him be slain. Be with the king when he goes out, and when he comes in.”
In plain English: You will surround the king, every man with his weapons in his hand. Whoever comes inside the ranks is to be killed. Be with the king when he goes out and when he comes in."
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9The captains over hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded; and they each took his men, those who were to come in on the Sabbath with those who were to go out on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.
In plain English: The commanders of hundreds did everything Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each one took his men, those coming on duty on the Sabbath with those going off duty on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.
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10The priest delivered to the captains over hundreds the spears and shields that had been King David’s, which were in Yahweh’s house.
In plain English: The priest gave the commanders of hundreds the spears and shields that had been King David's, which were in Yahweh's house.
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11The guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, along by the altar and the house, around the king.
In plain English: The guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, by the altar and the house, all around the king.
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12Then he brought out the king’s son, and put the crown on him, and gave him the covenant; and they made him king and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, “Long live the king!”
In plain English: Then he brought out the king's son, put the crown on him, and gave him the testimony (this Bible: the covenant; see the note). They made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, "Long live the king!"
The Hebrew word: "The covenant" is edut, which the dictionary gives as "testimony", the word explained in the note on . The text does not say what the testimony given to the king was. has the same words, and the old Greek translation in this collection (Brenton) has "gave him the testimony".
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13When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into Yahweh’s house;
In plain English: When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people in Yahweh's house.
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14and she looked, and behold, the king stood by the pillar, as the tradition was, with the captains and the trumpets by the king; and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!”
In plain English: She looked, and there was the king, standing by the pillar, as the custom was, with the commanders and the trumpets beside the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, "Treason! Treason!"
Good to know: "By the pillar": the text does not say which pillar. In King Josiah also "stood by the pillar" when he made a covenant before Yahweh. has "by his pillar at the entrance".
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15Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds who were set over the army, and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks. Kill anyone who follows her with the sword.” For the priest said, “Don’t let her be slain in Yahweh’s house.”
In plain English: Jehoiada the priest commanded the commanders of hundreds who were set over the army, and said to them, "Bring her out between the ranks. Kill with the sword anyone who follows her." For the priest had said, "Do not let her be killed in Yahweh's house."
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16So they seized her; and she went by the way of the horses’ entry to the king’s house, and she was slain there.
In plain English: So they seized her (literally: laid hands on her). She went by the way of the horses' entrance to the king's house, and she was killed there.
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17Jehoiada made a covenant between Yahweh and the king and the people, that they should be Yahweh’s people; also between the king and the people.
In plain English: Jehoiada made a covenant between Yahweh and the king and the people, that they would be Yahweh's people; and also between the king and the people.
Good to know: The text says Jehoiada made two covenants: between Yahweh and the king and the people, and between the king and the people. It does not give the words of either.
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18All the people of the land went to the house of Baal, and broke it down. They broke his altars and his images in pieces thoroughly, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. The priest appointed officers over Yahweh’s house.
In plain English: All the people of the land went to the house of Baal and tore it down. They smashed its altars and its images completely, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. And the priest set overseers over Yahweh's house.
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19He took the captains over hundreds, and the Carites, and the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from Yahweh’s house, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king’s house. He sat on the throne of the kings.
In plain English: He took the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guard and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from Yahweh's house and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king's house. He sat on the throne of the kings.
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20So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. They had slain Athaliah with the sword at the king’s house.
In plain English: So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. They had killed Athaliah with the sword at the king's house.
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21Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.
In plain English: Jehoash was seven years old when he became king.
Good to know: also says Joash was seven years old when he began to reign.
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