2 Kings 11

Athaliah, the mother of King Ahaziah of Judah, was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel and the wife of King Jehoram of Judah (2 Kings 8:18, 26). As queen mother, she had significant influence, but she used it for evil (2 Kings 8:18, 27; 2 Chronicles 22:3–4). Her plans included destroying the rest of the royal family (see 2 Chronicles 22:10).

While Ahab’s family in Samaria was completely destroyed, Athaliah took control in Judah through a massacre similar to Jehu’s slaughter of her family in Samaria.

• Jehosheba was likely born to Jehoram by a wife other than Athaliah, making her Ahaziah’s half-sister (see Josephus, Antiquities 9.7.1).

• The infant Joash was born to Zibiah of Beersheba (2 Chronicles 24:1), possibly a lesser-known wife of Ahaziah. This might have allowed the baby's birth to go unnoticed by Athaliah.

If discovered, Jehosheba could have been executed for hiding Joash for six years. Athaliah ruled the land from 841 to 835 BC.

• Jehoiada the priest knew his plan could be seen as treason (2 Kings 11:14). He also did not fully trust the men he wanted to join him. Before he revealed the existence of Joash, the rightful heir to Judah’s throne, he required them to swear an oath of loyalty. These men went to the towns of Judah and brought the Levites and family leaders to the temple in Jerusalem, where they made a covenant with Joash (2 Chronicles 23:3).

• The Carite mercenaries came from the Aegean region. They served as the king’s bodyguards (2 Samuel 20:23).

Jehoiada organized the royal guard into specific groups. Some protected the young king. Others took positions at the palace, the Sur Gate (also called the Foundation Gate, 2 Chronicles 23:5), and behind the palace guard. Additional guards stood watch at the Lord’s temple. Every effort was made to secure the king and the anointing site.

With all the palace guards in place and their weapons ready, Jehoiada brought out Joash before the people and crowned him king. He also gave him a copy of God's laws. The king was to receive a copy of the law, make his own copy, and "read from it all the days of his life" (Deuteronomy 17:18–19). Jehoiada's actions strongly contrast with Athaliah's pagan rule.

• The pillar might be one of the two that Solomon placed at the temple entrance (1 Kings 7:15–22; 2 Chronicles 23:13). Or the Hebrew word could mean a raised platform built for the occasion so that everyone could see the new king.

• Athaliah cried out “Treason!” But this was ironic, since she herself had murdered to make herself queen (2 Kings 11:1).

Athaliah died at the gate where horses enter the palace, similar to her mother Jezebel, who died under Jehu's horses (2 Kings 9:33).

Renewing the covenant was crucial after years under pagan rule. The law required covenant faithfulness and regular renewal (Deuteronomy 31:9–13), and Israel followed this at key moments in its history (see 2 Kings 23:1–3; Joshua 24).

• The temple of Baal might be the one found in Ramat Rahel, about three miles south of Jerusalem. Just as Jehu ended Baal worship in the northern kingdom (2 Kings 10:18–27), the people of Judah destroyed this pagan temple and executed its priest.

• Jehoiada placed guards at the temple to prevent attacks from Athaliah's followers and her false religion.

The city was calm, showing that the kingdom respects God and his laws (Isaiah 35:10; 65:18–24; Jeremiah 33:6–16).

The record of Joash's reign follows a typical format:

1. It describes when he became king (2 Kings 11:21–12:3)

2. It tells about his royal activities (2 Kings 12:4–18)

3. It gives the closing notice of his reign (2 Kings 12:19–21).

The main focus is Joash’s efforts to repair the temple of the Lord (2 Kings 12:4–16). Later, when the army of Aram [the Arameans] invaded, Joash took treasures from the temple and gave them away to protect his city (2 Kings 12:17–18).