BOOK 12 OF 66 · HISTORY · KING JAMES BIBLE

2 Kings 11

2 Kings book home•Chapter 11 of 25•21 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

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2 Kings 11 Overview

After Ahaziah’s death, Athaliah attempts to destroy the royal seed and seizes Judah’s throne. Jehosheba rescues infant Joash and hides him with his nurse in the temple for six years. In the seventh year Jehoiada organizes guards, reveals the heir, crowns and anoints him, and gives him the testimony. Athaliah cries treason but is executed. Jehoiada makes a covenant between the LORD, the king, and the people. Baal’s house is destroyed, and Joash is placed on David’s throne.

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Before you read 2 Kings 11

Coming from

Chapter 10 completed Jehu’s purge, including the death of Ahaziah of Judah.

In this chapter

Athaliah nearly extinguishes the visible Davidic line, but one child is preserved and publicly restored.

Leads into

Chapter 12 follows Joash’s temple repairs and the later pressures surrounding his reign.

Key understandingExplore deeper

This chapter is crucial for the Davidic covenant. From a human viewpoint the dynasty is one murder campaign from disappearance, yet Joash survives. The testimony placed in his hands fits the king’s obligation under God’s law. Athaliah’s cry of ‘Treason’ is deeply ironic because she seized power by trying to destroy the legitimate heirs.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Truth 1

God preserves the Davidic line through one hidden child.

Truth 2

Jehosheba’s courageous rescue becomes decisive in covenant history.

Truth 3

Jehoiada restores more than a ruler; he renews covenant order.

Truth 4

The destruction of Baal’s house shows how deeply Ahab’s influence had entered Judah.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Connection 1

Second Samuel 7 stands behind preservation of David’s house.

Connection 2

Second Chronicles 22-23 gives the parallel and identifies Jehosheba as Jehoiada’s wife.

Connection 3

Deuteronomy 17:18-20 provides background for the king and the law/testimony.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Keep this clear 1

Do not say Athaliah actually eliminated David’s line; her attempt fails.

Keep this clear 2

Her violent removal belongs to a royal-covenant crisis, not a church leadership template.

Keep this clear 3

Preservation of the dynasty is ultimately covenant faithfulness working through real human courage.

Read 2 Kings 11 watching for…

Who rescues Joash.

Where and how long he is hidden.

Jehoiada’s security plan.

The objects used in coronation.

Athaliah’s accusation.

The covenant and worship reforms afterward.

Chapter outline4 sections

1-3Athaliah destroys the royal seed, but Joash is hidden 4-12Jehoiada organizes the guard and crowns Joash king 13-16Athaliah cries treason and is put to death 17-21Jehoiada renews the covenant, Baal’s house is destroyed, and Joash sits on the throne

And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.

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 which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain.

And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land.

And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and shewed them the king's son.

And he commanded them, saying, This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you that enter in on the sabbath shall even be keepers of the watch of the king's house;

And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of the house, that it be not broken down.

And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD about the king.

And ye shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand: and he that cometh within the ranges, let him be slain: and be ye with the king as he goeth out and as he cometh in.

And the captains over the hundreds did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest commanded: and they took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that should go out on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.

And to the captains over hundreds did the priest give king David's spears and shields, that were in the temple of the LORD.

And the guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, round about the king, from the right corner of the temple to the left corner of the temple, along by the altar and the temple.

And he brought forth the king's son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king.

And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the LORD.

And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason.

But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD.

And they laid hands on her; and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the king's house: and there was she slain.

And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD's people; between the king also and the people.

And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal, and brake it down; his altars and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the LORD.

And he took the rulers over hundreds, and the captains, and the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from the house of the LORD, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king's house. And he sat on the throne of the kings.

And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king's house.

Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign.