Bible Commentaries
2 Kings 11

Verses 1-21

The story now turns to Judah. When Jehu had slain Ahaziah, his mother Athaliah, the sister of Ahab and of his very nature, seized the throne by killing all the seed royal, and for six years swayed the scepter of her terrible power over the kingdom of Judah.

In this wholesale massacre Jehosheba, the daughter of Athaliah, saved Joash. The fact is stated as an incident. How much romance lies behind the six years during which this woman nursed and cared for the young life hidden in the Temple! He must have been but a year old when she fled there with him, for he was but seven when he came to the throne. Jehoiada, the priest, at last took careful measures to ensure the death of Athaliah and the crowning of Joash.

And still the same great truth of the divine overruling flames on the page. Selfish ambition and all evil passions are at work, but over all these God presides and moves still onward toward the consummation.