Bible Commentaries
2 Kings 11

Introduction

Overview

2 Kings 11:1, Jehoash, being saved by Jehosheba his aunt from Athaliah’s massacre of the seed royal, is hid six years in the house of God; 2 Kings 11:4, Jehoiada, giving order to the captains, in the seventh year anoints him king; 2 Kings 11:13, Athaliah is slain; 2 Kings 11:17, Jehoiada restores the worship of God.

Verse 1

am 3120, bc 884

Athaliah: 2 Chronicles 22:10, 2 Chronicles 24:7

the mother: 2 Kings 8:26, 2 Kings 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. Matthew 2:13, Matthew 2:16, Matthew 21:38, Matthew 21:39

seed royal: Heb. seed of the kingdom, 2 Kings 25:25, *marg. Jeremiah 41:1

Reciprocal: Judges 9:5 - slew 1 Kings 1:12 - the life 2 Kings 10:7 - slew seventy 2 Kings 10:14 - neither left 2 Kings 11:14 - Treason 2 Kings 12:1 - the seventh 2 Chronicles 18:1 - joined affinity Psalms 109:14 - let not Proverbs 14:1 - the foolish Isaiah 3:12 - children Isaiah 49:15 - they may Jeremiah 41:7 - slew Matthew 14:8 - Give

Verse 2

Jehosheba: 2 Chronicles 22:11, Jehoshabeath

Joram: 2 Kings 8:16, Jehoram

Joash: 2 Kings 12:1, 2 Kings 12:2, Jehoash

they hid him: 2 Kings 8:19, Proverbs 21:30, Isaiah 7:6, Isaiah 7:7, Isaiah 37:35, Isaiah 65:8, Isaiah 65:9, Jeremiah 33:17, Jeremiah 33:21, Jeremiah 33:26

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." 1 Kings 6:5, 1 Kings 6:6, 1 Kings 6:8, 1 Kings 6:10, Jeremiah 35:2, Ezekiel 40:45

Reciprocal: Joshua 2:6 - hid them Judges 9:5 - slew 1 Kings 11:17 - Hadad 2 Kings 11:12 - he brought 2 Kings 11:14 - Treason Isaiah 49:15 - they may Jeremiah 41:7 - slew

Verse 3

am 3120-3126, bc 884-878

And Athaliah: 2 Chronicles 22:12, Psalms 12:8, Malachi 3:15

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 12:1 - the seventh Nehemiah 6:10 - the house

Verse 4

am 3126, bc 878

the seventh: 2 Chronicles 23:1-15

rulers: 2 Kings 11:9, 1 Chronicles 9:13

the captains: Acts 5:24, Acts 5:26

made a covenant: 2 Kings 11:17, 2 Kings 23:3, Joshua 24:25, 1 Samuel 18:3, 1 Samuel 23:18, 2 Chronicles 15:12, 2 Chronicles 29:10, 2 Chronicles 34:31, 2 Chronicles 34:32, Nehemiah 9:38

took an oath: Genesis 50:25, 1 Kings 18:10, Nehemiah 5:12, Nehemiah 10:29

Reciprocal: Numbers 4:3 - enter 2 Kings 11:12 - he brought 2 Kings 11:15 - captains 2 Kings 11:19 - took 2 Kings 11:21 - General 2 Kings 12:1 - the seventh 2 Kings 12:7 - Jehoiada 2 Kings 13:1 - three and twentieth year 1 Chronicles 12:27 - the leader

Verse 5

that enter: 1 Chronicles 9:25, 1 Chronicles 23:3-6, 1 Chronicles 23:32, 1 Chronicles 24:3-6, Luke 1:8, Luke 1:9

the watch: 2 Kings 11:19, 2 Kings 16:18, 1 Kings 10:5, Jeremiah 26:10, Ezekiel 44:2, Ezekiel 44:3, Ezekiel 46:2, Ezekiel 46:3

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 11:7 - go forth 2 Chronicles 23:5 - the king's house Luke 1:23 - the days

Verse 6

the gate of Sur: 1 Chronicles 26:13-19, 2 Chronicles 23:4, 2 Chronicles 23:5

that it be not broken down: or, from breaking up

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 23:6 - they that minister

Verse 7

parts: or, companies, Heb. hands

go forth: 2 Kings 11:5, 2 Chronicles 23:6

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 9:25 - seven

Verse 8

he that cometh: 2 Kings 11:15, Exodus 21:14, 1 Kings 2:28-31, 2 Chronicles 23:7

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 11:11 - every man 2 Chronicles 23:14 - whoso followeth her

Verse 9

the captains: 2 Kings 11:4, 1 Chronicles 26:26, 2 Chronicles 23:8

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 11:15 - captains 1 Chronicles 9:19 - over the host 1 Chronicles 12:27 - the leader 2 Chronicles 23:7 - the Levites 2 Chronicles 23:20 - the captains

Verse 10

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." 1 Samuel 21:9, 2 Samuel 8:7, 1 Chronicles 26:26, 1 Chronicles 26:27, 2 Chronicles 5:1, 2 Chronicles 23:9, 2 Chronicles 23:10

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 11:11 - every man 2 Kings 11:14 - the princes 2 Kings 11:15 - captains 2 Chronicles 23:20 - the captains

Verse 11

every man: 2 Kings 11:8, 2 Kings 11:10

corner: Heb. shoulder

by the altar: Exodus 40:6, 2 Chronicles 6:12, Ezekiel 8:16, Joel 2:17, Matthew 23:35, Luke 11:51

Reciprocal: Genesis 41:34 - officers 2 Kings 11:14 - the princes 2 Chronicles 23:10 - side of the temple

Verse 12

he brought: 2 Kings 11:2, 2 Kings 11:4, 2 Chronicles 23:11

put the crown: 2 Samuel 1:10, 2 Samuel 12:30, Esther 2:17, Esther 6:8, Psalms 21:3, Psalms 89:39, Psalms 132:18, Matthew 27:29, Hebrews 2:9, Revelation 19:12

the testimony: Exodus 25:16, Exodus 31:18, Deuteronomy 17:18-20, Psalms 78:5, Isaiah 8:16, Isaiah 8:20

anointed him: 2 Kings 9:3, 1 Samuel 10:1, 1 Samuel 16:13, 2 Samuel 2:4, 2 Samuel 2:7, 2 Samuel 5:3, 1 Kings 1:39, Lamentations 4:20, Acts 4:27, 2 Corinthians 1:21, Hebrews 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." Psalms 47:1, Psalms 98:8, Isaiah 55:12

and said: 1 Kings 1:34, Psalms 72:15-17, Daniel 3:9, Daniel 6:21, Matthew 21:9

God save the king: Heb. Let the king live, 1 Samuel 10:24, 2 Samuel 16:16,*marg.

Reciprocal: Genesis 41:34 - officers 1 Kings 1:25 - God save king Adonijah Galatians 4:1 - That

Verse 13

2 Chronicles 23:12-15

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 8:26 - Athaliah

Verse 14

Numbers 10:1-10

stood: The Orientals considered a seat by a pillar or column as particularly honourable.

a pillar: 2 Kings 23:3, 2 Chronicles 34:31

the princes: 2 Kings 11:10, 2 Kings 11:11

all the people: 1 Kings 1:39, 1 Kings 1:40, 1 Chronicles 12:40, Proverbs 29:2, Luke 19:37, Revelation 19:1-7

Treason: 2 Kings 11:1, 2 Kings 11:2, 2 Kings 9:23, 1 Kings 18:17, 1 Kings 18:18

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 1:34 - blow ye 1 Kings 8:22 - stood before the altar 2 Kings 5:7 - that he rent 2 Kings 11:20 - rejoiced 2 Chronicles 6:12 - he stood 2 Chronicles 30:16 - after their manner

Verse 15

captains: 2 Kings 11:4, 2 Kings 11:9, 2 Kings 11:10, 2 Chronicles 23:9, 2 Chronicles 23:14

Have: Ezekiel 21:14

followeth: 2 Kings 11:8

Let: Ezekiel 9:7

Reciprocal: Exodus 21:14 - take him 2 Kings 11:20 - slew Athaliah 1 Chronicles 9:19 - over the host Jeremiah 29:26 - officers Luke 22:52 - captains

Verse 16

by the which: 2 Chronicles 23:15

there was she slain: Genesis 9:6, Judges 1:7, Matthew 7:2, James 2:13, Revelation 16:5-7

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 3:28 - the horse Jeremiah 31:40 - unto

Verse 17

made a covenant: 2 Kings 11:4, Deuteronomy 5:2, Deuteronomy 5:3, Deuteronomy 29:1-15, Joshua 24:25, 2 Chronicles 15:12-14, 2 Chronicles 29:10, 2 Chronicles 34:31, Ezra 10:3, Nehemiah 5:12, Nehemiah 5:13, Nehemiah 9:38, Nehemiah 10:28, Nehemiah 10:29, 2 Corinthians 8:5

between the king: 1 Samuel 10:25, 2 Samuel 5:3, 1 Chronicles 11:3, 2 Chronicles 23:16, Romans 13:1-6

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 29:12 - thou shouldest 2 Kings 21:24 - made Josiah 2 Kings 23:3 - stood 2 Chronicles 23:3 - made a covenant Jeremiah 11:2 - General Jeremiah 34:8 - had

Verse 18

went: 2 Kings 9:25-28, 2 Kings 10:26, 2 Kings 18:4, 2 Kings 23:4-6, 2 Kings 23:10, 2 Kings 23:14, 2 Chronicles 23:17, 2 Chronicles 34:4, 2 Chronicles 34:7

brake they: 2 Kings 18:4, Exodus 32:20, Deuteronomy 12:3, 2 Chronicles 21:17, Isaiah 2:18, Zechariah 13:2

slew Mattan: Deuteronomy 13:5, Deuteronomy 13:9, 1 Kings 18:40, Zechariah 13:2, Zechariah 13:3

appointed: 2 Chronicles 23:18-20

officers: Heb. offices

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 17:16 - Baal 2 Kings 23:20 - he slew Jeremiah 29:26 - officers

Verse 19

took: 2 Kings 11:4-11

by the way: 2 Kings 11:5, 2 Chronicles 23:5, 2 Chronicles 23:19

he sat: 1 Kings 1:13, 1 Chronicles 29:23, Jeremiah 17:25, Jeremiah 22:4, Jeremiah 22:30, Matthew 19:28, Matthew 25:31

Reciprocal: Genesis 36:30 - dukess in the 1 Chronicles 9:18 - the king's 2 Chronicles 23:17 - slew Mattan 2 Chronicles 23:20 - the captains

Verse 20

rejoiced: 2 Kings 11:14, 2 Chronicles 23:21, Proverbs 11:10, Proverbs 29:2

slew Athaliah: 2 Kings 11:15

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 1:40 - rejoiced 1 Chronicles 12:40 - there was joy

Verse 21

2 Kings 11:4, 2 Kings 22:1, 2 Chronicles 24:1-14

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 12:1 - the seventh 2 Kings 13:1 - three and twentieth year 1 Chronicles 3:11 - Joash