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2 Kings 11

A hidden royal child survives Athaliah’s violence and becomes king as Jehoiada binds the king and people to YHWH.

After her son Ahaziah dies, Athaliah kills the royal offspring and takes power, but Jehosheba rescues Ahaziah’s son Joash. He remains hidden in YHWH’s house for six years. In the seventh year, Jehoiada the priest gathers armed guards and arranges the child’s coronation. Athaliah is seized and killed outside the temple. Jehoiada then establishes a covenant binding king and people to YHWH, and the people destroy Baal’s temple. Seven-year-old Jehoash takes the throne amid public rejoicing.

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1Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal offspring.
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.
3He was with her hidden in the LORD’s house six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.
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 the LORD’s house; and he made a covenant with them, and made a covenant with them in the LORD’s house, and showed them the king’s son.
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;
7The two companies of you, even all who go out on the Sabbath, shall keep the watch of the LORD’s house around the king.
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.”
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.
10The priest delivered to the captains over hundreds the spears and shields that had been King David’s, which were in the LORD’s house.
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.
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!”
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!”
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 the LORD’s house.”
16So they seized her; and she went by the way of the horses’ entry to the king’s house, and she was slain there.
17Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD’s people; also between the king and the people.
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 the LORD’s house.
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 the LORD’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.
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.
21Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.
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Key verses
2 Kings 11:1Athaliah’s attack on the royal offspring creates the crisis that makes Joash’s rescue and concealment necessary.
2 Kings 11:12The hidden child is crowned and anointed before the gathered guards, bringing Jehoiada’s guarded preparations into public view.
2 Kings 11:17The covenant places king and people under YHWH’s authority before the destruction of Baal’s temple.
Where this chapter reaches

2 Chronicles recounts the same rescue of Joash, Jehoiada’s arrangements for his coronation, and the overthrow of Athaliah. Exodus shares the covenant theme of a people bound to YHWH, which shapes the agreement between YHWH, king, and people here.

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After reading the whole chapter

What stands out to you about Jehosheba’s rescue of Joash before his six years in hiding?

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How does the covenant in verse 17 shape your reading of the events that follow?

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Questions people ask about 2 Kings 11

Why did Athaliah kill the royal family?

Athaliah attacks the royal offspring after learning that her son Ahaziah has died, and she then reigns over the land. The sequence suggests an effort to secure power by removing rival heirs, though the text does not state her motive. Joash survives because Jehosheba hides him.

What covenant did Jehoiada make in 2 Kings 11?

Verse 17 describes a covenant between YHWH, the king, and the people, committing them to be YHWH’s people. It also names a covenant between the king and the people, without spelling out its terms. The destruction of Baal’s temple follows, showing the public rejection of Baal worship.

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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).