SERIES M --- PROPHESIES AND MIRACLES --- LESSON 23

QUEEN ATHALIAH

JOASH BECOMES KING

From 2 Kings 11:1-16, 20; 2 Chronicles 22:9-12; 23:1-15, 21

Meanwhile, back in the southern kingdom of Judah, things were also in a state of change. King Ahaziah of Judah died in Jehu’s purge of the northern kingdom of Israel, for he was visiting King Jehoram when Jehu killed Jehoram and all his friends. When Ahaziah’s body was brought back to Jerusalem for burial, it was laid in one of the royal tombs in Jerusalem, for he was the grandson of King Jehoshaphat, who had served Adonai well. When Ahaziah’s mother Athaliah, saw that her son was dead, she murdered all her grandsons and seized the throne for herself. However, Ahaziah’s sister Jehoshabeath, managed to hide one of the king’s sons Joash, who was still a baby, in the temple bedchamber, along with his nurse. Jehoshabeath was also a daughter of King Jehoram of Judah and the wife of Jehoiada the priest. Little Joash lived in the temple for six years while Athaliah ruled as queen. His aunt, Princess Jehoshabeath, his uncle, the priest Jehoiada and his nurse took care of him. Finally, in the seventh year of Athaliah’s reign, Jehoiada got up enough courage to proclaim Joash king. He summoned the officers of the army to the temple and made a covenant with them, pledging them to loyalty and then showed them Joash, the child king. Among those present that day were Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah and Elishaphat the son of Zichri. These officers went on a secret mission across the land, telling the Levites and Israel’s clan leaders about their plan and calling them to an assembly at Jerusalem. When they arrived in Jerusalem, they all made a covenant with the young king in the temple. [Adonai promised that a son of David would rule on the throne and the time has come for that to happen,] Jehoiada said. [Now this is what we must do. A number of you priests and Levites will come off duty on the Sabbath. A third of you will go to the entrance as guards. Another third will go to the palace to take control there. The last third will go to the Gate of the Foundation. All other people who are not priests and Levites must stay in the outer courts of the temple, as YHVH’s Law Commands. No one except the priests and Levites on duty may enter the temple, for they alone are sanctified for this service. You Levites will form a circle around the king to protect him with your weapons. Kill anyone who tries to come near him. Stay with the king at all times.] Everything went as planned. Each leader was in charge of a third of those arriving for Shabbat duty and a third of those who would normally be going off Shabbat duty, except that Jehoiada did not dismiss them. Jehoiada gave the officers of the army the spears and shields which had once belonged to King David and had since been kept there in the temple. These officers then formed a line from the south side of the temple to the north side, all along the front, as well as around the altar and the sanctuary itself. Then little Joash was brought out. They placed the crown upon his head, presented him with a copy of the Law of YHVH and proclaimed him king. [Long live the king!] the people shouted as Jehoiada and his sons anointed Joash. The shout was so loud that Queen Athaliah heard it. She also heard the noise of people running and shouts and cheers from these people. She ran to the temple to see what was happening. There she saw the young king standing by a pillar at the entrance, with the officers and trumpeters standing beside him. The people surrounding the king were shouting for joy and blowing trumpets and the musicians were joining with them in singing and playing musical instruments. Athaliah tore her clothing and shouted, [Treason! Treason!] Jehoiada however, sent the army officers after her. [Take her out of the temple and kill her,] he commanded. [See to it that she is not killed in Adonai’s house. And kill anyone who tries to help her.] The army officers grabbed Athaliah and took her to the horse gate of the palace and there they executed her.

COMMENTARY

TEMPLE GATES AND WALLS

In many centres of the ancient Middle East, the royal palace and the temple of worship were built directly next to each other, Other important buildings, such as storehouses, treasuries, living quarters for temple attendants and palace servants, stood nearby. The entire collection of different buildings was called the citadel, a word that in the modern world has come to mean {fortress} or {stronghold.} Such a group of buildings, fundamental to the life of the city, was often enclosed by a protective wall much like the main city wall. In hilly regions such as Jerusalem, it stood apart from the major city activity. Putting the temple and the palace together accomplished several purposes. In Jerusalem, it placed all major authority in one central place. Both religious and political power functioned from one defined area. The structure of Solomon’s temple reflected this idea of centralization. A small court enclosed the temple and a similar inner court enclosed the palace. Both of the buildings were joined by one gate. A larger outer court surrounded the two. This total area was the one Jehoiada’s guards controlled, for within it lay the basic power of the entire kingdom. One indication of how important such an arrangement was is found in Ezekiel’s vision of a new temple. YHVH instructs Ezekiel in great detail how the courts and gates will be arranged. The purpose, He declares, is that never again will the holy house of YHVH be defiled by sharing a common wall with the palace of corrupt and evil kings.