II
K I N G S
CHAP. XI.
The
revolution in the kingdom of Israel was soon perfected in Jehu's settlement;
we must now enquire into the affairs of the kingdom of Judah, which lost its
head (such as it was) at the same time, and by the same hand, as Israel lost
its head; but things continued longer there in distraction than in Israel,
yet, after some years, they were brought into a good posture, as we find in
this chapter. I. Athaliah usurps the government and destroys all the
seed-royal, ver. 1. II. Joash, a child of a year old, is wonderfully
preserved, ver. 2, 3. III. At six years' end he is produced, and, by the
agency of Jehoiada, made king, ver. 4-12. IV. Athaliah is slain, ver. 13-16.
V. Both the civil and religious interests of the kingdom are well settled in
the hands of Joash, ver. 17-21. And thus, after some interruption, things
returned with advantage into the old channel.
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The
Death of Athaliah.
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B.
C. 878.
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1 And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw
that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.
2 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. 3 And he was with her hid in
the house of the LORD
six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land.
God had assured David of the continuance of his family, which is called his ordaining
a lamp for his anointed; and this cannot but appear a great thing, now
that we have read of the utter extirpation of so many royal families, one
after another. Now here we have David's promised lamp almost extinguished and
yet wonderfully preserved.
I. It was almost extinguished by the barbarous malice of Athaliah, the
queen-mother, who, when she heard that her son Ahaziah was slain by Jehu, arose
and destroyed all the seed-royal (v. 1), all that she knew to be
akin to the crown. Her husband Jehoram had slain all his brethren the sons of
Jehoshaphat, 2 Chron. xxi. 4. The Arabians had slain all Jehoram's sons except
Ahaziah, 2 Chron. xxii. 1. Jehu had slain all their sons (2 Chron. xxii. 8)
and Ahaziah himself. Surely never was royal blood so profusely shed. Happy the
men of inferior birth, who live below envy and emulation! But, as if all this
were but a small matter, Athaliah destroyed all that were left of the
seed-royal. It was strange that one of the tender sex could be so barbarous,
that one who had been herself a king's daughter, a king's wife, and a king's
mother, could be so barbarous to a royal family, and a family into which she
was herself ingrafted; but she did it, 1. From a spirit of ambition. She
thirsted after rule, and thought she could not get to it any other way. That
none might reign with her, she slew even the infants and sucklings that might
have reigned after her. For fear of a competitor, not any must be reserved for
a successor. 2. From a spirit of revenge and rage against God. The house of
Ahab being utterly destroyed, and her son Ahaziah among the rest, because he
was akin to it, she resolved, as it were, by way of reprisal, to destroy the
house of David, and cut off his line, in defiance of God's promise to
perpetuate it--a foolish attempt and fruitless, for who can disannul what God
hath purposed? Grandmothers have been thought more fond of their grandchildren
than they were of their own; yet Ahaziah's own mother is the wilful murderer
of Ahaziah own sons, and in their infancy too, when she was obliged, above any
other, to nurse them and take care of them. Well might she be called Athaliah,
that wicked woman (2 Chron. xxiv. 7), Jezebel's own daughter; yet herein
God was righteous, and visited the iniquity of Joram and Ahaziah, those
degenerate branches of David's house, upon their children.
II. It was wonderfully preserved by the pious care of one of Joram's daughters
(who was wife to Jehoiada the priest), who stole away one of the king's sons,
Joash by name, and hid him, v. 2, 3. This was a brand plucked out of
the fire; what number were slain we are not told, but, it seems, this being a
child in the nurse's arms was not missed, or not enquired after, or at least
no found. The person that delivered him was his own aunt, the daughter of
wicked Joram; for God will raise up protectors for those whom he will have
protected. The place of his safety was the house of the Lord, one of the
chambers belonging to the temple, a place Athaliah seldom troubled. His aunt,
by bringing him hither, put him under God's special protection, and so hid him
by faith, as Moses was hidden. Now were David's words made good to one of his
seed (Ps. xxvii. 5), In the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me.
With good reason did this Joash, when he grew up, set himself to repair the
house of the Lord, for it had been a sanctuary to him. Now was the promise
made to David bound up in one life, and yet it did not fail. Thus to the son
of David will God, according to his promise, secure a spiritual seed, which,
though sometimes reduced to a small number, brought very low, and seemingly
lost, will be perpetuated to the end of time, hidden sometimes and unseen, but
hidden in God's pavilion and unhurt. It was a special providence that Joram,
though a king, a wicked king, married his daughter to Jehoiada a priest, a
godly priest. Some perhaps thought it a disparagement to the royal family to
marry a daughter to a clergyman, but it proved a happy marriage, and the
saving of the royal family from ruin; for Jehoiada's interest in the temple
gave her an opportunity to preserve the child, and her interest in the
royal family gave him an opportunity to set him on the throne. See the
wisdom and care of Providence, and how it prepares for what it designs; and
see what blessings those lay up in store for their families that marry their
children to those that are wise and good.
4 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 showed them the king's son. 5 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;
6 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. 7 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. 8 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. 9 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. 10 And to the captains over hundreds
did the priest give king David's spears and shields, that were in the
temple of the LORD.
11 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. 12 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.
Six years Athaliah tyrannised. We have not a particular account of her reign;
no doubt it was of a piece with the beginning. While Jehu was extirpating the
worship of Baal in Israel, she was establishing it in Judah, as appears, 2
Chron. xxiv. 7. The court and kingdom of Judah had been debauched by their
alliance with the house of Ahab, and now one of that house is a curse and a
plague to both: sinful friendships speed no better. All this while, Joash lay
hid, entitled to a crown and intended for it, and yet buried alive in
obscurity. Though the sons and heirs of heaven are now hidden, the world
knows them not (1 John iii. 1), yet the time is fixed when they shall
appear in glory, as Joash in his seventh year; by that time he was ready to be
shown, not a babe, but, having served his first apprenticeship to life and
arrived at his first climacterical year, he had taken a good step towards
manhood; by that time the people had grown weary of Athaliah's tyranny and
ripe for a revolution. How that revolution was effected we are here told.
I. The manager of this great affair was Jehoiada the priest, probably the high
priest, or at least the sagan (as the Jews called him) or suffragan to
the high priest. By his birth and office he was a man in authority, whom the
people were bound by the law to observe and obey, especially when there was no
rightful king upon the throne, Deut. xvii. 12. By marriage he was allied to
the royal family, and, if all the seed-royal were destroyed, his wife, as
daughter to Joram, had a better title to the crown than Athaliah had. By his
eminent gifts and graces he was fitted to serve his country, and better
service he could not do it than to free it from Athaliah's usurpation; and we
have reason to think he did not make this attempt till he had first asked
counsel of God and known his mind, either by prophets or Urim, perhaps by
both.
II. The management was very discreet and as became so wise and good a man as
Jehoiada was.
1. He concerted the matter with the rulers of hundreds and the captains,
the men in office, ecclesiastical, civil, and military; he got them to him to
the temple, consulted with them, laid before them the grievances they at
present laboured under, gave them an oath of secresy, and, finding them free
and forward to join with him, showed them the king's son (v. 4),
and so well satisfied were they with his fidelity that they saw no reason to
suspect an imposition. We may well think what a pleasing surprise it was to
the good people among them, who feared that the house and lineage of David
were quite cut off, to find such a spark as this in the embers.
2. He posted the priests and Levites, who were more immediately under his
direction, in the several avenues to the temple, to keep the guard, putting
them under the command of the rulers of hundreds, v. 9. David
had divided the priests into courses, which waited by turns. Every sabbath-day
morning a new company came into waiting, but the company of the foregoing week
did not go out of waiting till the sabbath evening, so that on the sabbath
day, when double service was to be done, there was a double number to do it,
both those that were to come in and those that were to go out. These Jehoiada
employed to attend on this great occasion; he armed them out of the magazines
of the temple with David's spears and shields, either his own or those he had
taken from his enemies, which he devoted to God's honour, v. 10. If
they were old and unfashionable, yet those that used them might, by their
being David's, be reminded of God's covenant with him, which they were now
acting in the defence of. Two things they were ordered to do:-- (1.) To
protect the young king from being insulted; they must keep the watch of the
king's house (v. 5), compass the king, and be with him (v.
8), to guard him from Athaliah's partizans, for still there were those that
thirsted after royal blood. (2.) To preserve the holy temple from being
profaned by the concourse of people that would come together on this occasion
(v. 6): Keep the watch of the house, that it be neither broken
through nor broken down, and so strangers should crowd in, or such as were
unclean. He was not so zealous for the projected revolution as to forget his
religion. In times of the greatest hurry care must be taken, Ne detrimentum
capiat ecclesia--That the holy things of God be not trenched upon.
It is observable that Jehoiada appointed to each his place as well as his work
(v. 6, 7), for good order contributes very much to the expediting and
accomplishing of any great enterprise. Let every man know, and keep, and make
good, his post, and then the work will be done quickly.
3. When the guards were fixed, then the king was brought forth, v. 12. Rejoice
greatly, O daughter of Sion! for even in thy holy mountain thy king
appears, a child indeed, but not such a one as brings a woe upon the land, for
he is the son of nobles, the son of David (Eccl. x. 17)-- a child indeed, but
he had a good guardian, and, which was better, a good God, to go to. Jehoiada,
without delay, proceeded to the coronation of this young king; for, though he
was not yet capable of despatching business, he would be growing up towards it
by degrees. This was done with great solemnity, v. 12. (1.) In token of
his being invested with kingly power, he put the crown upon him, though
it was yet too large and heavy for his head. The regalia, it is probable, were
kept in the temple, and so the crown was ready at hand. (2.) In token of his
obligation to govern by law, and to make the word of God his rule, he gave him
the testimony, put into his hand a Bible, in which he must read all the
days of his life, Deut. xvii. 18, 19. (3.) In token of his receiving the
Spirit, to qualify him for this great work to which he before was called, he
anointed him. Though notice is taken of the anointing of the kings only in
case of interruption, as here, and in Solomon's case, yet I know not but the
ceremony might be used for all their kings, at least those of the house of
David, because their royalty was typical of Christ's, who was to be anointed
above his fellows, above all the sons of David. (4.) In token of the people's
acceptance of him and subjection to his government, they clapped their hands
for joy, and expressed their hearty good wishes to him: Let the king live;
and thus they made him king, made him their king, consented to, and concurred
with, the divine appointment. They had reason to rejoice in the period now put
to Athaliah's tyranny, and the prospect they had of the restoration and
establishment of religion by a king under the tuition of so good a man as
Jehoiada. They had reason to bid him welcome to the crown whose right it was,
and to pray, Let him live, concerning him who came to them as life from
the dead and in whom the house of David was to live. With such acclamations of
joy and satisfaction must the kingdom of Christ be welcomed into our hearts
when his throne is set up there and Satan the usurper is deposed. Hosanna,
blessed is he that comes: clap hands, and say, "Let King Jesus live,
for ever live and reign, in my soul, and in all the world;" it is
promised (Ps. lxxii. 15), He shall live, and prayer shall be made for him,
and his kingdom, continually.
13 And when Athaliah heard the noise of the
guard and of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the
LORD.
14 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. 15 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.
16 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.
We may suppose it was designed when they had finished the solemnity of the
king's inauguration, to pay a visit to Athaliah, and call her to an account
for her murders, usurpation, and tyranny; but, like her mother Jezebel, she
saved them the labour, went out to meet them, and hastened her own
destruction. 1. Hearing the noise, she came in a fright to see what was the
matter, v. 13. Jehoiada and his friends began in silence, but now that
they found their strength, they proclaimed what they were doing. It seems,
Athaliah was little regarded, else she would have had intelligence brought her
of this daring attempt before with her own ears she heard the noise; had the
design been discovered before it was perfected, it might have been quashed,
but now it was too late. When she heard the noise it was strange that she was
so ill advised as to come herself, and, for aught that appears, to come alone.
Surely she was not so neglected as to have none to go for her, or none to go
with her, but she was wretchedly infatuated by the transport both of fear and
indignation she was in. Whom God will destroy he befools. 2. Seeing what was
done she cried out for help. She saw the king's place by the pillar possessed
by one to whom the princes and people did homage (v. 14) and had reason
to conclude her power at an end, which she knew was usurped; this made her
rend her clothes, like one distracted, and cry, "Treason! treason! Come
and help against the traitors." Josephus adds that she cried to have him
killed that possessed the king's place. What was now doing was the highest
justice, yet it was branded as the highest crime; she herself was the greatest
traitor, and yet was first and loudest in crying Treason! treason! Those that
are themselves most guilty are commonly most forward to reproach others. 3.
Jehoiada gave orders to put her to death as an idolater, a usurper, and an
enemy to the public peace. Care was taken, (1.) That she should not be killed
in the temple, or any of the courts of it, in reverence to that holy place,
which must not be stained with the blood of any human sacrifice, though ever
so justly offered. (2.) That whoever appeared for her should die with her:
"Him that follows her, to protect or rescue her, any of her attendants
that resolve to adhere to her and will not come into the interests of their
rightful sovereign, kill with the sword, but not unless they follow her
now," v. 15. According to these orders, she endeavouring to make
her escape the back way to the palace, through the stalls, they pursued her,
and there killed her, v. 16. So let thy enemies perish, O Lord!
thus give the bloody harlot blood to drink, for she is worthy.
17 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. 18 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. 19 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. 20 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. 21 Seven years old was Jehoash when he
began to reign.
Jehoiada had now got over the harlot part of his work, when, by the death of
Athaliah, the young prince had his way to the throne cleared of all
opposition. He had now to improve his advantages for the perfecting of the
revolution and the settling of the government. Two things we have an account
of here:--
I. The good foundations he laid, by an original contract, v. 17. Now
that prince and people were together in God's house, as it should seem before
they stirred, Jehoiada took care that they should jointly covenant with God,
and mutually covenant with each other, that they might rightly understand
their duty both to God and to one another, and be firmly bound to it. 1. He
endeavoured to settle and secure the interests of religion among them, by a
covenant between them and God. King and people would then cleave most firmly
to each other when both had joined themselves to the Lord. God had already, on
his part, promised to be their God (Jehoiada could show them that in the book
of the testimony); now the king and people on their part must covenant and
agree that they will be the Lord's people: in this covenant, the king
stands upon the same level with his subjects and is as much bound as any of
them to serve the Lord. By this engagement they renounced Baal, whom many of
them had worshipped, and resigned themselves to God's government. It is well
with a people when all the changes that pass over them help to revive,
strengthen, and advance the interests of religion among them. And those are
likely to prosper who set out in the world under fresh and sensible
obligations to God and their duty. By our bonds to God the bonds of every
relation are strengthened. They first gave themselves to the Lord, and
then to us, 2 Cor. viii. 5. 2. He then settled both the coronation-oath
and the oath of allegiance, the pacta conventa--covenant, between the
king and the people, by which the king was obliged to govern according to law
and to protect his subjects, and they were obliged, while he did so, to obey
him and to bear faith and true allegiance to him. Covenants are of use both to
remind us of and to bind us to those duties which are already binding on us.
It is good, in all relations, for the parties to understand one another fully,
particularly in that between prince and subject, that the one may understand
the limits of his power and prerogative, the other those of his liberty and
property; and never may the ancient landmarks which our fathers have set
before them be removed.
II. The good beginnings he raised on those foundations. 1. Pursuant to their
covenant with God they immediately abolished idolatry, which the preceding
kings, in compliance with the house of Ahab, had introduced (v. 18): All
the people of the land, the mob, got together, to show their zeal against
idolatry; and every one, now that they were so well headed, would lend a hand
to pull down Baal's temple, his altars, and his images. All his worshippers,
it should seem, deserted him; only his priest Mattan stuck to his altar.
Though all men forsook Baal, he would not, and there he was slain, the best
sacrifice that ever was offered upon that altar. Having destroyed Baal's
temple, they appointed officers over the house of God, to see that the
service of God was regularly performed by the proper persons, in due time, and
according to the institutional manner. 2. Pursuant to their covenant with one
another they expressed a mutual readiness to and satisfaction in each other.
(1.) The king was brought in state to the royal palace, and sat there on the
throne of judgment, the thrones of the house of David (v. 19),
ready to receive petitions and appeals, which he would refer it to Jehoiada to
give answers to and to give judgment upon. (2.) The people rejoiced, and
Jerusalem was in quiet (v. 20), and Josephus says they kept a feast of
joy many days, making good Solomon's observation (Prov. xi. 10), When it
goes well with the righteous the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish
there is shouting.
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