2 Kings Chapter 11

What is the meaning of 2 Kings 11?

Introduction to 2 Kings 11

The dramatic narrative of 2 Kings 11 unfolds a remarkable story of divine providence and redemption centered around the preservation of the Davidic line through which the Messiah would come. This chapter presents the courageous actions of Jehosheba and Jehoiada in protecting the young prince Joash from the murderous queen mother Athaliah, ultimately leading to the restoration of righteous leadership in Judah.

In this pivotal chapter, we witness how יהוה (Yahweh) preserved the messianic line through extraordinary circumstances, demonstrating His faithfulness to His covenant promises despite human attempts to thwart His divine purposes. The events recorded here serve as a powerful testament to God’s sovereign control over human history and His unwavering commitment to His redemptive plan.

Context of 2 Kings 11

The events of 2 Kings 11 take place against the backdrop of one of the darkest periods in Judah’s history. Following the death of King Ahaziah, his mother Athaliah, daughter of the notorious Ahab and Jezebel, seized power by massacring the royal family. This chapter is situated within the larger narrative of the divided kingdom period, where both Israel and Judah struggled with political instability and spiritual apostasy.

The immediate context reveals the devastating influence of the house of Ahab on Judah through the marriage alliance with Athaliah. This foreign influence had brought Baal worship into Judah, threatening not only the spiritual integrity of God’s people but also the very survival of the Davidic line through which the Messiah would come. The chapter serves as a crucial turning point, marking the end of Athaliah’s illegitimate reign and the restoration of the rightful Davidic king.

The broader biblical context connects this narrative to God’s covenant promises to David in 2 Samuel 7:12-16, where He promised an eternal dynasty. The preservation of young Joash demonstrates God’s faithfulness in maintaining this covenant despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles, pointing forward to the ultimate fulfillment in Yeshua the Messiah.

Ancient Key Word Study

• וַתָּקָם (wattagom) – “She arose” – This word, used to describe Athaliah’s rise to power, carries a connotation of illegitimate usurpation. The root קום often appears in contexts of hostile takeovers, emphasizing the violent nature of her ascension.
• וַתְּאַבֵּד (watte’abbed) – “She destroyed” – This intense form of the verb אבד portrays deliberate and complete destruction. The word choice emphasizes the ruthless nature of Athaliah’s actions against the royal seed.
• וַתִּגְנֹב (watignov) – “She stole/took secretly” – Used to describe Jehosheba’s rescue of Joash, this word typically has negative connotations but here represents a righteous deception, similar to the Hebrew midwives in Exodus.
• בֵּית יְהוָה (beit YHWH) – “House of יהוה” – The temple serves as a place of refuge and preservation, highlighting the divine protection over the Davidic line. This phrase appears repeatedly, emphasizing the sacred space’s role in God’s preservation plan.
• וַיַּכְרֹת (wayyichrot) – “He made” (literally “cut”) – Used in reference to Jehoiada making a covenant, this term derives from ancient covenant-making practices where animals were cut in two, signifying the binding nature of the agreement.
• בְּרִית (berit) – “Covenant” – This foundational concept appears at a crucial moment, connecting the political restoration with spiritual renewal and God’s covenant promises to David.
• וַיִּמְשָׁחֻהוּ (wayyimshakhuhu) – “They anointed him” – The anointing of Joash connects him to the messianic line and legitimizes his reign as the rightful heir to David’s throne.
• תְּרוּעָה (teru’ah) – “Shout/Blast” – This term, associated with both military victory and worship, symbolizes the fusion of political and spiritual restoration in this chapter.
• עֵדוּת (‘edut) – “Testimony” – Referring to the law given to the young king, this word represents the constitutional basis for righteous governance in Israel.

Compare & Contrast

• Verse 1’s use of “arose” (וַתָּקָם) for Athaliah’s usurpation stands in stark contrast to the legitimate “standing” of Joash in verse 14. The Hebrew root is the same, but the contexts reveal opposing legitimacies – one representing rebellion against God’s order, the other representing divine restoration.
• The phrase “she destroyed all the royal seed” (וַתְּאַבֵּד אֵת כָּל־זֶרַע הַמַּמְלָכָה) in verse 1 uses the intensive form of the verb, emphasizing complete destruction. This was chosen over the simpler הרג (to kill) to underscore the attempted extinction of the entire Davidic line.
• Verse 3’s description of Joash being “hidden” (מִתְחַבֵּא) in the House of יהוה uses a reflexive form, suggesting active divine protection rather than mere concealment. This differs from other Hebrew terms for hiding like סתר, emphasizing divine agency in preservation.
• The coronation scene in verse 12 specifically mentions three elements: the crown (נֵזֶר), the testimony (עֵדוּת), and the anointing (וַיִּמְשָׁחֻהוּ). These terms were carefully chosen to establish legitimacy through physical, legal, and spiritual symbols respectively.
• Verse 14’s description of the king “standing by the pillar according to the custom” (עֹמֵד עַל־הָעַמּוּד כַּמִּשְׁפָּט) uses specific ceremonial language that connects to Solomon’s coronation, deliberately establishing continuity with the Davidic dynasty.
• The term used for Athaliah’s death sentence in verse 15 is precise: “Put her forth to death outside the ranks” (הוֹצִיאוּ אֹתָהּ אֶל־מִבֵּית לַשְּׂדֵרֹת). This specific phrasing indicates judicial execution rather than murder, contrasting with her own murderous actions.
• The covenant renewal in verse 17 uses the term וַיִּכְרֹת (cut) deliberately, connecting to the ancient Near Eastern practice of cutting animals for covenant ceremonies, emphasizing the binding nature of the commitment.

2 Kings 11 Unique Insights

The chapter contains a fascinating parallel to the Exodus narrative, with the House of יהוה serving as a place of refuge for the preserved seed, much like the ark of bulrushes that protected Moses. Both accounts feature a royal child hidden from genocidal authority, preserved by God for the deliverance of His people. The six years of Joash’s hiding parallel the six years of Israel’s oppression under various judges, suggesting a pattern of divine timing in preservation and deliverance.

The role of Jehosheba, a princess who was also married to the High Priest Jehoiada, presents a unique convergence of royal and priestly authority in preserving the messianic line. Early rabbinical commentary notes that this union of royal and priestly lines foreshadowed the dual office of the Messiah as both King and Priest after the order of Melchizedek. The Targum Jonathan emphasizes this by elaborating on Jehosheba’s role as divinely appointed for this task.

The chapter’s structure reveals a chiastic pattern centered on the temple as the locus of both physical and spiritual preservation. This literary device emphasizes the temple’s role not merely as a building but as a symbol of God’s presence and protection. The Midrash Rabbah draws attention to the significance of the seven years, connecting it to the seven branches of the menorah and suggesting complete divine illumination despite the darkness of Athaliah’s reign.

The timing of Joash’s revelation at age seven carries significance in Jewish thought, representing the age of spiritual consciousness. The Pirkei Avot’s discussion of life stages adds depth to understanding why this particular age was chosen for his coronation, suggesting it represented the optimal moment for both political and spiritual leadership to begin.

2 Kings 11 Connections to Yeshua

The preservation of young Joash against seemingly impossible odds powerfully foreshadows God’s protection of the infant Messiah from Herod’s murderous intentions, as recorded in Matthew 2:13-18. Both accounts demonstrate God’s sovereign protection of the promised Seed against satanic attempts to destroy the messianic line.

The chapter’s emphasis on legitimate kingship versus usurped authority prefigures the contrast between Yeshua’s rightful claim to David’s throne and the illegitimate authorities who opposed Him. The three elements of Joash’s coronation – crown, testimony, and anointing – find their ultimate fulfillment in Yeshua’s three-fold office as Prophet, Priest, and King. Just as Joash’s emergence from hiding in the temple led to restoration and covenant renewal, so Yeshua’s emergence from the tomb initiated the new covenant and spiritual restoration of God’s people.

2 Kings 11 Scriptural Echoes

This chapter resonates deeply with the broader biblical narrative of preservation and restoration. The theme of a remnant preserved through seemingly hopeless circumstances echoes throughout Scripture, from Noah’s family through the flood (Genesis 7:1) to the remnant of Israel preserved through exile (Isaiah 10:20-22).

The covenant renewal ceremony described here parallels similar moments in Israel’s history, such as Joshua’s covenant renewal at Shechem (Joshua 24) and Josiah’s later reforms (2 Kings 23). The pattern of restoration following periods of apostasy prefigures the ultimate restoration through the Messiah.

The theme of divine protection of the royal seed connects to promises throughout Scripture, from the protoevangelium in Genesis 3:15 to the prophetic promises of Isaiah 11:1 regarding the Branch from Jesse’s root. This preservation of the Davidic line despite satanic opposition appears repeatedly in Scripture, culminating in the birth of Yeshua.

2 Kings 11 Devotional

This powerful narrative challenges us to trust in God’s sovereign control even in the darkest circumstances. When Athaliah seemed to have succeeded in destroying the royal line, God had already prepared a way of preservation through faithful servants. This reminds us that our limited perspective often prevents us from seeing God’s deeper work in seemingly hopeless situations.

The courage of Jehosheba and Jehoiada inspires us to take bold action in service of God’s purposes, even at great personal risk. Their faith-filled response to crisis reminds us that God often works through human instruments to accomplish His purposes. We too are called to act courageously when God’s purposes are threatened, trusting in His protection and provision.

The chapter’s emphasis on covenant renewal challenges us to regularly examine and renew our commitment to God. Just as the people of Judah recommitted themselves to being “יהוה’s people,” we too should regularly renew our dedication to living as God’s covenant people in our generation.

Did You Know

• The six years of Joash’s hiding coincided with the sabbatical year cycle, suggesting divine timing in his revelation and coronation. Jewish tradition connects this to the concept of divine rest and restoration.
• Jehosheba is one of only two women in Scripture recorded as being both a princess and married to a High Priest, making her uniquely positioned for her role in preserving the royal line.
• The temple layout described in the chapter matches archaeological findings from the First Temple period, confirming historical accuracy in details such as the pillars’ placement and guard stations.
• The term used for Athaliah’s death specifically indicates she was executed at the horse gate, traditionally the place where royal horses entered Jerusalem, symbolically marking the end of her illegitimate reign where royal authority normally entered the city.
• The age of Joash at his coronation (seven) carried significant symbolic meaning in ancient Near Eastern culture, representing the completion of the first cycle of spiritual development.
• The guards’ rotation system described in verses 5-8 reflects actual temple security protocols documented in other ancient Near Eastern sources.
• The mention of “runners” (רָצִים) in verse 4 refers to an elite military unit that served as both royal guards and messengers, similar to ancient Persian immortals.
• Athaliah was the only queen to ever rule over Judah, and her reign represented the sole interruption of Davidic dynasty succession.
• The covenant renewal ceremony described here follows a pattern found in Hittite vassal treaties, suggesting its recognition as a legally binding document in the ancient world.
• The placement of the young king “by the pillar” specifically refers to a location where Josiah would later also stand during his reforms, indicating a traditional spot for royal proclamations.