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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, 2Ki 11:1. II. Joash, a child of a year old, is wonderfully preserved, 2Ki 11:2,3. III. At six years' end he is produced, and, by the agency of Jehoiada, made king, 2Ki 11:4-12. IV. Athaliah is slain, 2Ki 11:13-16. V. Both the civil and religious interests of the kingdom are well settled in the hands of Joash, 2Ki 11:17-21. And thus, after some interruption, things returned with advantage into the old channel.
1-21
The Death of Athaliah (878 BC)
简体中文
亚他利雅之死（主前878年）
¹ 亚哈谢的母亲亚他利雅见她儿子死了，就起来剿灭王室所有的后裔。
² 但约兰王的女儿、亚哈谢的妹子约示巴，将亚哈谢的儿子约阿施从那被杀的王子中偷出来，把他和他的乳母都藏在卧房里，躲避亚他利雅，免得被杀。
³ 约阿施和他的乳母藏在耶和华的殿里六年；亚他利雅则治理那地。
神曾应许大卫，要使他的家室得以延续，这被称为他为他的受膏者预备一盏灯；如今我们已读到何等多的王室一个接一个被彻底翦除，这应许便愈显为大事。如今在此，我们看见神应许给大卫的那盏灯几乎被熄灭，却又奇妙地得了保全。
I. 它几乎被太后亚他利雅那残暴的恶意所熄灭。她听见她儿子亚哈谢被耶户所杀，便起来剿灭王室所有的后裔（王下11:1），凡她所知与王位有亲的，尽都灭绝。她丈夫约兰曾杀了他众兄弟，就是约沙法的众子（代下21:4）。亚拉伯人杀了约兰除亚哈谢以外的众子（代下22:1）。耶户又杀了他们的众子（代下22:8）以及亚哈谢自己。王室的血从未流得如此放纵。那些出身卑微、活在嫉妒与竞逐之下的人，何等有福！然而，仿佛这一切还嫌不够，亚他利雅竟把王室所剩下的后裔也尽行剿灭。何等奇怪，柔弱之辈中竟有人能如此残暴；一个自己曾是王的女儿、王的妻子、王的母亲的人，竟能对王室——并对她自己所嫁入的家室——如此残暴；但她确是行了这事，理由有二：1. 出于野心的灵。她渴慕掌权，以为别无他途可达此目的。为使无人与她同掌权柄，她连那将来或可承袭其后的婴孩与吃奶的也尽行杀戮。因惧怕有人争位，便不容留一人作继承者。2. 出于报复与向神发怒的灵。亚哈家既被彻底剿灭，连她儿子亚哈谢也因与该家有亲而一同灭亡，她便仿佛要以牙还牙，定意剿灭大卫家，剪除他的后裔，公然抗拒神要使其永存的应许——这是愚妄而徒劳的妄举，因为神所定的旨意，谁能废去呢？人都以为祖母疼爱孙儿胜过疼爱自己的儿女；然而亚哈谢自己的母亲，竟存心谋害亚哈谢自己的儿子，并且是在他们尚在襁褓、她本当亲自哺育看顾他们之时。她真可被称为那恶妇亚他利雅（代下24:7），是耶洗别亲生的女儿；然而在此事上神是公义的，他追讨约兰与亚哈谢的罪孽，就是大卫家那些败坏的枝子，报应在他们的子孙身上。
II. 它又因约兰一个女儿（就是祭司耶何耶大的妻子）的虔诚之心而奇妙地得了保全。她将王的一个儿子，名叫约阿施的偷出来藏起来（王下11:2,3）。这真是从火中抽出来的一根柴；被杀者共有多少，经上未曾告诉我们，但看来这婴孩既在乳母怀中，便未被察觉，或无人查问，至少未被寻见。救他的是他自己的姑母，恶王约兰的女儿；因为神必为他所要保护的人兴起保护者。他藏身之处乃是耶和华的殿，是属于圣殿的一间屋子，是亚他利雅鲜少踏足之地。他姑母将他带到这里，便把他置于神特别的护理之下，凭信心将他藏起，正如摩西被藏一样。如今大卫为他后裔所说的话应验了（诗27:5），因为我遭遇患难，他必暗暗地保守我，将我藏在他亭子里。这约阿施长大后立志重修耶和华的殿，原是有充分理由的，因那殿曾作他的避难所。如今给大卫的应许虽系于一个生命之上，却没有落空。照样，神必照他的应许，为大卫的子孙保守一属灵的后裔，这后裔虽有时减为极小之数，被压得极低，看似失丧，却必存留到时间的尽头，有时隐藏不见，却是藏在神的亭子里，毫发无损。约兰虽是王，且是恶王，却将女儿嫁给祭司耶何耶大，一位敬虔的祭司，这真是一桩特别的护理。或许有人以为将女儿嫁给一个祭司，于王室是有失体面；但这婚事却证明是蒙福的，并成了拯救王室免于覆灭的途径；因耶何耶大在圣殿的地位给了她机会保全那孩子，而她在王室的身份又给了他机会扶立他登基。看护理的智慧与周到，看它如何为所要成就的事豫先豫备；又看那些将儿女嫁娶给智慧良善之人的，是为自己的家室积存了何等的福分。
⁴ 第七年，耶何耶大打发人叫迦利人和护卫兵的众百夫长来，领他们进了耶和华的殿，与他们立约，使他们在耶和华殿里起誓，又将王的儿子指给他们看，
⁵ 吩咐他们说：你们当这样行：凡安息日进班的三分之一要看守王宫，
⁶ 三分之一要在苏珥门，三分之一要在护卫兵院的后门。这样把守王宫，拦阻闲人。
⁷ 你们安息日所有出班的三分之二要在耶和华的殿里护卫王；
⁸ 各人手拿兵器，四围护卫王。凡擅入你们班次的，必当治死，王出入的时候，你们当跟随他。
⁹ 众百夫长就照着祭司耶何耶大一切所吩咐的去行，各带所管安息日进班出班的人来见祭司耶何耶大。
¹⁰ 祭司便将耶和华殿里所藏大卫王的枪和盾牌交给百夫长。
¹¹ 护卫兵手中各拿兵器，在坛和殿那里，从殿右直到殿左，站在王子的四围。
¹² 祭司领王子出来，给他戴上冠冕，将律法书交给他，膏他作王。众人就拍掌说：愿王万岁！
亚他利雅暴虐了六年。我们没有她在位时的详细记载；无疑那与她的开端是一样的。当耶户在以色列翦除巴力崇拜之时，她却在犹大建立巴力崇拜，这从代下24:7可以看出。犹大的朝廷与国家因与亚哈家联姻而败坏了，如今那家中的一人成了二者的咒诅与灾祸：有罪的友谊从无好结局。这一切日子里，约阿施一直藏匿，他本有承受王位的资格，且是为此而被豫定的，却如活埋在隐没之中。虽然天上的众子与后嗣如今隐藏，世人所以不认识我们（约壹3:1），然而他们必在荣耀里显现的时候是已经定准了的，正如约阿施在他第七年显现一般；到那时他已可被显明出来，虽非成人，却已度过人生的第一阶段，到了他第一个本命年，已朝着成人迈进了一大步；到那时百姓也已厌倦了亚他利雅的暴政，时机成熟，可以变革了。这变革是如何成就的，经上在此告诉我们。
I. 主持这件大事的是祭司耶何耶大，他大概是大祭司，至少是副祭司长（犹太人所称的）或大祭司的助手。论他的出身与职分，他是有权柄的人，百姓按律法当听从顺服他，尤其在王位上没有合法之君的时候（申17:12）。论姻亲，他与王室有连，倘若王室后裔尽都被杀，他妻子既是约兰的女儿，便比亚他利雅更有承袭王位的权利。论他卓越的恩赐与美德，他足以服事他的国家，而他所能行最好的服事，莫过于将国家从亚他利雅的篡位中解救出来；我们有理由认为，他在采取这行动之前，必先求问过神，或藉先知或藉乌陵，或藉二者，明白了神的心意，才去行的。
II. 这事的运筹极其审慎，正合乎耶何耶大这样智慧良善之人的身份。
1. 他与众百夫长和护卫长，就是教会的、政务的、军事的众首领商议；他召他们到圣殿，与他们计议，将他们目前所受的苦楚陈明，使他们起誓守密，见他们甘心乐意与他同心，便将王的儿子指给他们看（王下11:4），他们对他的忠诚极其满意，看不出有受欺哄之嫌。我们大可想见，那些惧怕大卫的家室与后裔已尽被剪除的敬虔之人，发现这样一星火苗仍在余烬中，何等地喜出望外。
2. 他将更直接归他管辖的祭司与利未人，分布在通往圣殿的各处通道上把守，将他们交给众百夫长指挥（王下11:9）。大卫曾将祭司分为若干班次，轮流值班。每逢安息日清晨有一班新人进来值班，但前一周的那班直到安息日傍晚才下班，所以在安息日，当双倍事务需要办理时，便有双倍人数去办——进班的与出班的都在。耶何耶大就调用这些人来应付这一大事；他从圣殿的军械库中将大卫的枪和盾牌取来武装他们，那些或是大卫自己的，或是他从仇敌手中夺来分别为圣归与神荣耀的（王下11:10）。这些兵器纵然陈旧不合时式，使用之人却可因其是大卫之物，而想起神与大卫所立的约，他们如今正是为捍卫此约而行动。他们奉命去行两件事：—（1.）保护少年王不受侵害；他们必看守王宫（王下11:5），四围护卫王，与王同在（王下11:8），以防备亚他利雅的党羽，因为仍有人渴慕王室的血。（2.）保守圣殿，免得因这场合聚集的众人将它玷污（王下11:6）：把守殿宇，免得被拆毁，免得有外人挤入，或有不洁之人混入。他并未因热心于所谋划的变革而忘记他的宗教。在最为忙乱之时，仍当谨慎，免使教会受亏损——即神的圣物不可被侵犯。值得注意的是，耶何耶大给各人指定了职位也指定了职务（王下11:6,7），因良好的次序对于迅速成就任何大事极有助益。各人当知道、守住、并尽好自己的岗位，这样工作便能速速完成。
3. 守卫既已布置妥当，王就被领了出来（王下11:12）。锡安的民哪，应当大大喜乐！因为甚至在你圣山之上，你的王已经显现，虽是孩童，却不是那给国土带来祸患的孩童，因他是尊贵人的儿子，是大卫的后裔（传10:17）——虽是孩童，却有一位好监护人，更好的是有一位良善的神可以投靠。耶何耶大毫不迟延，便着手为这少年王行加冕之礼；因为他虽尚不能料理政务，却必渐渐长大胜任。这事极其隆重地举行（王下11:12）。（1.）为表明他已受了王权，他便给他戴上冠冕，虽然那冠冕于他的头还嫌过大过重。王室的冠冕大概是存放在圣殿里，所以冠冕是现成的。（2.）为表明他有责任按律法治国，以神的话为准则，他将律法书交给他，把一本圣经放在他手中，他必须平生诵读（申17:18,19）。（3.）为表明他领受了圣灵，得以胜任这他先前蒙召担当的大工，他便膏了他。虽然只在王权受了搅扰之时（如此处与所罗门之例）才特别记载膏王之事，我却不敢断定其余诸王，至少大卫家的诸王，是否也都行此礼，因他们的王权是预表基督的王权，基督要受膏超过他的同伴，超过大卫所有的子孙。（4.）为表明百姓接纳他、顺服他的治理，他们便欢喜拍掌，向他衷心祝福：*愿王万岁；*这样他们便立他为王，立他作他们的王，认同并附和神的拣选。亚他利雅的暴政如今止息，宗教藉着一位在耶何耶大这样良善之人监护下的王而得以复兴坚立，他们有指望，理当喜乐。他们理当欢迎那本有王位之权的他登基，并为那如同死而复生般临到他们、并使大卫家在他里面得以存活的他祷告：*愿他万岁。*当基督的国度被迎进我们心里、他的宝座在那里建立、那篡位者撒但被废黜时，我们也当以这样欢喜满足的欢呼来迎接它。*和散那，奉主名来的是应当称颂的：*拍掌说：「愿王耶稣万岁，永远活着掌权，在我灵魂里，在普天下。」有应许说（诗72:15），他必常存，有人要为他和他的国不断祷告。
¹³ 亚他利雅听见护卫兵和民的声音，就到民那里，进耶和华的殿，
¹⁴ 看见王照例站在柱旁，百夫长和吹号的人侍立在王左右，国中的众民欢乐吹号；亚他利雅就撕裂衣服，喊叫说：反了！反了！
¹⁵ 祭司耶何耶大吩咐管辖军兵的百夫长说：将她赶出班外，凡跟随她的必用刀杀死！因为祭司说，不可在耶和华殿里杀她。
¹⁶ 众兵就闪开让她去；她从马路上王宫去，便在那里被杀。
我们可以推想，他们原打算在王登基的典礼完毕之后，去向亚他利雅算账，追究她的谋杀、篡位与暴虐之罪；但她却像她母亲耶洗别一样，省了他们这番功夫，自己出来迎着他们，加速了她自己的灭亡。1. 她听见声音，惊慌地赶来看是怎么回事（王下11:13）。耶何耶大和他的同伴起初是悄然行事，但如今既觉自己有了力量，便公然宣告他们所做的。看来亚他利雅是无人理睬的，否则在她亲耳听见声音以前，早有人来报告这胆大之举了；倘若这计谋在成事之前被察觉，原是可以被压下扑灭的，但如今已为时太晚。她听见声音时，竟糊涂到亲自前来，并且就经上所记，似乎是独自一人前来，真是奇怪。她断不至于被忽视到无人替她去看个究竟，或无人陪她同去的地步，乃是她被自己所怀的惧怕与愤恨之极所迷惑了。神所要毁灭的，他必先使其昏愚。2. 她见所发生的事，便喊叫求救。她看见王所站的柱旁之位已被一人占据，众首领与百姓都向他下拜（王下11:14），便有理由断定她的权柄已到了尽头，那权柄她自知原是篡夺来的；这使她撕裂衣服，如疯狂之人，喊叫说：「反了！反了！来帮助攻击这些叛贼。」约瑟夫补充说，她喊叫要把那占据王位的人杀掉。眼下所行的乃是至公的事，却被诬为至大之罪；她自己才是最大的叛贼，却抢先且最大声地喊叫「反了！反了！」那些自己最有罪的，通常最急于责备别人。3. 耶何耶大下令将她处死，因她是拜偶像的、篡位的、扰乱公共安宁的仇敌。他们却谨慎行事：（1.）不在圣殿或其任何院宇内将她杀死，乃是敬重那圣所，那圣所断不可被任何人的血——纵然是何等正当所献——所玷污。（2.）凡为她出头的，必与她同死：「凡跟随她、要保护或救她的，凡她那些定意附从她、不肯归向其合法君王的随从，必用刀杀死，但若他们如今不跟随她，便不可如此。」（王下11:15）他们照这吩咐去行，她从后门经马厩想逃往王宫，他们便追赶她，在那里把她杀了（王下11:16）。*耶和华啊，愿你的仇敌都这样灭亡！*这样将血给那流血的淫妇喝，因为她是该受的。
¹⁷ 耶何耶大使王和民与耶和华立约，作耶和华的民；又使王与民立约。
¹⁸ 于是国中的众民都到巴力庙，拆毁了庙，彻底打碎坛和像，又在坛前将巴力的祭司玛坦杀了。祭司耶何耶大派官看守耶和华的殿，
¹⁹ 又率领百夫长和迦利人，与护卫兵以及国中的众民，请王从耶和华殿下来，由护卫兵的门进入王宫，他就坐了王位。
²⁰ 国民都欢乐，合城都安静。众人已将亚他利雅在王宫那里用刀杀了。
²¹ 约阿施登基的时候年方七岁。
耶何耶大如今已了结这工作中那「淫妇」的部分；亚他利雅既已死，这少年君王登位之路一切的阻碍都被清除了。如今他要善用机会，使这变革得以完成，使国政得以安定。经上在此记载了两件事：—
I. 他藉一原始的契约所立的美好根基（王下11:17）。如今君王与百姓既同在神的殿中，似乎在他们离去之前，耶何耶大便使他们一同与神立约，又彼此立约，好叫他们正确明白自己对神并对彼此当尽的本分，并坚定地受其约束。1. 他竭力在他们中间安定坚固宗教的根基，藉百姓与神所立的约。当君王与百姓二者都将自己归与耶和华时，他们便最稳固地彼此联合。神在他那一面已应许作他们的神（耶何耶大可在那律法书中指给他们看）；如今君王与百姓在他们那一面，也当立约同意要作耶和华的民：在这约中，君王与他的臣民站在同一平面上，与他们中任何人一样有责任服事耶和华。藉这约，他们便弃绝了许多人曾敬拜过的巴力，将自己交付于神的治理之下。一国之民临到的一切变迁若都能助益于他们中间宗教的复兴、坚固与推进，这国便有福了。那些在世间出发之时，对神与本分怀着新鲜而真切之义务的人，必能亨通。藉着我们对神的约束，各样关系的约束也都得以坚固。他们先把自己献给主，然后归与我们（林后8:5）。2. 他接着安定了加冕之誓与效忠之誓，即君王与百姓之间的协约，藉此君王受约束当按律法治国、保护他的臣民，而臣民只要君王如此行，便受约束当顺服他、向他持守忠信。约的用处，既在于提醒我们，也在于约束我们去尽那些本已加于我们身上的本分。在一切关系中，使双方彼此充分了解都是好的，尤其在君臣之间，好叫一方明白其权柄与特权的界限，另一方明白其自由与产业的界限；愿我们列祖在他们面前所立的古时地界永不被挪移。
II. 他在这些根基上所兴起的美好开端。1. 照着他们与神所立的约，他们立即废除了偶像崇拜，就是前几代王为讨好亚哈家所引进的（王下11:18）：国中的众民，就是群众，聚集起来，显出他们抵挡偶像崇拜的热心；如今既有这样好的首领率领，各人都肯出力去拆毁巴力的庙、他的坛和他的像。他一切的敬拜者似乎都离弃了他；惟独他的祭司玛坦死守他的坛。虽众人都离弃巴力，他却不肯，便在那里被杀，作了那坛上有史以来所献最好的祭物。他们拆毁了巴力的庙以后，便派官看守神的殿，使神的事奉照规矩、按合宜的时候、依所定的方式由合适的人办理。2. 照着他们彼此所立的约，他们表达了对彼此的甘心乐意与满足。（1.）王被隆重地领进王宫，坐在审判的宝座上，就是大卫家的宝座（王下11:19），预备受理诉状与上告，他要交由耶何耶大去答复并审断。（2.）百姓欢乐，耶路撒冷都安静（王下11:20），约瑟夫说他们守了好些日子的欢乐筵席，应验了所罗门的话（箴11:10），义人享福，合城喜乐；恶人灭亡，人都欢呼。
英文原文
The Death of Athaliah (878 BC)
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 (2Ki 11:1), all that she knew to be akin to the crown. Her husband Jehoram had slain all his brethren the sons of Jehoshaphat, 2Ch 21:4. The Arabians had slain all Jehoram's sons except Ahaziah, 2Ch 22:1. Jehu had slain all their sons (2Ch 22:8) 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 (2Ch 24:7), 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, 2Ki 11:2,3. 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 27:5), 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, 2Ch 24:7. 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 (1Jo 3:1), 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, De 17:12. 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 (2Ki 11:4), 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, 2Ki 11:9. 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, 2Ki 11:10. 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 (2Ki 11:5), compass the king, and be with him (2Ki 11:8), 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 (2Ki 11:6): 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 (2Ki 11:6,7), 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, 2Ki 11:12. 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 (Ec 10:17)—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, 2Ki 11:12. (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, De 17:18,19. (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 72:15), 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, 2Ki 11:13. 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 (2Ki 11:14) 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," 2Ki 11:15. 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, 2Ki 11:16. 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, 2Ki 11:17. 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, 2Co 8:5. 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 (2Ki 11:18): 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 (2Ki 11:19), 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 (2Ki 11:20), and Josephus says they kept a feast of joy many days, making good Solomon's observation (Pr 11:10), When it goes well with the righteous the city rejoices, and when the wicked perish there is shouting.
以色列国的政变很快就在耶户的安定政局中完成；现在我们必须查考犹大国的事务。犹大与以色列在同一时候、也借着同一只手失去了它的首领（不论那首领本身如何）；但犹大的纷乱比以色列延续得更久。然而，数年之后，局势终于被带入良好的状态，正如本章所见。一、亚他利雅篡夺政权，并灭尽王室后裔，2Ki 11:1。二、约阿施这个一岁的孩童奇妙地蒙保全，2Ki 11:2,3。三、六年期满以后，他被带出来，并借着耶何耶大的行动被立为王，2Ki 11:4-12。四、亚他利雅被杀，2Ki 11:13-16。五、国中民政与宗教两方面的利益，都在约阿施手中得到妥善安置，2Ki 11:17-21。于是，经过一段中断之后，诸事带着益处回到旧有的轨道。