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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)
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亞她利雅之死（主前878年）
¹ 亞哈謝的母親亞她利雅見她兒子死了，就起來剿滅王室所有的後裔。
² 但約蘭王的女兒、亞哈謝的妹妹約示巴，將亞哈謝的兒子約阿施從被殺的王子中偷出來，把他和他的乳母都藏在臥房裡，躲避亞她利雅，免得他被殺。
³ 約阿施和他的乳母在耶和華的殿裡隱藏六年。那時亞她利雅治理這地。
神曾向大衛保證他家必存續，這被稱為他為受膏者預備明燈；如今我們讀過了一個又一個王室被徹底根除的事，這保證不能不顯為大事。如今我們在此看見大衛所應許的明燈幾乎熄滅，卻又奇妙地得蒙保全。
I. 這燈幾乎被太后亞她利雅野蠻的惡意所熄滅。她聽見兒子亞哈謝被耶戶所殺，就起來剿滅王室所有的後裔（2Ki 11:1），就是一切她知道與王位有親屬關係的人。她丈夫約蘭曾殺了父親約沙法所有的眾子（2Ch 21:4）。阿拉伯人曾殺了約蘭眾子中除亞哈謝以外的一切人（2Ch 22:1）。耶戶又殺了他們的眾子（2Ch 22:8）和亞哈謝本人。王室的血確實從未如此大量傾流。出身卑微、活在嫉妒和爭競之下的人倒有福了！然而彷彿這一切都算不得什麼，亞她利雅竟剿滅了王室一切剩下的人。同性中一個本該溫柔的人竟能如此野蠻，一個自己曾為王女、王妻、王母的人竟能對一個王室如此殘忍——而且還是她自己所嫁入的家族——這誠然奇特；但她卻行了，1. 出於野心。她渴慕統治權，並以為除此之外別無他法可得。為使無人與她同掌王權，她連本可日後接續她作王的嬰孩和吃奶的也殺了。因為怕有競爭者，就一個也不留作繼承人。2. 出於報復和向神發怒的靈。亞哈家既已徹底被滅，她兒子亞哈謝也在其中，因為他與亞哈家有親屬關係，她就決心幾乎以報復的姿態來毀滅大衛家，剪除他的後裔，無視神要使大衛家存續的應許——這是愚妄無益的嘗試，因為誰能廢掉神所定意的呢？祖母一般被認為比對自己兒女更疼愛孫兒女；然而亞哈謝的祖母竟故意殺害亞哈謝自己的兒子，而且是在他們嬰孩時期，那時她比任何人都更有責任乳養並照顧他們。難怪她被稱為亞她利雅、那惡婦（2Ch 24:7），耶洗別的親生女兒；然而在這事上神是公義的，向約蘭和亞哈謝——大衛家這些敗壞的枝條——追討他們的罪，報應在他們兒女身上。
II. 這燈因約蘭一個女兒（她嫁給祭司耶何耶大）的敬虔顧惜而奇妙地得蒙保全。她把王的一個兒子，名叫約阿施，偷走並藏起來（2Ki 11:2,3）。這是從火中抽出來的一根柴；有多少人被殺，我們不得而知，但看來這個在乳母懷中的孩子沒有被發覺，或沒有被追查，至少沒有被尋見。搭救他的人是他自己的姑母，邪惡約蘭的女兒；因為神必為他所要保護的人興起保護者。他藏身之處是耶和華的殿，就是屬於聖殿的一個房間，是亞她利雅很少涉足的地方。他姑母把他帶到這裡，是把他置於神特殊的保護之下，如此憑信把他藏了起來，正如摩西被藏一樣。如今大衛的話在他一個後裔身上應驗了（Ps 27:5）：他必把我藏在他帳幕的隱密處。 這約阿施長大後，理當盡心修繕耶和華的殿，因為這殿曾作他的避難所。如今對大衛的應許繫於一命，卻沒有落空。如此，神也必照他的應許為大衛的子孫保證一個屬靈的後裔；這後裔雖然有時減少到極少的人數，被帶到極低的地步，看似喪失，卻要存續到末時——有時隱藏不見，卻是藏在神的帳幕中，不受傷害。約蘭雖是君王、且是惡王，卻把女兒嫁給祭司耶何耶大，一位敬虔的祭司，這是神特別的護理。或許有人以為把女兒嫁給一個祭司有辱王室，但這卻成了美滿的婚姻，並救了王室免於傾覆；因為耶何耶大在聖殿中的地位給她機會保全這孩子，而她在王室的關係給他機會擁立這孩子登上寶座。當看見護理的智慧和安排，它為所要設計的事早早預備；也當看見把兒女嫁給明智善良之人的人，為自己的家族積存了何等福氣。
⁴ 第七年，耶何耶大打發人叫了百夫長們和軍長、護衛兵來，領他們進耶和華的殿，與他們立約，使他們在耶和華的殿裡起誓，又把王的兒子指給他們看。
⁵ 吩咐他們說：你們當這樣行：凡安息日進來值班的三分之一，要看守王宮；
⁶ 三分之一要在蘇耳門；三分之一要在護衛兵後面的門；這樣把守王宮，攔阻人闖入。
⁷ 你們安息日下班的那兩部分，都要在耶和華的殿裡護衛王。
⁸ 各人拿著兵器環繞王；凡闖入班次的，必被治死；王無論出入，你們都要緊隨他。
⁹ 眾百夫長就照祭司耶何耶大一切所吩咐的去行；各人帶著所屬安息日進值班的，以及安息日下班的，來到祭司耶何耶大那裡。
¹⁰ 祭司把耶和華殿裡大衛王的槍和盾牌交給百夫長們。
¹¹ 護衛兵各人拿著兵器，從殿右角到殿左角，並壇和殿四圍，環繞王。
¹² 他領王的兒子出來，給他戴上冠冕，將律法書交給他，立他作王，膏他；眾人鼓掌說：願王萬歲。
亞她利雅施行暴政六年。我們對她的統治沒有特別的記述；無疑它與開始時一樣。當耶戶在以色列根除巴力敬拜時，她卻在猶大確立巴力敬拜，正如2Ch 24:7所示。猶大的宮廷和國度已被他們與亞哈家的聯姻所敗壞，如今亞哈家的一人竟成了兩者的禍患和災禍：罪的友誼結果不過如此。這一切期間，約阿施一直藏著，雖然有權得著冠冕、也注定要得著，卻埋沒在默默無聞之中，如同活埋一般。雖然天上之子的兒子和繼承人如今是隱藏的，世人雖不認識他（1Jo 3:1），但他們顯現得榮耀的時日已經定好，正如約阿施在他第七年時一樣；到了那時他已可被顯在人前，不是嬰孩，而是已經過了人生的頭一個學徒期，到了第一個關鍵年齡，已向成人邁出了重要一步；那時百姓也對亞她利雅的暴政感到厭倦，對變革已經成熟。這變革如何成就，我們在此讀到。
I. 主持這件大事的是祭司耶何耶大，大概是大祭司，或至少是猶太人所稱的sagan——大祭司的副手。憑他的出身和職分，他是有權柄的人，百姓有律法責任順服他，特別是在沒有正當君王在寶座上的時候（De 17:12）。憑婚姻他與王室有親屬關係，若王室後裔都被滅盡，他的妻子作為約蘭的女兒，比亞她利雅更有權得著王冠。憑他傑出的恩賜和恩典，他適合服事國家，而他所能作的最好服事，莫過於使國家脫離亞她利雅的篡位；我們有理由相信，他直到先求問了神、得知神的心意——或是借先知、或是借烏陵、也許兩者都有——才發起這嘗試。
II. 這籌劃十分謹慎，正如耶何耶大這樣明智良善之人所當行的。
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他與百夫長和軍長們——教會、民政和軍事方面的在職人員——商議此事；他把他們帶到聖殿，與他們商議，把他們目前所受的苦情擺在他們面前，叫他們起誓保密；見他們樂意且主動地與他合作，便把王的兒子指給他們看（2Ki 11:4），他們對他的忠心十分滿意，看不出有任何理由懷疑其中有詐。我們可以想像，那些唯恐大衛家系已完全斷絕的好人，在灰燼中尋見這樣一個火星，是多麼令人欣慰的驚喜。
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他把更直接受他指揮的祭司和利未人，部署在通往聖殿的各條通道上守衛，把他們置於百夫長們的統領之下（2Ki 11:9）。大衛曾把祭司分為班次，輪流供職。每個安息日早晨有新的一班前來供職，但前一周那班直到安息日傍晚才下班，所以在安息日要作雙倍事奉時，就有雙倍人手——既有所當來的，也有所當去的。耶何耶大就雇用這些人在這重大場合效勞；他從聖殿的武庫中用大衛的槍和盾牌武裝他們——那或是大衛自己的，或是他從敵人手中奪來、獻給神為尊榮的（2Ki 11:10）。那些兵器雖然陳舊過時，但使用者因它們屬於大衛，就能想起神與大衛所立的約，而如今他們正是為保衛這約而戰。他們奉命作兩件事：——（1）保護幼王免受侮辱；他們當把守王宮（2Ki 11:5），環繞王，緊隨他（2Ki 11:8），護衛他免受亞她利雅黨羽的傷害，因為仍有人渴慕王室的血。（2）保護聖殿免被這場合將聚集的人潮所褻瀆（2Ki 11:6）：把守這殿，不容拆毀，免得外人闖入，或有不潔之人進入。他並非為策劃的變革熱心到忘記自己的信仰。即使在最忙碌的時候，也當注意不叫教會受損——不叫神的聖物被侵犯。 值得注意的是，耶何耶大既分派各人的工作，也分派各人的崗位（2Ki 11:6,7），因為良好的秩序對加速並完成任何大事業大有幫助。讓每個人知道並守住並守好自己的崗位，工作就會迅速完成。
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護衛兵部署妥當後，王就被帶出來（2Ki 11:12）。錫安的女子阿，當大大喜樂！ 因為在你的聖山上你的王顯現了——誠然是個孩子，卻不是那種給地帶來禍患的，因為他是貴胄之子，是大衛之子（Ec 10:17）——誠然是個孩子，但他有好的監護人，更重要的是有好的神可投靠。耶何耶大毫不遲延，就為這幼王行加冕之禮；因為他雖然目前還不能辦理事務，卻要逐步成長，趨向承擔。這事行得十分隆重（2Ki 11:12）。（1）作為他得著王權的記號，他給他戴上冠冕，雖然這冠冕對他的頭來說還太大太重。那些御用之物大概存放在聖殿裡，所以冠冕近在手邊。（2）作為他當照律法治理、以神的話為準則的本分記號，他把律法書交給他，就是把一本聖經放在他手中，他必頻一生誦讀（De 17:18,19）。（3）作為他領受聖靈、使他勝任這大工（他此前已被召於此）的記號，他膏了他。雖然聖經只在像此處和所羅門那樣繼承中斷時才記載膏立君王，但我不以為這禮儀可能對他們一切君王都使用，至少對大衛家的君王如此，因為他們的王權是基督王權的預表，基督要在他的同伴之上、在大衛的一切子孫之上受膏。（4）作為百姓接納他並順服他治理的記號，他們鼓掌歡呼，並表示衷心的祝願：願王萬歲； 他們如此立他作王，使他們作自己的王，同意並贊同神的任命。他們有理由為亞她利雅暴政如今終結而歡喜，也有理由期盼借著一位在耶何耶大這樣好人教導下的君王，宗教得以恢復並確立。他們有理由歡迎那按名正當得著冠冕的人，並為那如死裡復活般臨到他們、大衛家將在他裡面得活的人禱告說：願他活著。 當基督的寶座在我們心中設立、篡位者撒但被廢黜時，基督的國度也當這樣被歡迎進我們的心中，充滿歡呼和滿足。和散那，奉主名來的是應當稱頌的； 鼓掌說：「願耶穌王萬歲，永遠活著、永遠作王——在我的心裡，也在全世界上」；這是應許（Ps 72:15）：他要長存， 人要常為他和他的國度禱告。
¹³ 亞她利雅聽見護衛兵和百姓的聲音，就到百姓那裡，進耶和華的殿。
¹⁴ 她觀看，看哪，王照例站在柱子旁邊，眾首領和吹角的人隨侍在王左右；國中的眾民都歡喜吹角。亞她利雅就撕裂衣服，喊叫說：反了！反了！
¹⁵ 祭司耶何耶大吩咐百夫長們、就是軍長，對他們說：把她趕出班外；凡跟隨她的，必用刀殺死。因為祭司曾說：不可在耶和華的殿裡殺她。
¹⁶ 他們就下手拿住她；她從馬的入口走向王宮時，在那裡被殺。
我們可以推想，他們原計劃在王登基大典結束後，去訪問亞她利雅，追問她的謀殺、篡位和暴政；但她像她母親耶洗別一樣，省去了他們這番工夫，自己出去迎接他們，加速了自己的毀滅。1. 她聽見聲音，就驚惶地來看是怎麼一回事（2Ki 11:13）。耶何耶大和他的朋友起初是默默進行的，但如今他們見自己力量已足，就宣告他們所行的事。看來亞她利雅已無人看重，否則在她親耳聽見這聲音之前，必有人把這大膽的舉動報告給她；這計劃若在被完成之前發覺，或許會被撲滅，但如今已太遲了。她聽見聲音時，竟然如此不明智地親自前去，而且就外觀所見，還獨自前去。她當然不至於被忽視到沒有人可為她前去，或沒有人可與她同去；她是被當時的恐懼和憤怒兩相交加的可悲迷惑所弄瞎了。神所要毀滅的人，必先使他糊塗。2. 她看見所發生的事，就呼喊求救。她看見王的位置——就是柱子旁——已被一位受眾首領和百姓尊敬的人所佔（2Ki 11:14），就有理由斷定自己的權勢已經終結，她知道這權勢是篡奪來的；這使她如痴狂的人一樣撕裂衣服，喊叫說：「反了！反了！來人幫忙對付叛徒。」約瑟夫補充說，她喊叫要人把佔了王位的人殺了。如今所作的是最高的公義，卻被烙印為最大的罪行；她自己才是最大的叛徒，卻最先、最大聲地喊著「反了！反了！」那些自己最有罪的人，通常最熱切地非議別人。3. 耶何耶大下令把她當作拜偶像者、篡位者和公眾和平的仇敵處死。他們小心注意，（1）不可在聖殿、或其任何院落裡殺她，以敬畏那聖地，那裡不可被人血祭所玷污，雖然那祭是最公義地獻上的。（2）凡為她出頭的，都要與她同死：「凡跟隨她的——無論是保護她或營救她，或是決心效忠她、不肯歸順他們正當君王的臣僕——必用刀殺死，但只有他們現在跟隨她才如此」（2Ki 11:15）。照這些命令，她企圖從後路經馬廄逃到王宮，他們追趕她，在那裡殺了她（2Ki 11:16）。耶和華阿，願你的仇敵都這樣滅亡！ 如此叫那淫婦喝血，因為她是配得的。
¹⁷ 耶何耶大使王和百姓與耶和華立約，作耶和華的民；又使王與百姓立約。
¹⁸ 於是國中的眾民都到巴力廟，拆毀了它；他們把巴力的壇和像大大打碎，又在壇前將巴力的祭司瑪坦殺了。祭司派了官管理耶和華的殿。
¹⁹ 他帶領百夫長們、軍長、護衛兵，以及國中的眾民，請王從耶和華的殿下來，從護衛門進了王宮。他就坐在列王的寶座上。
²⁰ 國中的眾民都歡喜，城中也安靜。他們在王宮旁邊用刀殺了亞她利雅。
²¹ 約阿施登基的時候年七歲。
耶何耶大如今借著亞她利雅的死，已經完成了工作中最棘手的部分——幼王通往寶座之路已清除了一切阻礙。他如今當善用所掌握的優勢，以完成變革並穩固政權。此處我們看到兩件事：
I. 他立下了美好的根基——借著一份原有的契約（2Ki 11:17）。如今君王和百姓都一同在神的殿中，看來在他們離開之前，耶何耶大便留心使他們共同與神立約，又彼此相互立約，好叫他們正確認識自己對神和對彼此的本分，並堅定地受其約束。1. 他設法在他們中間確立並保障宗教的利益，借著他們與神之間的約。君王和百姓既都一同歸向耶和華，就必最緊密地彼此相親。神已經在他的分上應許作他們的神（耶何耶大可以把律法書指給他們看）；如今君王和百姓在他們的分上當立約同意作耶和華的民：在這約中，君王與他的臣民站在同一水準上，與他們任何一位一樣受約束去事奉耶和華。他們借此聲明放棄許多人曾敬拜的巴力，並將自己交在神的治理之下。當一個百姓所經歷的一切變遷都有助於復興、堅固並推進他們中間宗教的利益時，這百姓是有福的。那些在嶄新而敏銳地向神和本分負責的義務下出來在世上行事的人，必會亨通。我們對神的義務加強了每一種關係中的紐帶。他們先把自己獻給主，然後才獻給我們（2Co 8:5）。2. 他繼而確立了加冕誓言和效忠誓言，就是君王與百姓之間的約——君王當照律法治理並保護臣民，臣民當在君王如此行時服從他並向他忠心。立約既有助於提醒我們、又有助於約束我們去盡那些已經約束我們的本分，是有益的。在一切關係中，雙方充分彼此了解是好的，特別是在君王與臣民之間的關係上——一方當了解自己權力和特權的界限，另一方當了解自己自由和產業的界限；願他們列祖在他們面前所立的古舊界石永不移動。
II. 他在那些根基上建立了美好的開端。1. 為履行他們與神所立的約，他們立刻廢除了偶像崇拜，就是前任君王為迎合亞哈家而引進的（2Ki 11:18）：國中的眾民——那些群眾——聚集起來，表現他們反對偶像的熱心；既得著好的帶領，人人都要動手拆毀巴力的廟、壇和像。看來他一切敬拜者都離棄了他；只有他的祭司瑪坦守在壇前。雖然眾人都離棄了巴力，他卻不肯，於是他就在那裡被殺——那是那壇上獻過最好的祭。他們既毀了巴力的廟，又派官管理神的殿，要看見神的事奉由合宜的人按時、照著規定的方式規律地舉行。2. 為履行他們彼此所立的約，他們表示彼此甘心並互相滿意。（1）王被以隆重的儀式送到王宮，坐在那裡審判的寶座上——大衛家的寶座（2Ki 11:19），準備接受請願和上訴，他要把回答和判決交給耶何耶大去處理。（2）百姓歡喜，耶路撒冷也安靜（2Ki 11:20）；約瑟夫說他們歡喜守節多日，應驗了所羅門的話（Pr 11:10）：義人享通，城就喜樂；惡人滅亡，便大聲歡呼。
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.
以色列國的革命隨著耶戶政權的穩固而很快完成；如今我們必須察看猶大國的事務。猶大也在以色列失去其首領的同一時刻、藉著同一隻手，失去了它的首領（無論那首領如何）；但在猶大，混亂的狀態比在以色列持續得更久，然而過了幾年之後，正如我們在本章所見，他們恢復了良好的局面。I. 亞她利雅篡奪政權，並滅盡所有王室的後裔，2Ki 11:1。II. 一歲的孩童約阿施奇妙地被保全，2Ki 11:2,3。III. 六年之後他被引見出來，並藉著耶何耶大的主持，被立為王，2Ki 11:4-12。IV. 亞她利雅被殺，2Ki 11:13-16。V. 王國的政事與宗教利益，都在約阿施手中得到妥善的安排，2Ki 11:17-21。於是，經過一些中斷之後，事態又有利地回到舊有的軌道上。