Annotations Upon the Historical Books Part 2, 2 Kings · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
Verſ. 1. ANd when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah ſaw that her ſonne was dead, ſhe aroſe, and deſtroyed all the ſeed royall.] That is, all the princes of the bloud royall that were left. Joram had killed his ſix younger brethren the ſonnes of Jehoſhaphat, immediately upon the death of his father, 2 Chron. 21.2, 4. after that all his own ſonnes (ſave onelyonly Ahaziah the youngeſt, who ſucceeded him in the throne) were either ſlain, or carried away by the Philiſtines and Arabians, 2. Chron. 22.1. again, after that fourty two princes of the royall bloud Jehu had ſlain, chap. 10.13, 14. ſo that it may ſeem there were not many of the ſeed royall left. Athaliah therefore (that happily was left by her ſonne Ahaziah to govern the kingdome, when he went to help Joram in his warre) taking this advantage of the ruines of this royall family, did forthwith lay hold upon thoſe few of the princes of the bloud that were left, and ſlew them, that ſo ſhe might occupy the royall throne her ſelf, and ſo ſettle the worſhip of Baal in the kingdome of Judah, which to her grief ſhe ſaw was now rooted out by Jehu in the kingdome of Iſrael. If theſe princes, whom ſhe ſlew, had been onelyonly the grandchildren of Jehoſhaphat, by ſome of his other ſonnes, and not by her husband Joram; or had they been her husbands children by ſome other wives, this fact had been the leſſe to be wondered at: but by the ſaving of her own ſonnes ſonne out of her hands, to wit, Joaſh the ſonne of Ahaziah, it is manifeſt, that ſhe ſpared not her own children: and this indeed is moſt ſtrange, that ſhe ſhould be ſo unnaturall, eſpecially if we conſider alſo, that under the title of being protectour to her young grandchild Joaſh, ſhe might with more eaſe and ſafety have done what ſhe liſt in the kingdome, and ſo have made better uſe of his life then of his death: but for this it may be anſwered; firſt, that ambition and zeal for Idolatry do uſually blind men and women, and make them moſt unnaturally cruell: Secondly, that there might be other reaſons inducing her thereto (though they be not expreſſed in the Scripture) as for inſtance, perhaps ſhe might have other ſonnes and grandchildren; either by adultery, or by a former husband, or by ſome daughter of Jorams, upon whom ſhe might rather deſire to ſettle the crown of Judah, perhaps thoſe that brake up the houſe of God, and beſtowed the dedicated things thereof upon Baalim, 2. Chron. 24.7. For the ſonnes of Athaliah that wicked woman, had broken up the houſe of God, and alſo all the dedicate things of the houſe of the Lord did they beſtow upon Baalim. Thirdly, howſoever ſure we are, that there is no wickedneſſe ſo unnaturall and unreaſonable whereinto a wicked woman may not run raiſed up of God to be a plague to wicked and idolatrous people: and beſides there was a ſpeciall hand of God in it, that thoſe that were deſcended from Ahab, (though onelyonly by the mothers ſide might be deſtroyed, ſave onelyonly Joaſh, who was left to ſucceed in the throne of Judah.
Verſ. 2. But Jehoſheba the daughter of king Joram, ſiſter of Ahaziah, took Joaſh the ſonne of Ahaziah, &c.] This Jehoſheba, or Jehoſhabeath, 2. Chron. 22.11. the ſiſter of Ahaziah, and daughter of Joram, was married to Jehoiada the high prieſt, as is noted in that place of the Chronicles before cited; and therefore it is not likely that ſhe was the daughter of Joram by Athaliah, but by ſome other of his wives, becauſe we cannot well think that he would have taken a wife of that curſed idolatrous ſtock. But however, ſiſter ſhe was to Ahaziah the late king of Judah, and therefore hearing of Athaliahs bloudy project, ſhe ſtole this young infant her brothers youngeſt ſonne out of the nurſery, and hid him with his nurſe in the bed-chamber, that is, in ſome bedchamber of the prieſts, which were adjoyning to the Temple, and ſo kept him cloſe ſix years together: how it came to paſſe that this young▪ late-born infant was not miſſed, or being miſſed, was not hunted after, and by diligent ſearch diſcovered, it is hard to ſay; moſt probable it is, that ſome deceit or cunning was uſed, as by the ſubſtitution of ſome other child in his room, whether dead or living, or by corrupting thoſe Athaliah had imployed in this bloudy ſervice, or ſome ſuch way, by which means Athaliah might verily think he was killed with the reſt; or if ſhe had ſame ſmall ground to ſuſpect any thing to the contrary, ſhe might in policie forbear to make any noiſe of it, leſt the people hearing ſuch a rumour, ſhould be the readier to hearken after innovations, and be the leſſe conformable to the preſent government. However, becauſe Joaſh this young infant thus miraculouſly ſaved, is expreſſely here called the ſonne of Ahaziah, and ſo elſewhere conſtantly, verſ. 4.12. chap. 12.18. 2. Chron. 22.11. 1. Chron. 3.11. it is therefore no way probable, which ſome affirme, that he was of the poſteritie of Nathan, and ſucceeded in the throne, becauſe all Solomons poſterity was extinguiſhed by Athaliah; eſpecially if we conſider that the reaſon intimated in theſe words why Jehoſheba preſerved him, was becauſe of her near alliance to him, as being his aunt his fathers ſiſter.
Verſ. 4. And the ſeventh yeare Jehoiada ſent and fet the rulers over hundreds, with the captains, and the guard, &c.] When Athaliah had uſurped the crown of Judah ſix years, and ſomewhat more, without any diſturbance either of domeſticall adverſaries, or forreigne enemy (for Jehu had enough to do at home to oppoſe the victorious armies of Hazael, wherewith he was ſo farre overcharged) at length Jehoiada began to think of ſettling him in the throne, to whom of right it did belong, who was now full ſeven years old, verſ. 21. Seven years old was Jehoaſh when he began to reigne; and had been hitherto hid in a cell of the Temple by his wife Jehoſheba, not judging it fit to conceal him any longer, firſt, that his young ſoveraigne might not want that princely education which was requiſite, and whereof his years began now to be capable: and ſecondly, that the idolatry of Baal might not by her means take too deep root before it were weeded up; having therefore firſt imparted this ſecret to five of the chief captains of the land, in whoſe fidelitie he had beſt aſſurance, and made a covenant with them, afterward by their means he drew in others of the principall men of the countrey (both the Levites and others) onelyonly at firſt procuring that they ſhould repair to Jeruſalem, where they ſhould be further acquainted with the whole matter, 2. Chro. 23.1, 2. and ſo accordingly being met together as is here expreſſed) in the temple, having taken an oath of ſecrecy and fidelity of them, he ſhewed them the kings ſonne, made a covenant with them to advance him to the kingdome, and reſolved how the buſineſſe ſhould be managed the next ſabbath day in every particular, as is expreſſed in the ſequel of the ſtory. Indeed ſome Expoſitours conceive, that thoſe five mentioned, 2. Chron. 23.1. to whom Jehoiada did firſt impart the buſineſſe, were prieſts and Levites, and ſo alſo all that were imployed in this ſervice; and that becauſe they managed this buſineſſe in the temple, whither none (ſay they) but thoſe of the tribe of Levi might enter; but yet conſidering that the court of the people was a part of the temple, and within the g…tes thereof, and withall becauſe thoſe five men are expreſſely termed captains of hundreds, and it is ſaid, that they gathered to them not onelyonly the Levites, but alſo the chief of the fathers of Iſrael, 2. Chron. 23.1, 2. I ſee not why they ſhould hold that they were onelyonly Levites that Jehoiada did now call in to his help.
Verſ. 5. This is the thing that ye ſhall do; a third part of you that enter in on the ſabbath, &c.] This he ſpake to the Levites, the Levites were by an order eſtabliſhed long ſince amongſt them by David, divided into foure and twenty orders or companies, which did in their courſes, each company a week diſcharge the ſervice of the temple (the reſt abiding the whileſt in their own private dwellings, in the ſeverall cities of Judah) and ſo every ſabbath day, they that had ſerved the week before went out, and another came in that ſerved in their room: and in each company or courſe there was in Davids time a thouſand Levites, beſides the porters and ſingers. Now therefore becauſe the aſſociates of Jehoiada were not able to bring together ſecretly ſo many truſty and ſerviceable hands, as would ſuffice to mannage the buſineſſe; to help this want, Jehoiada reſolved to arm the Levites for the work, and to the end they might be the ſtronger, he took in the new company that were to come in on the ſabbath, and did not diſcharge the old that ſhould have then gone out, but retained them ſtill, and ſo by that meanes without any noiſe he had made up ſuch a number as would be able to deal with the queens ordinary guard; for in probability they might be about three thouſand men; which accordingly under the command of their ſeverall captains, (either the chief of the Levites, or thoſe commanders of ſouldiers whom he had ſworn his aſſociates in this deſigne) he thus diſpoſed of; thoſe that were newly to enter in that ſabbath unto the ſervice of the temple, (for the work it ſeems was to be done on the ſabbath day) he divided into three parts, one part whereof he aſſigned to watch at the gate of the outer court that led to the kings palace, which was the north gate, the ſame it ſeems which is called, verſ. 19. the gate of the guard, where Athaliah now was, that no body might thence break in upon them: another part he aſſigned to be at the gate of Sur; which was the eaſt gate that led into the city, called alſo the gate of the foundation, 2. Chron. 23.5: another part to ward at the ſouth gate, called here the gate behind the guard; that is, the gate right oppoſite againſt that gate where the kings guard uſed to ſtand, which led to the kings houſe: Again, thoſe that were to go out from the ſervice of the temple that ſabbath, he divided into two parts, and appointed them to be a guard in the temple unto the kings perſon, the one on his right hand, the other on his left: Many conjectures I find amongſt Expoſitours very different from this which I have noted both concerning the diſpoſing of the Levites, and concerning the gates at which they were ſet; but herein it is hard indeed to determine the certainty, becauſe the paſſages are ſo obſcure.
Verſ. 6, So ſhall ye keep the watch of the houſe that it be not broken down.] That is, that the watch be not diſordered by the breaking in of any body; whereby the temple may be profaned by the ruſhing in of thoſe, that ought not to enter into it; the perſon of our young king may be endangered, and the buſineſſe we have in hand may be utterly overthrown.
Verſ. 8. And he that cometh within the ranges, let him be ſlain.] By the ranges are meant the rankes of the Levites thus ranged in their places, according to the order of military diſcipline; which if any ſhould offer to break through by force, they were appointed to ſlay them.
Verſ. 10. And to the captains over hundreds, did the prieſt-give king Davids ſpeares, &c.] To wit, for themſelves and for their men. Theſe ſpeares and ſhields might be ſuch as David had taken in the warres, and had laid up in the tabernacle, as he did the ſword of Goliath, as memorials of the great victories that God had given him, which were afterward by Solomon removed into the temple; but however I conceive, that there was an armoury in the temple provided purpoſely, that they might be in a readineſſe for the guarding and defence of that holy place upon all occaſions, and that becauſe there were now found there weapons for ſo many thouſands as were at preſent imployed; and happely becauſe for this as for other things, David had given directions to his ſonne Solomon, therefore they are called here, Davids ſpeares and ſhields that were in the temple: had they been to b…ing in men ready armed into the temple, they could hardly have carried the buſineſſe ſo cloſely as they did, but the Levites being the men appointed for this exploit, and they coming in unarmed, as at other times for the ſervice of Gods houſe, and being there armed out of the Magazine that was in a readineſſe in the temple, there was not the leaſt noiſe or ſuſpition of any thing that was intended, till it was put in execution.
Verſ. 12. And he brought forth the kings ſonne, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the teſtimonie, &c.] That is, the book of the law; as was enjoyned, Deut. 17.18.
Ver. 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.] That is, when ſhe heard the noiſe of the guard in the temple, ſhouting and clapping their hands when the king was crown'd, and the people running in the ſtreets, and making towards the temple with many unuſuall acclamations and expreſſions of joy (as it is expreſſed, 2. Chron. 23.12. Athaliah heard the noiſe of the people running and praiſing the king) ſhe went to ſee what was done in the temple, not any whit ſuſpecting that which was done, and ſo through the providence of God, did unwittingly caſt her ſelf into their hands: nor was it againſt the charge given by Jehoiada, verſ. 8. he that cometh within the ranges, let him be ſlain: that ſhe was ſuffered to come within the ranges, becauſe ſhe came not in an hoſtile manner, but quietly came in amongſt them without any miſtruſt or fear, and it muſt needs be known to be of great advantage to get her within their power.
Verſ. 14. And when ſhe looked, behold, the king ſtood by a pillar, as the manner was, &c.] Where it ſeems the throne for the king was erected; but the moſt of Expoſitours underſtand this of the brazen ſcaffold which Solomon made in the Temple, 2. Chron. 6.13. the like is noted afterward of Joſiah, chap. 23.3. And the king ſtood by a pillar, and made a covenant, &c.
Verſ. 16. And they laid hands on her, and ſhe went by the way by the which the horſes came into the kings houſe, &c.] Some underſtand this of the way into the citie, where was the horſe gate, mentioned, Neh. 3.28. and Jer. 31.40. but the words do clearly enough ſhew that it was the ordinary horſe and cart way that led into the court, where were the ſtables and other out-houſes that belonged to the kings palace, and therefore it is ſaid, verſ. 20. that they ſlew Athaliah with the ſword beſide the kings houſe: even in the place of her death they ſought to caſt reproch upon her; her mother Jezebel was troden under the horſe heels, and now ſhe was dragged by the horſe way, and ſlain amongſt the ſtables and dunghills of the kings houſe.
Verſ. 18. And all the people of the land went into the houſe of Baal, and brake it down, his altars, &c.] And the more chearfully no doubt they did this, becauſe they would not be behind the Iſraelites, where Jehu had already ſuppreſſed the idolatry of Baal, as they did now in the kingdome of Judah.
And the priest appointed officers over the houſe of the Lord.] That is, Jehoiada appointed officers for the watch of the Lords houſe; the rather, for fear of danger in this ſudden change, and withall, perhaps reduced into order, whatever beſides had been diſordered in the dayes of Athaliah, 2. Chron. 24.7. For the ſonnes of Athaliah that wicked woman, had broken up the houſe of God, &c.
Verſ. 19. They brought down the king from the houſe of the Lord, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the kings houſe.] That is, the gate of the kings houſe, where the guard uſually ſtood.