Read the Passage: 2 Kings 11-12

Rise of Athaliah (11:1–21)

As we noted earlier in our study of the reign of King Ahaziah of Judah (cf. 1 Kings 8:16–29), Ahaziah’s mother’s name was Athaliah. Athaliah was the daughter of King Ahab of Israel and Jezebel, his evil wife. Athaliah had married King Jehoram of Judah, who was the son of Jehoshaphat. King Ahaziah of Judah, then, was the grandson of King Ahab of Israel, which is why Jehu killed him. When Athaliah saw that her husband (i.e., Jehoram) her son (i.e., Ahaziah), and her father (i.e., Ahab’s) entire family was dead, she seized the throne of Judah, becoming the only reigning queen in Judah’s history. Next, 2 Kings 11:1 reports that Athaliah “destroyed all the royal heirs,” which would have included her own grandchildren, for all of her husband Jehoram’s brothers were already dead (cf. 2 Chron. 21:4), as were all of Ahaziah’s other relatives (cf. 2 Kings 10:12–14; 2 Chron. 21:17).

Athaliah was evil, as she fostered Baal worship in Judah (cf. 2 Kings 8:18). Furthermore, her murder of all of the remaining heirs was clearly Satanic, for it reduced the royal heirs of David to just one person—that is, the young child Joash who was secretly hidden from Athaliah. 2 Kings 11:2–3 reports that Joash was concealed in a palace bedroom when Athaliah was murdering the other heirs, and later he was hidden in the Temple. 2 Kings 11:4–12 records a plan by the high priest Jehoiada to reveal Joash to the nation. This was to take place with military protection and would include Joash being inaugurated as king. 2 Kings 11:13–21 notes that when Athaliah realized what was happening, ironically she accused Joash of treason. At Jehoiada’s command, Athaliah and all of her followers were executed, the temple of Baal was razed, and the people renewed their covenant with God.

Repair of the Temple (12:1–16)

2 Kings 12:2 records that Joash “did what was right in the sight of the Lord all the days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him.” The details are not given in 2 Kings, but later in 2 Chron. 24:17–22 it is reported that after Jehoiada died, Joash listened to certain evil leaders in Judah, he abandoned God and served idols, he refused to listen to the prophets whom God sent, and he even consented to the murder of Jehoiada’s son. Yet, rather than focus on Joash’s later apostasy, the author of 2 Kings comments on Joash’s good work of rebuilding the temple, which Joash accomplished before the death of Jehoiada. 2 Kings 12:4–5 records that like the other kings before and after him—even the good ones (i.e., Asa, Jehoshaphat, Amaziah, Uzziah, and Jotham)—Joash did not remove the high places. This led to the high places being visited by the people and the temple being neglected.

One of the reasons why God intended that the high places be destroyed is that they had the effect of decentralizing religion, which led to distortions in doctrine, the rise of pagan teachings, an erosion of true worship, and the general neglect of the temple. Joash then purposed to repair the temple, as he instructed the priests to use the money that was given regularly at the temple to finance the needed renovations. Yet, after a number of years it was clear that the offerings being given by the people were not sufficient to support the priests and to pay for the needed repairs. Joash then placed a wooden chest near the altar into which worshipers could freely give special offerings that were used to cover the cost of the temple renovations. The monies put into this chest were stewarded by the king’s secretary and the high priest, and were sufficient to finance the needed temple repairs.

Death of Joash (12:17–21)

2 Kings 12:17–21 records several events towards the end of Joash’s reign—namely, the attack by King Hazael of Syria upon Gath, Joash’s bribe of Hazael to depart from Israel, and the murder of King Joash by his servants. This account in the book of 2 Kings omits several details that are later disclosed in the book of 2 Chronicles. For example, it is recorded in 2 Chron. 24:23–24 that the Syrian army which Joash pacified was a much smaller force than the Israelite army; yet, God allowed the Syrians to kill many of the leaders of Judah and to severely wound Joash because he had forsaken God. Moreover, the treasures that Joash gave to Hazael is described as being spoils or plunder from war. Additionally, 2 Chron. 24:25–27 records that Joash’s servants killed him because he had murdered Jehoiada’s son Zechariah. Note that Joash was not buried with the other kings.

Application Questions:

1. Is godly leadership an inherent practical ability, a learned vocational skill, or a bestowed spiritual gift?
2. Does power create corruption in the human heart, or does it reveal corruption that was already there?
3. Why was worship of the true God at the pagan high places forbidden (cf. Deut. 12:2–7, 13–14)?
4. Who should oversee the finances at a church? What is the best giving paradigm for churches?
5. Given Joash’s good works while Jehoiada was alive, how can we explain Joash’s evil acts at the end of his life?