Read 2 Kings 11 here (text coming …) or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraphs:
11:1-3 {p} Athaliah daughter of Ahab usurped the throne of Judah
11:4-12 {s} When Joash was seven years old, the guard proclaimed him king within the house of the LORD
11:13-16 {s} Athaliah heard it, and cried “Treason!” but the guard slew her
11:17-20 {s} The people and king made a covenant to be YHVH’s people/ tore down the house of Baal
11:21 {p} Jehoash was seven years old when he became king
The Strong theme:
11:4-21 {sx3+p} Joash made king at 7 yrs old/ covenant with YHVH/ Athaliah (Ahab) and Baal destroyed from Judah
2 Kin 11:4-21 Chiastic structure:
The Narrative today really highlights that the culture of idolatry in Judah was really a culture imposed upon the people from the top down. That it was all the people (all: the whole amount, quantity, or extent of, the whole number or sum of – Webster’s) who rejoiced when Athaliah was deposed from ruling over them; who tore down the altars to Baal; reveals that the kingdom groaned under their enforced separation from the house of David and his governance, and from YHVH and His worship. Far from being archaic and irrelevant, this ancient history has much to say to us today.
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