2 kings 11 and 12

Read 2 Kings 11 and 12 at Bible Gateway.

The Hebrew paragraph divisions:

2 Kin 11:1-3 {p} Athaliah daughter of Ahab usurped the throne of Judah
2 Kin 11:4-12 {s} When Joash was seven years old, the guard proclaimed him king within the house of the LORD
2 Kin 11:13-16 {s} Athaliah heard it, and cried “Treason!” but the guard slew her
2 Kin 11:17-20 {s} The people + king made a covenant to be YHVH’s people/ tore down the house of Baal
2 Kin 11:21 {p} Jehoash was seven years old when he became king
2 Kin 12:1-5 {p} Joash reigned 40 years in Jerusalem/ commanded the priests to repair the temple
2 Kin 12:6-16 {p} In his 23rd year, he inquired as to the repairs/ the workmen made repairs to the temple
2 Kin 12:17-21 {p} He paid Hazael king of Syria to go away from him/ his acts + death + son Amaziah

The strong theme:

2 Kin 11:4-21 {sx3+p} Joash made king at 7 yrs old/ covenant with the LORD/ Athaliah + Baal destroyed from Judah

Chapter 11 chiastic structure:

1a) 2 Kin 11:4-12 {s} In the seventh year Jehoash the king’s son revealed, and made king;

1a) 2 Kin 11:4, In the 7th year Jehoiada brought the captains into the house of the Lord/ revealed the king’s son;

1b) 2 Kin 11:5-8, He commanded them, at the change of the guard on the Sabbath, to keep watch over the king;

1) 2 Kin 11:5a, Then he commanded them, saying;
2) 2 Kin 11:5b-7, At the change of the guard on the Sabbath, you shall keep watch in the house of the LORD;
3) 2 Kin 11:8a, You shall surround the king on all sides, every man with his weapons in his hand;

central axis) 2 Kin 11:8b, “Whoever comes within range, let him be put to death. You are to be with the king as he goes out and as he comes in;”

2b) 2 Kin 11:9-11, So they did: at the change of the guard on the Sabbath, they surrounded the king to defend him;

1) 2 Kin 11:9a, They did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded;
2) 2 Kin 11:9b-10, Guard going off + on duty on the Sabbath, came to him + were armed with David’s arms;
3) 2 Kin 11:11, The escorts, each with his weapons in his hand, stood all around the king;

2a) 2 Kin 11:12 {s} The king’s son: crowned + anointed + given the Testimony: “Long live the king!”

1b) 2 Kin 11:13-16 {s} The people rejoiced to see the king/ Athaliah slain at the entrance to the king’s house;

1) 2 Kin 11:13-14a, Athaliah heard the tumult of the people of the land in YHVH’s temple/ there was the king;
2) 2 Kin 11:14b, All the people of the land were rejoicing + blowing trumpets;
3) 2 Kin 11:14c, Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, “Treason! Treason!”
4) 2 Kin 11:15-16 {s} Jehoiada commanded she be siezed + escorted from the temple/ she was slain;

central axis) 2 Kin 11:17, Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people, that they should be the Lord’s people, and also between the king and the people;

2b) 2 Kin 11:18-20 {s} Temple of Baal torn down/ people rejoiced/ Athaliah slain;

1) 2 Kin 11:18, The people of the land tore down the temple of Baal/ broke its altars + images/ slew his priest;
3) 2 Kin 11:19, Guard, people of the land brought the king from YHVH’s to the king’s house/ he sat on the throne;
2) 2 Kin 11:20a, So all the people of the land rejoiced;
4) 2 Kin 11:20b {s} The city was quiet, for they had slain Athaliah with the sword in the king’s house;

2a) 2 Kin 11:21 {p} Jehoash was seven years old when he became king.

Four times in this chapter, the phrase, “all the people of the land” repeats. It emphasized to me, that despite what is prevailing in the culture (Baal worship), or despite what injustices prevail in the government (Athaliah usurped the throne of Judah), when all the people of the land unite, theirs is the power to effect change and restore right.