Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 11:13
And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard [and] of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the LORD.
13. And when Athaliah heard the noise ] The arrangements had all been made so cautiously that the queen-mother had no knowledge of what was being done. But we may suppose that ere long the report would reach her through her attendants, and so she went, where otherwise she was not wont to go, toward the house of the Lord. Unless she had thought it some matter of grave concern we cannot fancy her going out to put an end by her presence, if possible, to the proceeding. Josephus’ account is that ‘having heard the tumult and applause unexpectedly, Athaliah was greatly troubled, and hastened with her private troops from the palace: that the priests admitted her into the temple area, but prevented the armed men who were with her from entering’. The Bible narratives do not speak of a guard accompanying Athaliah, but it is not likely that she would go forth on such an errand without one, though the influence of a queen-mother was very powerful.
of the guard and of the people ] There is no conjunction in the Hebrew, and the guard were the ‘runners’ spoken of above. The narrative in Chronicles transposes the two words, and the rendering there is ‘of the people running’, but probably the conjunction is wanting in both cases through the error of the scribe. So in 2Ch 23:2 the R.V. has put on the margin ‘of the people, of the guard and of those who praised the king’.
she came to the people into the temple [R.V. house ] of the Lord ] The assembly was a notable one and seems to have been at the time of some feast which had brought a more than usually great concourse to Jerusalem.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
The noise of the people, who came thither upon the hearing of the noise and tidings of what was done.
She came to the people, to inquire into the cause of this great noise; being hitherto kept in deep ignorance; partly because it wits managed with so much secrecy, and in the temple; and partly because the people universally hated her, and wished her downfall.
Into the temple of the Lord, i.e. into the courts; whither by Jehoiadas direction she was permitted to enter, though contrary to his general order, 2Ki 11:8, that so he might draw her into his net.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
13. Athaliah heard the noise of theguard and of the peopleThe profound secrecy with which theconspiracy had been conducted rendered the unusual acclamations ofthe vast assembled crowd the more startling and roused the suspicionsof the tyrant.
she came . . . into thetemple of the Lordthat is, the courts, which she was permittedto enter by Jehoiada’s directions (2Ki11:8) in order that she might be secured.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard, and of the people,…. Their acclamations and shouts at the coronation of the king; for by this time the people had some knowledge of the affair, and ran, and came flocking to see the new king, and express their joy on this occasion, and whom they greatly praised, 2Ch 23:12
she came to the people into the temple of the Lord; the outward court, where the people were assembled; and she seems to come alone, unattended, in great surprise and consternation, and was admitted to pass the guards, being the queen, and alone, and perhaps by the particular order of Jehoiada, though contrary to the general orders he gave, 2Ki 11:8.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
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, v. 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 (v. 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,” v. 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, v. 16. So let thy enemies perish, O Lord! thus give the bloody harlot blood to drink, for she is worthy.
Fuente: Matthew Henry’s Whole Bible Commentary
End of Athaliah Commentary on 2Ki 11:13-21 AND 2Ch 23:12-21
In Athaliah Judah was reaping the harvest of Jehoshaphat’s incredibly foolish alliance with the family of AHab The contradictory behavior of that good king in these matters has been discussed before in this commentary. In some way it led to the utter demoralization of his son Jehoram. That unworthy son of the king, on the death of his father, slew his brothers because they were better than he, and some of the people seemed to prefer them to him. God had chastised him and Judah severely. An invasion of Arabic tribes had decimated Jerusalem and led to the capture and death of his sons, save Ahaziah, at the hand of the invaders. Jehoram had suffered and soon died of a repugnant disease of his bowels. Then Ahaziah, the son of Athaliah, had become king, reigning for a year before he was killed by Jehu. For six years Athaliah maintained her usurpation of the throne of Judah encouraging the worship of Baal, before Jehoiada brought out young Joash and made him king in the temple (see 2Ki 8:16 to 2Ki 9:29; and 2 Chronicles chapters 21,22).
Now it was all coming to a good end. Athaliah in the palace, across the way from the temple, heard the joyous clamor of the people at the coronation of Joash and made her way into the temple. There her eyes took in a sight which gave her terrific fright. There stood the child king with the crown on his head and the testimony in his hands, beside the pillar of the temple, flanked on either side by armed men and trumpets proclaiming his kingship. She tore her clothing in grief at her impending doom, crying out “Treason! Treason!” as though she herself was not the one guilty of treason. She turned to flee, seeking to regain the palace by entrance through the horse gate, by which the carriages came to the palace.
Jehoiada was in command and sent men after her with orders.to kill any who attempted to aid her, She herself was not to be slain inside the sacred precincts of the temple. So she was killed in the way of the horse gate. Jehoiada then proceeded to make a covenant on behalf of the little king, with the people of Judah, that they would faithfully serve the Lord. It seems that the people willingly acquiesced in this. These things remind one of the ultimate triumph of the righteous (1Pe 4:1).
Baal’s root in Judah was destroyed by the people. They broke down his temple, desecrated his altars and images, and slew Mattan his priest beside his altars. Jehoiada’s boldness, with his wife, in rescuing Joash, secreting him in the temple, and planning his coronation, boded much good for Judah after a long time without a godly ruler. The worship had been neglected since the time of Jehoshaphat, and many had doubtless worshipped Baal to please Athaliah. Now the temple order and service of the Levites, as inaugurated by David in preparation for the temple, was reinstituted at Jerusalem. Jehoiada and his sons supported Joash and were the cause of a revival in the land.
In the end of the coronation ceremony Jehoiada and his sons and the armed protectors of the king conducted him from the temple and installed him in the palace. They formed an impressive procession along the colonnaded porch Solomon had built to connect the king’s residence with the temple. The accompanying crowds rejoiced and praised the Lord for the verification of His word (cf. Rom 5:1-2).
Lessons to be gleaned: 1) the chief love of the wicked is for themselves; 2) God’s people are to exercise caution in the battle against Satan; 3) God’s promises never fail, His triumph is assured (Rom 16:20; Romans 4) like Jehoshaphat some “good” people often sow to the wind and reap the whirlwind (Hos 8:7); 5) God’s people may accomplish great good by standing steadfastly for that which is right, as did Jehoiada.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(13) Of the guard and of the people.This is correct. The and has fallen out of the Hebrew text.
The guard.The Aramaic form of the plural, rare in prose, occurs here. (Comp. 1Ki. 11:33.) In 2Ch. 23:11 the words are transposed. This gives a different senseviz., of the people running together to which is added, and acclaiming the king. The chronicler may have found this in the work he followed, but the text before us seems preferable, as the word runners (Couriers) throughout the account means the royal guard.
The people.See Note on 2Ki. 11:14.
She came . . . into the temple.Evidently, therefore, the palace was hard by the Temple. (See Note on 2Ki. 11:16.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Athaliah Slain
v. 13. And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, v. 14. And when she looked, behold, the king, v. 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, v. 16. And they laid hands on her, they made way for her to escort her out; and she went by the way by the which the horses came into the king’s house, v. 17. And Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people that they should be the Lord’s people; v. 18. And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal, v. 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, v. 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, v. 21. Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign.
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
The delusion of Athaliah to go unarmed, unprotected, unsupported, shows at once how desperate her case was.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
2Ki 11:13 And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard [and] of the people, she came to the people into the temple of the LORD.
Ver. 13. And when Athaliah heard. ] See on 2Ki 11:1 .
She came to the people.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Covenanting to Be the Lords People
2Ki 11:13-20
The death of Athaliah led the way to a thorough change throughout the kingdom. There was a double covenant, first, between the Lord on the one hand and the king and the people on the other, and second, between the king and the people; then the demolition of the Baal-house, which had sadly profaned the Holy City; and finally regulations for the proper performance of diving worship. These led the way to the public enthronement of the boy-king. The joy and quiet which ensued always follow the casting out of evil. Adjust a nation or an individual to the claims of God, and at once peace and joy succeed. The Lord Jesus, who is now hidden, shall one day be manifested, as we have seen. Those that hate Him shall be put to shame. Then shall come salvation and the kingdom of God. Every evil that exalts itself against Him shall be cast out, and the nations shall rejoice and be quiet because they have discovered their rightful ruler. Notice the alliance between the young king and the aged priest. It was necessary, under the old Covenant, that the functions of king and priest should be fulfilled by different individuals. The civil and religious elements demanded separate expression, but in Jesus they perfectly blend. He is a priest upon His throne, Zec 6:13.
Fuente: F.B. Meyer’s Through the Bible Commentary
2Ch 23:12-15
Reciprocal: 2Ki 8:26 – Athaliah
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
2Ki 11:13. She came to the people To inquire into the cause of this great noise; being hitherto kept in deep ignorance, because the affair was managed with so much secrecy, and in the temple; and because the people universally hated her, and wished her downfall. Into the temple of the Lord That is, into the courts, into which, being a queen, she was permitted to enter, though contrary to the general order, 2Ki 11:8. She seems, in her fright, to have come alone, or with but few attendants.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
God’s judgment of the usurper 11:13-20
Though Athaliah claimed that Jehoash’s coronation was treasonous, she was the one guilty of treason. Jehoash was a legitimate heir to the throne of Judah, but Athaliah was not since she was not a descendant of David, but had married into Judah’s royal family. She evidently wanted to bring Judah under Israel’s authority. Out of disrespect, the people executed her near the gate where the horses entered the palace (not the city; cf. 2Ch 24:20-22). Like her mother she died a violent death among horses, the instruments of warfare (cf. 2Ki 9:30-37).
The covenant Jehoiada led the people in adopting was a fresh commitment to the Mosaic Law (2Ki 11:17; cf. Deuteronomy 27-30; Joshua 24; 2Sa 5:3; 2Ki 23:1-3). He also destroyed the temple of Baal (2Ki 11:18) and killed the idolatrous priests in front of the Baal altars. Mattan was a common Phoenician name, but an Israelite with the same name appears in 2Ki 24:17, so this priest may have been Phoenician or Israelite. [Note: J. Skinner, I and II Kings, p. 341; Cogan and Tadmor, p. 130.] All of this showed contempt for the pagan worshippers’ false belief that their temple area was a sacred sanctuary. The result of this return to Yahweh was joy and peace in Jerusalem (2Ki 11:20).
As Jezebel had promoted Baalism in Israel, so her daughter did in Judah. During Athaliah’s six-year reign (841-835 B.C.) Baalism gained its most secure foothold in the Southern Kingdom. It was never as influential in Judah as it was in Israel, however, because of the stronger commitment to Yahweh that existed in the Southern Kingdom.
Athaliah’s history is still another proof that those who disregard God’s Word and will bring God’s discipline on themselves and on those they lead.