2 Kings 11
Today's Passage: 2 Kings 11
Over the last few days we’ve read of Jehu’s bloodshed commissioned by Elisha in 2 Kings 9. As Jehu ripped across the countryside, 2 Kings 9:27–28 records that Jehu’s swift sword also cut down Ahaziah, the king of Judah.
The power vacuum created by the death of Judah’s king didn’t last long. Ahaziah’s sons were next in line for the throne. However, Ahaziah’s mother, Athaliah, slaughtered her grandsons in order that she may rule.
There’s a lot of “A” and “J” names in these few short verses, and it can be a little confusing. Joram (aka Jehoram, because Judah royalty seem to love putting that “Jeho” prefix on their names) was a king of Judah and he married Athaliah, daughter of the wicked Ahab and Jezebel of Israel. Their son Ahaziah was apparently named after his uncle, Athaliah’s brother, which adds to some of the naming confusion in 2 Kings. They also had a daughter, Jehosheba—although it is possible that Jehosheba was Joram’s daughter and Athaliah’s step-daughter since verse 2 doesn’t mention her connection to Athaliah. The corresponding passage, 2nd Chronicles 22:11, also tells us that Jehosheba was married to the chief priest Jehoiada. If you’re still lost, check out the family tree below from the New Bible Dictionary—without which I definitely struggled to figure out who’s who.
During Athaliah’s evil purge, Jehosheba intervened. Again Jehosheba is the sister or half-sister of Ahaziah and she acted to save her nephew, Joash. She hid him away in the Temple—-where her husband was the chief priest.
In super dramatic fashion, the chief priest, Jehoiada, revealed the living heir to the throne. The guards set about their work to protect the newly crowned king, cheers rang out from the Temple. Athaliah heard the noise only then learning that one grandchild remained alive. Athaliah was subsequently executed. Joash, renamed Jehoash (again, they love the “Jeho” prefix) began his reign at the ripe old age of seven.
Now, let me ask you, does this plot sound familiar? Everyone thinks the child, heir to the throne perished, and yet, it is later discovered the rightful heir lives. The child returns to overthrow the evil, wicked person unrightfully sitting on the throne. It sounds familiar because that plot has been seen in everything from the Lion King to Star Wars to (spoiler alert) the new Gladiator movie.
It’s a plot that rings with our hearts because we long for justice to win over evil. I believe this story echos into our very design because of the Grand Story written by the Lord from eternity past—where the Child-King comes and yet, evil seems to reign in place of the rightful heir. In this Grand Story, the Son dies and the ruler of the world appears victorious. And yet, we are promised a day when it will be revealed that the Son lives and returns to crush the wicked ruler claiming his rightful crown and throne.
Joash mirrored the heart of this coming King for a while, but then fell woefully short by the end of his life. So, as we seek to apply this passage, I think it’s important to remember that in the midst of chaos and upheaval, God is in control. The Story is going as written—our hope in the coming King is well-founded. However, our hope in anyone or anything else will ultimately let us down.
Written By: Tyler Short
Over the last few days we’ve read of Jehu’s bloodshed commissioned by Elisha in 2 Kings 9. As Jehu ripped across the countryside, 2 Kings 9:27–28 records that Jehu’s swift sword also cut down Ahaziah, the king of Judah.
The power vacuum created by the death of Judah’s king didn’t last long. Ahaziah’s sons were next in line for the throne. However, Ahaziah’s mother, Athaliah, slaughtered her grandsons in order that she may rule.
There’s a lot of “A” and “J” names in these few short verses, and it can be a little confusing. Joram (aka Jehoram, because Judah royalty seem to love putting that “Jeho” prefix on their names) was a king of Judah and he married Athaliah, daughter of the wicked Ahab and Jezebel of Israel. Their son Ahaziah was apparently named after his uncle, Athaliah’s brother, which adds to some of the naming confusion in 2 Kings. They also had a daughter, Jehosheba—although it is possible that Jehosheba was Joram’s daughter and Athaliah’s step-daughter since verse 2 doesn’t mention her connection to Athaliah. The corresponding passage, 2nd Chronicles 22:11, also tells us that Jehosheba was married to the chief priest Jehoiada. If you’re still lost, check out the family tree below from the New Bible Dictionary—without which I definitely struggled to figure out who’s who.
During Athaliah’s evil purge, Jehosheba intervened. Again Jehosheba is the sister or half-sister of Ahaziah and she acted to save her nephew, Joash. She hid him away in the Temple—-where her husband was the chief priest.
In super dramatic fashion, the chief priest, Jehoiada, revealed the living heir to the throne. The guards set about their work to protect the newly crowned king, cheers rang out from the Temple. Athaliah heard the noise only then learning that one grandchild remained alive. Athaliah was subsequently executed. Joash, renamed Jehoash (again, they love the “Jeho” prefix) began his reign at the ripe old age of seven.
Now, let me ask you, does this plot sound familiar? Everyone thinks the child, heir to the throne perished, and yet, it is later discovered the rightful heir lives. The child returns to overthrow the evil, wicked person unrightfully sitting on the throne. It sounds familiar because that plot has been seen in everything from the Lion King to Star Wars to (spoiler alert) the new Gladiator movie.
It’s a plot that rings with our hearts because we long for justice to win over evil. I believe this story echos into our very design because of the Grand Story written by the Lord from eternity past—where the Child-King comes and yet, evil seems to reign in place of the rightful heir. In this Grand Story, the Son dies and the ruler of the world appears victorious. And yet, we are promised a day when it will be revealed that the Son lives and returns to crush the wicked ruler claiming his rightful crown and throne.
Joash mirrored the heart of this coming King for a while, but then fell woefully short by the end of his life. So, as we seek to apply this passage, I think it’s important to remember that in the midst of chaos and upheaval, God is in control. The Story is going as written—our hope in the coming King is well-founded. However, our hope in anyone or anything else will ultimately let us down.
Written By: Tyler Short
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