As soon as King Ahaziah’s mother Athaliah learned of her son’s murder, she gave orders for all the members of the royal family to be killed.
SELF. How barbaric – she was truly a daughter of Jezebel.
Only Ahaziah’s son Joash escaped. He was about to be killed with the others, but was rescued by his aunt Jehosheba, who was King Jehoram’s daughter and Ahaziah’s half sister. She took him and his nurse into a bedroom in the Temple and hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not killed. For six years Jehosheba took care of the boy and kept him hidden in the Temple, while Athaliah ruled as queen.
So for six years the people would have thought that David’s line had been broken! There is always hope in you, Father – may I not lose heart.
in the seventh year Jehoiada the priest… led Joash out, placed the crown on his head, and gave him a copy of the laws governing kingship. Then Joash was anointed and proclaimed king. The people clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!” Queen Athaliah heard the noise… so she hurried to the Temple, where the crowd had gathered. There she saw the new king standing by the column at the entrance of the Temple, as was the custom. He was surrounded by the officers and the trumpeters, and the people were all shouting joyfully and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes in distress and shouted, “Treason! Treason!”
That’s a familiar scene: hello, Jezebel (2 Kings 9:30-31).
The priest Jehoiada had King Joash and the people make a covenant with the Lord that they would be the Lord’s people; he also made a covenant between the king and the people.
Similar to Esdras and Nehemiah (Esdras 7:25-26).
…the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down; they smashed the altars and the idols, and killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars.
Just like with the northern tribes (2 Kings 10:25-27). Finally, all traces of Ahab and Jezebel were wiped off the map. An expensive detour – may I avoid them, Father!
…Joash entered by the Guard Gate and took his place on the throne. All the people were filled with happiness, and the city was quiet, now that Athaliah had been killed in the palace.
Strangely enough, this reminds me of the peace the Church enjoyed after shipping Saul off to Tarsis (Acts 9:28-31). May I not forever sit in Tarsis, Lord!