Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 11
On the day of the ceremony, Joash waited in the house of Jehoiada, the chief priest, near the temple, God’s house in Jerusalem. This was next to the court of the temple, an outside yard where the people gathered to pray. Most of the people there that day did not know about the special ceremony to appoint the new king. In fact, they did not even know that one of the last king’s sons was still alive.
Suddenly, the group of men who would act as the king’s guards that day came into the yard. They carried the weapons, tools of war that were in the temple buildings for the use of the temple guards. These men separated off a large part of the yard and they directed the people away from it.
Then Jehoiada and his sons brought a young boy from his house, probably onto a platform at the front. This boy, just 7 years old, was Joash, the king’s son. Jehoiada now carried out the sacred ceremony to appoint Joash king.
First, Jehoiada placed on Joash’s head a crown – a hat that distinguished him as king. He then gave Joash a copy of God’s law (see Deuteronomy 17:18-20). He declared Joash to be the king, and he anointed him. In that ceremony, he poured oil on Joash’s head, to show that God’s Holy Spirit was coming upon Joash. By his Spirit, God was separating Joash from other people to do his special work for God as Judah’s king.
The people who saw the ceremony were all very joyful. They clapped and they shouted. They prayed for God to give Joash a long and successful rule as king.
Next part: Athaliah protests (2 Kings 11:13-14)
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