Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 11
Athaliah was now dead and Judah’s people had accepted the boy Joash as their king. However, people’s decisions, and in particular their support for a ruler, can change quickly. Joash was too young yet to understand important political problems; for the next few years, he would have to depend much on his advisers. So, Jehoiada proposed that the king and the people should make two covenants, or sets of promises. These covenants would make the relationship between the king, the people and God clearer and more definite.
The first covenant was a declaration that the king and the people would be loyal to the true God. There is a description of how Joshua made such a covenant with Israel’s people in Joshua 24:1-27. Jehoiada’s speech and the people’s replies were probably very similar to that previous occasion. The people promised not to serve false gods, and that they would obey the true God. They accepted this to be the law in Judah, and so it was their serious duty.
When the people and their king had agreed about their relationship with God, Jehoiada proposed the second covenant. The people had to promise to obey Joash (Ecclesiastes 8:2) and that they would support his rule. Joash had to promise to act in a right and proper manner, both in his judgments and when he appointed people in government (Psalm 101). So, this covenant established a relationship of promises, or laws, between the king and the people. They had a responsibility to each other to obey their promises, as well as their responsibility to God.
Next part: The people destroy the temple of Baal (2 Kings 11:18)
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