Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 11
Athaliah was a murderer (11:1-2). In God’s law, the punishment for a murderer is death (Numbers 35:30-34). God can forgive the murderer who truly turns to him (2 Samuel 12:13). However, he does not forgive the person who refuses to turn from his evil deeds (Ezekiel 18:10-13 and 18:20). That person must suffer the punishment for his crime.
King Solomon had to decide what to do about Joab, a murderer who refused to leave a holy place. His judgment was that Joab must die there (1 Kings 2:28-34). However, Jehoiada, the priest, made a different judgment about Athaliah. The death of a criminal in the sacred court (yard) of the temple (God’s house), would make the court unclean (or, unholy) for sacred purposes. Afterwards, the priests would have to carry out special ceremonies to make that place clean (or, holy) again. Those were very serious ceremonies – but this day had to be a very joyful occasion, because Judah had its new king.
So, Jehoiada ordered his guards to gather round Athaliah in two rows. That would force her to walk between the rows and out of the temple court. When she had gone out of the gate of the temple, it was right to kill her.
Some of Athaliah’s guards and other supporters probably came with her to the temple. Jehoiada gave them a choice. They could remain and be loyal to King Joash – or they could leave with Athaliah to fight for her. If they chose to leave with her, then they must die with her. That was what Jehoiada ordered.
Next part: Covenants between the king, the people and God (2 Kings 11:17)
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