Useful Bible Studies > 2 Kings Commentary > chapter 11

Jehoiada’s secret plan to make Joash king

2 Kings 11:5-8

While Athaliah was ruling Judah, nobody was safe. Her immediate reaction was to murder anyone who might oppose her. She had already killed her whole family so that none of them could become king.

So, Jehoiada’s plan to appoint Joash king was very secret. He did not want Athaliah or any of her officials to suspect what he was doing. However, he needed to bring a large number of men to the temple (God’s house), to act as guards for the new king.

For that reason, Jehoiada organised his ceremony to appoint Joash in connection with the Sabbath. The Sabbath is Saturday, and for Israel’s people, it is a special day for rest and prayer. In the temple, there were special ceremonies on the Sabbath.

The Levites were the men who supported the priests in their work at the temple. Each group of Levites worked for a week and then, on the Sabbath, the next group replaced them. So, Jehoiada chose a time when both groups were available. He divided the group that was starting its duties into three sections. They had to guard the outer entrances to the court or yard that surrounded the temple.

Then, Jehoiada divided the group that would usually be finishing its duties into two sections. They must remain on duty in order to guard Joash, the new king, inside the temple courts. Jehoiada ordered them to kill anyone who approached. There was a real danger that someone loyal to Athaliah might try to murder Joash during the sacred ceremony.

Next part: The ceremony when Joash became king (2 Kings 11:9-12)

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