Verse 1

And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.

She destroyed — This was the fruit of Jehoshaphat's marrying his son to a daughter of that idolatrous house of Ahab. And this dreadful judgment God permitted upon him and his, to shew how much he abhors all such affinities.

Verse 2

But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain.

They hid — Jehosheba and her husband Jehoiada.

Bed-chamber — Which was in the house of the Lord. So that it was one of those chambers adjoining to the temple, that were for the uses of the priests and Levites only: which made it more proper for this purpose. Now was the promise made to David bound up in one life. And yet it did not fail. Thus to the Son of David will God, according to his promise, secure a spiritual seed: which tho' sometimes reduced to a small number, brought very low, and seemingly lost, yet will be preserved to the end of time. It was a special providence that Joram tho' a king, a wicked king, married his daughter to Jehoiada, a priest, an holy priest. This some might think a disparagement to the royal family; but it saved the royal family from ruin. For Jehoiada's interest in the temple, gave her an opportunity to preserve the child: and her interest in the royal family, gave him an opportunity of setting him on the throne. See what blessings they lay up in store for their families who marry their children to those that are wise and good.

Verse 4

And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and shewed them the king's son.

The house — Into the courts of that house, for into the house none but the priests or Levites might enter.

Verse 5

And he commanded them, saying, This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you that enter in on the sabbath shall even be keepers of the watch of the king's house;

Of you — Levites, who were distributed into twenty four courses, to minister in turns, each course consisting of about a thousand men for a week.

Enter in — That come into the temple to attend your ministry.

King's house — Of that part which lead to the king's palace, which Athaliah now possessed.

Verse 6

And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of the house, that it be not broken down.

Sur — The chief gate of the temple.

The guard — Either, 1. the king's guard. Or, 2. the guard of the temple; this gate was in the south-side.

So, … — So you shall guard all the gates or entrances into the temple that neither Athaliah nor any of her soldiers may break in.

Verse 7

And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD about the king.

That go, … — Who having finished their course, should have gone home, but were detained, 2 Chronicles 23:8.

Shall keep — While the rest guard the entrances into the temple; these shall have a special care of the king's person.

Verse 8

And ye shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand: and he that cometh within the ranges, let him be slain: and be ye with the king as he goeth out and as he cometh in.

Ranges — Or, fences, the wall wherewith the courts of the temple were environed.

Verse 12

And he brought forth the king's son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king.

Testimony — The book of the law, which he put into the king's hand, to mind him of his duty at his entrance upon his kingdom, which was to read and write out that holy book, Deuteronomy 17:18, and to govern himself and his kingdom by it: the law of God being frequently and most properly called a testimony, because it is a witness of God's will, and man's duty.

Verse 15

But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD.

Host — Of these companies of Levites, who are elsewhere called the Lord's host, and now were the king's host.

Verse 17

And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD's people; between the king also and the people.

A covenant — A sacred covenant whereby he solemnly engaged both the king, and people, that they should be the Lord's people; that they should renounce, and root out all idolatry, and set up and maintain God's true worship.

Between the king — This was a civil covenant, whereby the king engaged himself to rule them justly, and in the fear of God; and the people obliged themselves to defend and obey him.