In the midst of all the God-ordained mayhem in Israel where Jehu slaughters the descendants of Ahab, someone else attempts the same thing in Judah. Athaliah was the queen mother in Judah, but she was a granddaughter of Omri, father of Ahab. (See 2 Kings 8.16 – 27.) She wants the kingdom for herself:

Athaliah was the mother of Ahaziah. When she saw that her son was dead, she took over. She began by massacring the entire royal family. (2 Kings 11.1, MSG)

But she can’t “massacre the entire royal family.” God promised that David would always have a son on the throne…

But Jehosheba, daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Ahaziah’s son Joash and kidnapped him from among the king’s sons slated for slaughter. She hid him and his nurse in a private room away from Athaliah. He didn’t get killed. He was there with her, hidden away for six years in The Temple of GOD. Athaliah, oblivious to his existence, ruled the country. (2 Kings 11.2 – 3, MSG)

Jehosheba rescued Joash, not allowing the royal line of David to die out. She was the wife of Jehoida the priest who eventually installed Joash as rightful king.

In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the captains of the bodyguards and the Palace Security Force. They met him in The Temple of GOD. He made a covenant with them, swore them to secrecy, and only then showed them the young prince. Then he commanded them, “These are your instructions: Those of you who come on duty on the Sabbath and guard the palace, and those of you who go off duty on the Sabbath and guard The Temple of GOD, are to join forces at the time of the changing of the guard and form a ring around the young king, weapons at the ready. Kill anyone who tries to break through your ranks. Your job is to stay with the king at all times and places, coming and going.” 2 Kings 11.4 – 8, MSG)

The guards execute the plan.

Then the priest brought the prince into view, crowned him, handed him the scroll of God’s covenant, and made him king. As they anointed him, everyone applauded and shouted, “Long live the king!” (2 Kings 11.12, MSG)

When Athaliah hears the commotion, she runs to the temple yelling “Treason! Treason!” She is taken out and executed. (See 2 Kings 11.13 – 21.)

Joash is crowned king and given “the scroll of God’s covenant.” This sounds like a reference to Deuteronomy 17, instructions about future kings.

And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel. (Deuteronomy 17.18 – 20, ESV)

Maybe this is the one instance (I know of no other) where the king, a young boy, mentored by Jehoida the priest, actually copied the law by hand. The power of mentoring. We’ll consider Joash in more detail when we get to 2 Chronicles, but here’s a sneak peek:

Taught and trained by Jehoiada the priest, Joash did what pleased GOD throughout Jehoiada’s lifetime. (2 Chronicles 24.2, ESV)

Good counsel for life: stay in the Word and surround yourself with people who will help keep you on track.

The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor. (Proverbs 15.31 – 33, ESV)