Athaliah of Judah

2 Kings 11:1-21

When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family. But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered.  He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the Lord for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of units of a hundred, the Carites and the guards and had them brought to him at the temple of the Lord. He made a covenant with them and put them under oath at the temple of the Lord.

The commanders of units of a hundred did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered.

Jehoiada brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him; he presented him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!”

Jehoiada then made a covenant between the Lord and the king and people that they would be the Lord’s people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people. All the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.

Joash was seven years old when he began to reign.

Queen Athaliah, Ahaziah's mother and the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, reigned for six years. These are some of the darkest days in the nation's history. The royal line of David is all but wiped out; only the baby Joash survives. The priest Jehoiada (husband of princess Jehosheba, who rescued Joash leads the well-planned and virtually bloodless coup which puts Joash on the throne. The constitutional monarchy is restored, and loyalty to God is reaffirmed in the swearing of a new covenant pact.

Why?

A sister of the King and Priest of the Lord under their effort and God's blessing. The royal line of David is not been all wiped out.

This event started with Queen Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab, so the effect of Ahab and the consequence of the king of Judah made marriage with Ahab almost destroy David's kingdom.

How?

Do not look down on our duty and our responsibility, if the Lord allows, we can make something affect this generation.