Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every son who is born [of the Hebrews] you are to cast into the Nile, and every daughter you are to keep alive.” Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a daughter of Levi. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was beautiful, she hid him for three months. - Exodus 1:22-2:2
Over the past 2 weeks, we have learned how God used Jehu to cut off Ahab's royal dynasty. He assassinated Jehoram, Ahab’s son, and took his place as the king of Israel. However, we also read that Jehu killed Ahaziah, Ahab’s grandson, the king of Judah. So, while Jehu reigned over the northern kingdom, what happened in the south? Who took Ahaziah’s place as the new leader of Judah? Would the line of David survive? This morning we will answer these questions with a message titled “Queen Athaliah”.
I. JOASH IS HIDDEN (2 Kings 11:1-3; 2 Chronicles 22:10-12)
When Athaliah learned that her only remaining son, King Ahaziah, had been assassinated she sprung into action. She quickly rose up and destroyed all of the remaining royal offspring (or so she thought). During his violent rampage, Jehu had already killed Ahaziah’s nephews and many of his other relatives.Now Athaliah set out to murder his young sons as well, her own grandsons mind you, so that she could rule over the southern kingdom.
By God’s providence, Jehosheba, who was Ahaziah’s sister, hid the slain king’s infant son Joash in a bedroom in the palace with a nurse. Sadly, Athaliah killed all of his other baby boys. Thus, Joash was the only remaining royal descendant in the line of David. Eventually Jehosheba and her husband, Jehoiada the priest, smuggled Joash out of the palace and hid him in the temple. Apparently Athaliah was unaware of his existence and made no efforts to find him. She took the throne herself, and reigned as queen over Judah for 6 years.
As a new grandparent (my twin grandsons are 3 ½ months old right now), it is inconceivable to me how anyone could harm, much less kill, their own grandchildren. Those boys already have me and my wife wrapped around their fingers and they can’t even roll over yet. I can’t even begin to describe the disdain I have for Athaliah and those who murder babies and young children - including their own! It turns my stomach to even think about it.
II. JOASH IS CROWNED (2 Kings 11:4-12; 2 Chronicles 23:1-11)
In the 7th year, Jehoiada the priest sent for and gathered several captains of professional soldiers called Carites and other guards together in the temple. He made them promise not to reveal his secret, then he showed them Joash. He broke them and their respective companies up into 3 groups and gave each group specific commands for protecting the young boy. They were to guard the house of the LORD and watch its gates so that no unauthorized person could enter. Furthermore, they were to surround Joash wherever he went and kill anyone who got too close to him.
These captains and their men dutifully obeyed Jehoiada’s command. The priest even gave them spears and shields that had belonged to King David and had been stored in the temple for years. With their weapons in hand, these men guarded the house of the LORD from right to left, carefully protecting Joash.
When everything was secure, Jehoiada brought the king’s son out of hiding for a grand coronation ceremony in the temple. He placed a crown on his head and charged him with upholding the Law. Then he anointed young Joash and declared him as the rightful king of Judah. All the people clapped their hands and rejoiced shouting, “Long live the king!”
Throughout my life I’ve heard various people say, “I grew up in church!”. Well, in Joash’s case, this was literally true. He was raised from his infancy in the temple. His upbringing was similar to Samuel, who was dedicated to God by his mother Hannah and left with Eli in the tabernacle while he was still just a baby. Joash was not influenced by his evil grandmother Athaliah, but rather was taught to fear and faithfully follow the LORD.
III. ATHALIAH IS KILLED (2 Kings 11:13-21; 2 Chronicles 23:12-21)
When Queen Athaliah heard all of the commotion, she hurried to the temple to see what was going on. Upon her arrival, she saw the king standing by the pillar in customary fashion with the captains and the trumpeters beside. She beheld all of the people celebrating and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, “Treason! Treason!”
Jehoiada commanded the captains of the army to seize her and bring her out of the temple. He instructed them to kill anyone who followed her. Jehoiada did not want her to be executed in the house of the LORD. So they brought Athaliah to the horses’ entrance of the king’s house and put her to death there.
Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD, the king, and all the people that they would serve the LORD. The people of Judah went down to the house of Baal and tore it down. They destroyed its altars and images and even killed Mattan, the priest of Baal who resided there. Then Jehoiada appointed officials over the house of the LORD. He had young Joash brought up from the temple to the king’s palace and seated him on the throne. Then all of the people rejoiced. For the first time in years, the city of Jerusalem was quiet. Athaliah, the wicked daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, who had infected the southern kingdom with her evil ways, was finally dead. Joash, who was just 7 years old, was the new king.
CONCLUSION
During the divided kingdom era there were a total of 40 ruling monarchs - 20 in Israel and 20 in Judah. Of them, 39 were kings and only 1 was a queen - wicked Athaliah. This makes her unique among all of the leaders of the northern and southern kingdoms. Truth be told, her queenship was illegitimate because the rightful king was alive the whole time… he was simply concealed for his own protection. Nevertheless, Queen Athaliah reigned as the recognized ruler of Judah for half a dozen years.
It would be wonderful if Athaliah stood as a paragon of virtue and charity. There are other great women in the Bible, such as Deborah and Esther, who led God’s people with courage and righteousness. Unfortunately, Athaliah led Judah into sin, provoking God by practicing and promoting Baal worship. She was a ruthless, vile person who murdered anyone who stood in her way. Athaliah and her mother Jezebel are arguably the 2 most wicked women in the entire Word of God.
As we close this morning, I want to urge all of the women listening to think about the disastrous influence that Athaliah had on her kingdom, her husband, and her children. Wives, don’t be a detriment to your husbands. Mothers, don’t teach and counsel your children to sin. On the contrary, model Christ’s love to your families and aspire to be the virtuous women that God calls you to be - at home, at church, at work, and in your community. This is His will for your life.
Over the past 2 weeks, we have learned how God used Jehu to cut off Ahab's royal dynasty. He assassinated Jehoram, Ahab’s son, and took his place as the king of Israel. However, we also read that Jehu killed Ahaziah, Ahab’s grandson, the king of Judah. So, while Jehu reigned over the northern kingdom, what happened in the south? Who took Ahaziah’s place as the new leader of Judah? Would the line of David survive? This morning we will answer these questions with a message titled “Queen Athaliah”.
I. JOASH IS HIDDEN (2 Kings 11:1-3; 2 Chronicles 22:10-12)
When Athaliah learned that her only remaining son, King Ahaziah, had been assassinated she sprung into action. She quickly rose up and destroyed all of the remaining royal offspring (or so she thought). During his violent rampage, Jehu had already killed Ahaziah’s nephews and many of his other relatives.Now Athaliah set out to murder his young sons as well, her own grandsons mind you, so that she could rule over the southern kingdom.
By God’s providence, Jehosheba, who was Ahaziah’s sister, hid the slain king’s infant son Joash in a bedroom in the palace with a nurse. Sadly, Athaliah killed all of his other baby boys. Thus, Joash was the only remaining royal descendant in the line of David. Eventually Jehosheba and her husband, Jehoiada the priest, smuggled Joash out of the palace and hid him in the temple. Apparently Athaliah was unaware of his existence and made no efforts to find him. She took the throne herself, and reigned as queen over Judah for 6 years.
As a new grandparent (my twin grandsons are 3 ½ months old right now), it is inconceivable to me how anyone could harm, much less kill, their own grandchildren. Those boys already have me and my wife wrapped around their fingers and they can’t even roll over yet. I can’t even begin to describe the disdain I have for Athaliah and those who murder babies and young children - including their own! It turns my stomach to even think about it.
II. JOASH IS CROWNED (2 Kings 11:4-12; 2 Chronicles 23:1-11)
In the 7th year, Jehoiada the priest sent for and gathered several captains of professional soldiers called Carites and other guards together in the temple. He made them promise not to reveal his secret, then he showed them Joash. He broke them and their respective companies up into 3 groups and gave each group specific commands for protecting the young boy. They were to guard the house of the LORD and watch its gates so that no unauthorized person could enter. Furthermore, they were to surround Joash wherever he went and kill anyone who got too close to him.
These captains and their men dutifully obeyed Jehoiada’s command. The priest even gave them spears and shields that had belonged to King David and had been stored in the temple for years. With their weapons in hand, these men guarded the house of the LORD from right to left, carefully protecting Joash.
When everything was secure, Jehoiada brought the king’s son out of hiding for a grand coronation ceremony in the temple. He placed a crown on his head and charged him with upholding the Law. Then he anointed young Joash and declared him as the rightful king of Judah. All the people clapped their hands and rejoiced shouting, “Long live the king!”
Throughout my life I’ve heard various people say, “I grew up in church!”. Well, in Joash’s case, this was literally true. He was raised from his infancy in the temple. His upbringing was similar to Samuel, who was dedicated to God by his mother Hannah and left with Eli in the tabernacle while he was still just a baby. Joash was not influenced by his evil grandmother Athaliah, but rather was taught to fear and faithfully follow the LORD.
III. ATHALIAH IS KILLED (2 Kings 11:13-21; 2 Chronicles 23:12-21)
When Queen Athaliah heard all of the commotion, she hurried to the temple to see what was going on. Upon her arrival, she saw the king standing by the pillar in customary fashion with the captains and the trumpeters beside. She beheld all of the people celebrating and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, “Treason! Treason!”
Jehoiada commanded the captains of the army to seize her and bring her out of the temple. He instructed them to kill anyone who followed her. Jehoiada did not want her to be executed in the house of the LORD. So they brought Athaliah to the horses’ entrance of the king’s house and put her to death there.
Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD, the king, and all the people that they would serve the LORD. The people of Judah went down to the house of Baal and tore it down. They destroyed its altars and images and even killed Mattan, the priest of Baal who resided there. Then Jehoiada appointed officials over the house of the LORD. He had young Joash brought up from the temple to the king’s palace and seated him on the throne. Then all of the people rejoiced. For the first time in years, the city of Jerusalem was quiet. Athaliah, the wicked daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, who had infected the southern kingdom with her evil ways, was finally dead. Joash, who was just 7 years old, was the new king.
CONCLUSION
During the divided kingdom era there were a total of 40 ruling monarchs - 20 in Israel and 20 in Judah. Of them, 39 were kings and only 1 was a queen - wicked Athaliah. This makes her unique among all of the leaders of the northern and southern kingdoms. Truth be told, her queenship was illegitimate because the rightful king was alive the whole time… he was simply concealed for his own protection. Nevertheless, Queen Athaliah reigned as the recognized ruler of Judah for half a dozen years.
It would be wonderful if Athaliah stood as a paragon of virtue and charity. There are other great women in the Bible, such as Deborah and Esther, who led God’s people with courage and righteousness. Unfortunately, Athaliah led Judah into sin, provoking God by practicing and promoting Baal worship. She was a ruthless, vile person who murdered anyone who stood in her way. Athaliah and her mother Jezebel are arguably the 2 most wicked women in the entire Word of God.
As we close this morning, I want to urge all of the women listening to think about the disastrous influence that Athaliah had on her kingdom, her husband, and her children. Wives, don’t be a detriment to your husbands. Mothers, don’t teach and counsel your children to sin. On the contrary, model Christ’s love to your families and aspire to be the virtuous women that God calls you to be - at home, at church, at work, and in your community. This is His will for your life.