2 Kings 11-12

2 Kings 11-12

Scripture Thought (What I Learned):

Chapter 11: Jehiada Destroys the House of Baal

                When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead she went off to destroy all the royal heirs. But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, who was also the sister of Ahaziah took Joash the sons of Ahaziah and took him and hid him away so that he would not be murdered. He was hidden with her for six years while Queen Athaliah reigned over the land. In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the captains of hundreds as body guards and escorts and brought them into the house of the Lord. There he made a covenant with them and made them take an oath that they would take 1/3 of them to come on duty during the Sabbath, that they might keep watch over the kings house, 1/3 at the gate of Sur and the other 1/3 at the gate behind the escorts. All of them are to watch out for the king and anyone who comes within range of the king shall be put to death. Jehoiada then gave the captains of the hundreds spears and shields that  had belonged to King David, that were in the temple of the Lord.

                Joash is crowned King. Athaliah the queen (after hearing the commotion) came to see what was going on, and when she found that Joash was no crowned king and the people were shouting for him... she stripped off her clothes and shouted "Treason! Treason!" Jehoiada then commanded the captains to take her outside under guard and slay whoever follows after her, they then took her to the entrance of the kings house and killed her there. Jehoiada then made a covenant with the Lord, the king and the people that they would be the "Lord's" people.

                All of the people of the land therefore came to the temple of Baal and tore it all down! Then they broke the altars and the images and killed Mattan the priest before the altars. Jehoash was seven years old when he became king.

Chapter 12: Jehoash (Joash) Reigns in Righteousness

                Jehoash and Joash are only different spellings of the same name.

                Jehoash reigned for forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheeba. Jehoash did what was right in the sight of the Lord with the help and instruction of Jehoiada the priest. Jehoash takes all the money and asks for more money to reconstruct the temple and any parts of the temple that was starting to fall apart.

                After several years of no construction or very minimal restoration work... King Jehoash calls in the priests and tells them that they are taking too much money in their salaries and not enough is going to restore the temple. So they agree and take less money, the money is to be put into a chest then when the chest is full they are to empty the chest, count the money and then give the money out to those who are working on the temple, all of the workers, carpenters etc. Those who worked on the project dealt fairly and needed no management or Administration to get the job done with the money they had, because they all dealt fairly.

                Hazael the king of Syria went up and fought against Gath and was able to take it in battle. Hazael with his victories then set his mind toward Jerusalem. Jehoash the king of Judah took all the sacred things that his fathers, Jehoshaphat, Jehoram, and Ahaziah, kings of Judah had dedicated, his own sacred tings and all the gold in the treasuries and sent them to Hazael the king of Syria, which causes Hazael to go away from Jerusalem.

                The servants of Jehoash formed a conspiracy against him and they killed Joash in the house of Millo. Jehoash was murdered and was buried in the City of David. Amaziah, his son reigned in his place.