2 Kings 11 Athaliah destroyeth all the royal family: only Joash escapeth; is hid six years in the house of God, 2 Kings 11:1–3. Jehoiada, giving order to the captains, in the seventh year anointeth him king, 2 Kings 11:4–12. Athaliah is slain, 2 Kings 11:13–16.

i.e. All of the royal family left after those slaughters, 2 Chron. 21:2, 2 Chron. 21:4, 2 Chron. 22:1, 2 Kings 10:13–14, except one, as the next verse limits and explains it.

Jehosheba, called Jehoshabeath, 2 Chron. 22:11. The daughter of king Joram, to wit, by another wife, and not by this Athaliah; for it is not likely Jehoiada, who married her, 2 Chron.

Either Athaliah thought they were all dead; or if she suspected that Joash was preserved, she thought an infant could do her no great harm; and that she could so well assure the kingdom to herself within a few years, that she need not fear any such weak competitor: or she was willing to smother up…

If this action of Jehoiada’s seem strange and irregular, this was no ordinary case, but there were divers peculiar things in it, as, that Athaliah was a mere usurper, having no pretence of right to the crown, and one of that wicked house which God had particularly, and by name, devoted to…

A third part of you; either, 1. A third part of you, (i.e. of the whole number, including those that come in and those that go out on the sabbath,) even they that enter in on the sabbath; and so the two other third parts were to consist of those that went out on the sabbath, as some gather from 2…

At the gate of Sur; the chief gate of the temple, called the high gate, 2 Kings 15:35, and the foundation gate, 2 Chron. 23:5, and the eastgate, Jer. 19:2, and the middle gate, Jer. 39:3, and the gate of the entrance, Ezek. 40:15. Behind the guard; either, 1. The king’s guard; or, 2.

You that go forth on the sabbath, i.e. who having finished their course and week, should have gone home, but were detained, 2 Chron. 23:8. They shall keep the watch of the house of the Lord about the king; whilst the rest guard the doors and entrances into the temple, these shall have a special…

When you have set your watches and guards, all the rest of you shall draw near to the king to preserve his royal person from all assaults and dangers. The ranges, or fences, i.e. the walls wherewith the courts of the temple were environed: see 2 Kings 11:15. Or, your ranks, or order.

Spears and shields; offensive and defensive weapons, which he gave to the captains, both for themselves, and for all their soldiers; for they all came into the temple unarmed, to prevent suspicion.

From the right corner of the temple to the left corner of the temple; from the south-east to the north-east side. By the altar; the altar of burnt-offerings, which was by the great and eastern gate of the temple. And the temple, i.e.

The testimony, i.e. 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, Deut.

The noise of the people, who came thither upon the hearing of the noise and tidings of what was done. She came to the people, to inquire into the cause of this great noise; being hitherto kept in deep ignorance; partly because it wits managed with so much secrecy, and in the temple; and partly…

By a pillar; possibly by one of the two famous pillars of the temple; of which see 1 Kings 7:21; nigh unto which the throne was erected. If it be said, that none but priests might come thither; I answer, ordinarily they might not; but the king being a sacred person, especially upon such…

The officers of the host; of these companies of Levites, who are elsewhere called the Lord’s host, and now were the king’s host. Without the ranges; of which see above, 2 Kings 11:8. If she will not go out of them of her own accord, force her out of them.

They laid hands on her, or, they gave her space or room, to wit, to go out of the court of the temple, and did not keep her within it, as they could have done. Or, they appointed bands for her; they ordered two bands of the Levites to follow her, and kill her.

Between the Lord and the king and the people; a sacred covenant, whereby he solemnly engaged both the king and people, as it here follows, that they should be the Lord’s people, i.e. that they should renounce and root out all idolatry, and set up and maintain God’s true worship.

Before the altar; to which possibly he fled for refuge; or rather, he was brought thither as a fit sacrifice to his God. Officers over the house of the Lord; of which see more particularly, 2 Chron. 23:18–19.

By the way of the gate of the guard, i.e. by the gate of the royal palace, where the king’s guard stood.