Jehoash "The Lord Has Given" Secret King of Judah

"and I will establish the throne of his (David) kingdom forever." 2 Samuel 7:13

God promised David that his throne would endure forever. David would never fail to have a man on the throne before God. From David came a long line of kings. Some godly, some bad and some really bad. During the time that the kingdom was split (Israel in the north and Judah in the south) Ahaziah was on the throne of Judah, the throne of his forefather David. David had moved the capital from Hebron to Jerusalem in the territory of the tribe of Judah when he conquered the Jebusites. When the kingdom was split later under King Rehoboam, son of Solomon, Jerusalem remained the capital of Judah and Israel's capital became Samaria.

Ahaziah was the son of King Jehoram who was not a popular king in the least. In fact in 2 Chronicles 21:20 it says "Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years. He passed away, to no one's regret, and was buried in the City of David, but not in the tombs of the kings."


He also had a not so popular mother named Athaliah. Athaliah was the daughter of King Ahab of Israel and his wife Jezebel. Athaliah was just like her mother. Israel and Judah battled many years, but Jehoram and Ahab tried to bring peace by Jehoram marrying Ahab's daughter as many alliances were formed in monarchies.

Ahaziah becomes king 841/840 BC and his mother was a huge influence on him. She was Jezebel #2 and she influenced him to follow the god Baal like her mother did in Israel to the north. Ahaziah was not a good king. A year after reigning Ahaziah went to visit Joram King of Israel and things went down hill. There were problems brewing in Israel at that time. By God's instruction the prophet Elisha (Elijah's predecessor) sends a young, unnamed prophet to Ramoth Gilead to anoint a new king (Jehu) and bolt out. It was just that fast.

"the prophet poured the oil on Jehu's head and declared, "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'I anoint you king over the Lord's people Israel. You are to destroy the house of Ahab your master, and I will avenge the blood of my servants the prophets and the blood of all the Lord's servants shed by Jezebel. The whole house of Ahab will perish. I will cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel -- slave or free. I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam son of Nebat and like the house of Baasha son of Ahijah. As for Jezebel, dogs will devour her on the plot of ground at Jezreel, and no one will bury her.' Then he opened the door and ran!" 2 Kings 9:6-12

 Jezebel was notorious for having the prophets slaughtered. He didn't want to be next in line. However in the process of executing Joram, Ahaziah was also struck down by Jehu. God didn't tell Jehu to kill Ahaziah, but he did and literally all hell broke loose in Judah because their king was now dead too.

As soon as Athaliah heard about her son's death she had every one of Ahaziah's sons, her own grandchildren, put to death. She was taking over the throne. Ahaziah may not have been a good king, but he was a seed of David as were his sons. The impact of Ahaziah's sons being put to death was devastating to the people of Judah. They always believed and were promised that God would always have one of David's on the throne. Suddenly, it all seemed lost and God's promise seemed to be broken. They were crushed, shocked and totally bewildered.

But God is always faithful to a promise...

"But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Jehoash (aka Joash or Joas) son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes who were about to be murdered and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Because Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of the priest Jehoiada, was Ahaziah's sister, she hid the child from Athaliah so she could not kill him. He remained hidden with them at the temple of God for six years while Athaliah ruled the land." 2 Chromicles 22:11-12

This princess took one of Ahaziah's sons, a baby, and hid him in the temple for six years while his grandmother ruled. The temple in Jerusalem was right next to the palace. David left instructions for Solomon to build the temple that close to keep his sons close to God. Athaliah ruled Judah with one of her grandsons right next door and she didn't know it.

Why wouldn't she know it? She worshipped Baal like her mother not God. She never went near the temple let alone inside of it. Nevertheless, Jehoash was kept there and brought up under the priest Jehoiada who was Jehosheba's husband. Jehoiada was a righteous priest and served God. So while the little boy was there in the temple he raised Jehoash under his teaching and direction. Jehoash was fully trained in the Law, in scripture and in righteousness.

When Jehoash was six years Jehoiada was ready to crown him king (2 Chronicles 23) A six year old was vastly better than that woman that sat on throne. Inside the Temple a storm was brewing. Can you imagine the call going out across Judah that in fact all of David's seed had not been killed? There was one, a little boy that had been hidden away from everyone and they were ready to crown him king. Soldiers filled up that temple in a big hurry surrounding their new king to protect him. Jehoiada brought out all the weapons that were King David's kept in storerooms in the temple because not just any weapons were gonna do. They were making a statement by using those that belonged to David. The statement being "Jehoash was the rightful ruler...seed of David.

And they had their weapons in their hands. Not over their shoulder...not holstered or sheathed. They were in hand and ready to fight to the last man standing to put that kid on the throne. Surrounding the new king ...a mere little boy who was probably scared and confused, weapons in hand, ready for a war, all the soldiers, all the commanders, all the priests and all the Levites waited as Jehoiada put the crown on his little head and gave him a copy of the covenant to serve God only. Once he was crowned everyone began to shout at the top of their lungs "LONG LIVE THE KING!" 2 Chronicles 23:11


Athaliah heard the loud chanting coming from the temple coming as a complete surprise. She went running out of the palace and into the temple to face the coup and when she saw a surviving grandson now crowned king in her place she had a total meltdown. She tore her robes and screamed "Treason! Treason!"

That's an interesting reaction isn't it? The second she laid eyes on that kid she knew without a doubt that boy was one of her grandsons, a son of Ahaziah that should have been killed. She knew immediately on seeing Jehoash that he was a rightful heir...there was no mistake. I love how Jehoiada handles it. So fed up with Athaliah and her wickedness, so fed up with her idolatry and leading Judah into idolatry.....
 
"Jehoiada the priest sent out the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of the troops, and said to them: "Bring her out between the ranks and put to the sword anyone who follows her." For the priest had said, "Do not put her to death at the temple of the LORD." So they seized her as she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate on the palace grounds, and there they put her to death." 2 Chronicles 23:14-15

Not only was she to be put to death, but also anyone who followed her...or rather anyone who sided with her or showed any kind of allegiance. I can imagine any friends she had in the kingdom suddenly faded into the shadows. In essence he was saying "That's enough with this woman!" Following this they went about through Judah and tore down Baal's temples, shrines and anything else that was idolatrous. They made a covenant to serve God and be faithful to Him. Then taking commanders, rulers, priests, nobles and all the people with him, they marched the new king down to the palace and seated him on the throne "and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword." 2 Chronicles 23:21

What an amazing story! Jehoash truly was given by the Lord as his name means. God being faithful to His promise to David kept one boy alive and put him on the throne in Judah. The story doesn't exactly end here but it'll be worth getting into later. He's still faithful to this very day through Messiah the son of David (Matthew 1:1), Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5) who now is enthroned before God eternally and will one day return, subdue His kingdom (earth) under Him and take the throne in Jerusalem where He will rule for 1,000 years. God is so good!