2 Chronicles 22 11

2 Chronicles 22:11 kjv

But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.

2 Chronicles 22:11 nkjv

But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king's sons who were being murdered, and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah so that she did not kill him.

2 Chronicles 22:11 niv

But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Joash 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.

2 Chronicles 22:11 esv

But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king's sons who were about to be put to death, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of Jehoiada the priest, because she was a sister of Ahaziah, hid him from Athaliah, so that she did not put him to death.

2 Chronicles 22:11 nlt

But Ahaziah's sister Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, took Ahaziah's infant son, Joash, and stole him away from among the rest of the king's children, who were about to be killed. She put Joash and his nurse in a bedroom. In this way, Jehosheba, wife of Jehoiada the priest and sister of Ahaziah, hid the child so that Athaliah could not murder him.

2 Chronicles 22 verses

2 Chronicles 22 11 Meaning

2 Chronicles 22:11 details a crucial act of divine preservation. In a period of profound national apostasy and extreme peril to the royal lineage of Judah, Jehoshabeath, the king's daughter, intervened to save Joash, the sole surviving infant heir. Amidst Athaliah's massacre of the Davidic royal family, Jehoshabeath courageously "stole" (rescued) Joash, hiding him with his nurse in the palace's inner chamber. Her actions, alongside her husband Jehoiada the priest, ensured the continuation of the Davidic dynasty, fulfilling God's covenant promises and safeguarding the lineage through which the Messiah would eventually come. It represents a divine act of faithfulness against human wickedness and rebellion.

2 Chronicles 22 11 Context

2 Chronicles 22:11 stands at a critical juncture in the history of Judah. King Ahaziah, Joash's father, had just been killed, continuing the tragic cycle of wicked reigns stemming from the alliance between Jehoram of Judah and Ahab of Israel. Athaliah, Ahaziah's mother and daughter of the infamous Jezebel, seized this moment of vacuum to eliminate all remaining male heirs to the Davidic throne (2 Chr 22:10). This ruthless act aimed to secure her own power and was deeply antithetical to God's covenant with David, promising an enduring dynasty. In this darkest hour, with the Davidic line on the brink of extinction, Jehoshabeath's heroic intervention saved the one-year-old Joash. The narrative in Chronicles highlights her righteous action and, importantly, her familial connection to the legitimate Davidic line (as daughter of King Jehoram) and to the priestly office (as wife of Jehoiada), emphasizing the providential collaboration of righteous royalty and priesthood to preserve God's purposes amidst extreme depravity and idolatry that characterized Athaliah's short reign. This act directly challenges Athaliah's illegitimate rule, portraying it as a satanic assault on God's chosen lineage.

2 Chronicles 22 11 Word analysis

• But (וַתִּקַּח – waṯiqqakh - implies initiative/contrast): Signifies a sharp turn from the horrific actions of Athaliah described in the previous verse, marking a divine counter-action.
• Jehoshabeath (יְהוֹשַׁבְעַת – Yəhôšabʿaṯ): Meaning "Yahweh is an oath" or "Yahweh has sworn." Her name, a Hebrew theophoric name, powerfully connects to God's faithfulness and covenant promises to David, highlighting the divine involvement in this rescue. She is identified as the half-sister of King Ahaziah (from their father Jehoram) and later crucially as the "wife of Jehoiada the priest," linking the royal and priestly lines in a singular act of preservation.
• the daughter of the king (בַּת־הַמֶּלֶךְ – baṯ-hammeleḵ): Her royal status is vital for access to the palace and her unique understanding of court dynamics. It identifies her as part of the lineage Athaliah sought to eradicate, making her defiance particularly courageous.
• took (וַתִּקַּח – waṯiqqakh): Denotes decisive, purposeful action. Not a casual taking, but an act of rescue.
• Joash (יוֹאָשׁ – Yôʾāš): Meaning "Yahweh has given" or "Yahweh has supported/is strong." Another name reflecting divine providence for this future king who was supernaturally preserved.
• the son of Ahaziah (בֶּן־אֲחַזְיָהוּ – ben-ʾĂḥazyāhû): Explicitly states his direct lineage to the recently deceased king and thereby to the Davidic throne.
• and stole him away (וַתִּגְנֹב – waṯiḡnōḇ): From a root meaning "to snatch away" or "to hide surreptitiously." This emphasizes the covert and risky nature of the rescue, performed with great secrecy due to the life-threatening danger. It's not a theft in the moral sense but a daring snatching for survival.
• from among the king’s sons who were being put to death (מִתּוֹךְ בְּנֵי־הַמֶּלֶךְ הַמּוּמָתִים – mittôḵ bəné-hammeleḵ hammûmāṯîm): This vivid phrase paints a grim picture of the massacre, emphasizing the sheer scope of Athaliah's purge and the very narrow escape for Joash, signifying his proximity to death. "Being put to death" is a passive participle, conveying the ongoing nature of the gruesome act.
• and she put him and his nurse in the inner chamber (וַתִּתֵּן אֹתוֹ וְאֶת־יֹנַקְתּוֹ בַּחֲדַר הַמִּטּוֹת – waṯiṯtên ʾōṯô wəʾeṯ-yōnaqtô baḥăḏar hammiṭṭôṯ): "Inner chamber" (בַּחֲדַר הַמִּטּוֹת - bachadar hammittot, literally "room of beds" or "bedroom") implies a secure, private room within the palace, likely known to Jehoshabeath. The presence of the "nurse" (yôneqeṯ) indicates his infancy and dependence, making her care indispensable for his survival and highlighting the practicalities of hiding a baby for six years.
• Thus Jehoshabeath... had hidden him from Athaliah (וַתַּחְבֵּא אֹתוֹ – waṯaḥbēʾ ʾōṯô): This confirms the purpose of the rescue – to keep him concealed. "Hidden" (חבא - ḥbʾ) suggests active concealment over time, leading into the six years of hiding described in the next verse.
• the daughter of King Jehoram, wife of Jehoiada the priest: This further clarification of Jehoshabeath’s identity is significant for Chronicles. Her connection to King Jehoram ensures her access and knowledge of the palace; her marriage to Jehoiada, the high priest, is critical because it explains where Joash would be safely hidden—in the temple—for the next six years, under the protection of the very sanctuary of God, ensuring both physical safety and spiritual oversight for the future king.
• so that she did not put him to death (וְלֹא הֵמִיתֻהוּ – wəlōʾ hēmîṯúhû): The successful outcome. Despite Athaliah's deadly intent and efforts, God's plan for the Davidic line prevailed through this righteous act of protection. This highlights the boundary of Athaliah's evil in the face of divine purpose.

2 Chronicles 22 11 Bonus section

The chronicler's detailed identification of Jehoshabeath as the "wife of Jehoiada the priest" (not always found in parallel accounts like 2 Kings 11) is significant. It subtly but strongly underscores the special relationship between the throne and the altar, the royalty and the priesthood, that was crucial for God's plan for Israel. This connection meant Joash would be hidden and raised not just in a palace chamber, but specifically within the Temple precincts (as 2 Chr 22:12 confirms), nurtured under righteous spiritual guidance. This dual lineage (royal and priestly association) provided unique protection and prophetic oversight, preparing Joash for his eventual role in restoring proper worship and kingship. The six years of hiding (2 Chr 22:12) signify a long-term, miraculous protection and an intentional nurturing of the last surviving Davidic heir under godly influence, counteracting the previous generation's exposure to paganism under Athaliah.

2 Chronicles 22 11 Commentary

2 Chronicles 22:11 serves as a profound testimony to divine providence and human courage. In a moment of existential crisis for the Davidic dynasty—and by extension, the messianic lineage—Jehoshabeath steps forward. Her daring rescue of the infant Joash, snatched from the midst of a royal purge, is not merely an act of family loyalty but a pivotal point demonstrating God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant with David. Despite the utter wickedness of Athaliah and the apparent obliteration of the royal line, God had a "remnant"—one precious heir—through whom His promises would be sustained. The fact that Jehoshabeath was married to Jehoiada, the high priest, further underscores the sacred nature of this preservation, implying divine orchestration and placing Joash under the direct protection of the sanctuary, a holy place beyond Athaliah's grasp. This verse illuminates how God often uses ordinary individuals in extraordinary ways to accomplish His sovereign will, preserving His people and promises even when circumstances seem most bleak and His covenant seems lost. It offers a powerful reminder that God's plan cannot be thwarted by human evil.