2 Kings 11 2

2 Kings 11:2 kjv

But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain.

2 Kings 11:2 nkjv

But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king's sons who were being murdered; and they hid him and his nurse in the bedroom, from Athaliah, so that he was not killed.

2 Kings 11:2 niv

But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed.

2 Kings 11:2 esv

But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king's sons who were being put to death, and she put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not put to death.

2 Kings 11:2 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, and they hid him from Athaliah, so the child was not murdered.

2 Kings 11 verses

2 Kings 11 2 Meaning

Second Kings chapter 11, verse 2 describes the swift, clandestine action taken by Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram and sister of the recently deceased King Ahaziah. Amidst the slaughter initiated by the ruthless Queen Athaliah, who sought to exterminate the entire royal lineage to consolidate her power, Jehosheba rescued Joash, her nephew and Ahaziah's son. She took Joash and his nurse, placing them in a secure bedroom, thereby hiding him from Athaliah's murderous intent and preventing his death. This pivotal act preserved the legitimate heir to the throne, ensuring the continuity of the Davidic line.

2 Kings 11 2 Context

2 Kings chapter 11 opens with a scene of utter chaos and violence. After the deaths of King Ahaziah of Judah (2 Kgs 9:27) and his mother Athaliah's mother, Jezebel, and brother, King Jehoram of Israel (2 Kgs 9:33-36, 10:1-11), Athaliah, Ahaziah's mother, a daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, seized control of Judah's throne. Driven by the lust for power and likely aiming to prevent any opposition or avenge her family, she began a purge, attempting to eradicate all male heirs to the Davidic throne. This act represented the most direct and severe threat to the fulfillment of God's covenant with David concerning an enduring dynasty (2 Sam 7). Verse 2 highlights the lone act of defiance and desperate bravery that preserved a remnant, specifically the future King Joash, from this brutal massacre, demonstrating God's providence overriding human wickedness.

2 Kings 11 2 Word analysis

• But: This conjunction signals a strong contrast to Athaliah's destructive actions mentioned in the preceding verse. It highlights the divine counter-action and the hope amidst despair.
• Jehosheba (יְהוֹשֶׁבַע - Yehosheva): Her name means "Yahweh is an oath" or "Yahweh has sworn," echoing the very covenant of God with David that was under threat. She is later identified in 2 Chron 22:11 as the wife of Jehoiada, the high priest. This connection to the priestly line makes her action doubly significant, combining royal blood with divine service.
• the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah: This establishes her lineage, tying her directly to the Davidic royal family, providing context for her privileged access and intimate knowledge of the situation. Joram was a wicked king, yet from his lineage, God preserves His chosen heir.
• took (וַתִּקַּח - wattikkaḥ): Implies an active, decisive, and deliberate action on her part.
• Joash (יוֹאָשׁ - Yo'ash): His name means "Yahweh has given" or "Yahweh is strong," prophetic of his miraculous survival due to God's hand.
• the son of Ahaziah: Identifying him as the rightful heir and the direct object of Athaliah's extermination efforts.
• and stole him (וַתִּגְנֹב אֹתוֹ - wattignov ’oto): This Hebrew term signifies taking something secretly or by stealth. In this context, it describes an illicit but morally righteous act, an act of salvation executed through secretive means against a tyrannical ruler. It was not a conventional act, emphasizing the urgency and danger.
• from among the king's sons who were being murdered: This vivid phrase underscores the brutal reality of the massacre, indicating a systematic extermination of all potential threats to Athaliah's usurpation, leaving Joash as potentially the sole surviving royal male child.
• and put him and his nurse in the bedroom: The nurse was vital for the survival and care of the infant. The "bedroom" (חֶדֶר הַמִּטּוֹת - cheder hammittôt, "chamber of the beds") denotes a private, inner chamber within the palace, likely more secure and less frequently searched, serving as a safe refuge.
• So they hid him from Athaliah: The collective "they" likely refers to Jehosheba and the nurse, possibly with the complicity of other palace staff or Jehoiada the priest, indicating a conspiracy of protection. Athaliah is presented as the primary antagonistic force.
• and he was not put to death: This simple phrase concludes the verse with the triumphant outcome, highlighting the successful prevention of his murder. It underscores the miracle of divine preservation in the face of absolute malice.

Words-group analysis:

• "But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah": Establishes her identity and crucial lineage, highlighting her unique position to intervene, driven by family ties and likely a deeper commitment to the Davidic covenant.
• "took Joash... and stole him from among the king's sons who were being murdered": Conveys the desperate, courageous, and immediate action taken to snatch a child from imminent death amidst a mass slaughter, an act of "righteous theft" to subvert an evil plot.
• "put him and his nurse in the bedroom. So they hid him from Athaliah": Demonstrates the foresight and sustained care required for the concealment, involving strategic planning and covert operation, emphasizing the active effort to preserve him from the very specific and dangerous threat of Athaliah.
• "and he was not put to death": A concise yet powerful statement of triumph over evil, indicating the success of the rescue and, more profoundly, the preservation of the Davidic line as an act of divine providence.

2 Kings 11 2 Bonus section

The rescue of Joash is a crucial link in the unbroken chain of the Davidic dynasty, without which the Messianic prophecies concerning a Son of David (Isa 9:6-7, Jer 23:5) could not be fulfilled. This event strikingly parallels the earlier preservation of Moses from infanticide by Pharaoh in Exodus 1-2 and prefigures Herod's attempt to murder the infant Jesus (Matt 2:16-18), showing a recurring satanic attack on the promised lineage and God's consistent intervention to protect it. The alliance between the Davidic royal line and the Levitical priesthood through Jehosheba's marriage to Jehoiada (mentioned more clearly in 2 Chron 22:11) forms a powerful union that safeguards the throne. This not only provided the sanctuary (the Temple) as a hiding place but also priestly authority for the eventual restoration of the monarchy seven years later. The phrase "king's sons" might imply a broad sweep beyond Joash's immediate brothers, perhaps distant cousins or other male members of the royal house, highlighting the thoroughness of Athaliah's attempt at total eradication.

2 Kings 11 2 Commentary

2 Kings 11:2 serves as a pivotal narrative of divine preservation amidst human depravity. Athaliah's purge was an unparalleled existential threat to the Davidic dynasty, which was central to God's covenant promises and the ultimate lineage of the Messiah. Jehosheba's swift and audacious act was not merely a random humane gesture but an instrumental act in God's plan. Her relationship as Ahaziah's sister gave her both access and a motive of familial protection, while her likely marriage to Jehoiada the high priest provided theological impetus and priestly support for safeguarding the sacred lineage. The use of "stole him" (which typically implies wrongful taking) here transforms into an act of righteous defiance, illustrating that sometimes, for God's purposes, conventional laws may be overridden by a higher moral imperative—the preservation of life and fulfillment of divine promise. The verse emphasizes that God, in His sovereign will, orchestrates circumstances and uses courageous individuals, even in the darkest times, to preserve His redemptive plan and uphold His covenant with His people, ensuring the unbroken line from which the Anointed One would eventually come. It speaks to God's providence, guarding the "stump of Jesse" even when it appeared to be cut off.