2 Kings 11 20

2 Kings 11:20 kjv

And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the sword beside the king's house.

2 Kings 11:20 nkjv

So all the people of the land rejoiced; and the city was quiet, for they had slain Athaliah with the sword in the king's house.

2 Kings 11:20 niv

All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the palace.

2 Kings 11:20 esv

So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been put to death with the sword at the king's house.

2 Kings 11:20 nlt

So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was peaceful because Athaliah had been killed at the king's palace.

2 Kings 11 verses

2 Kings 11 20 Meaning

2 Kings 11:20 portrays the immediate and profound societal impact of Athaliah's overthrow and Joash's ascension to the throne. It highlights the widespread jubilation of the populace and the subsequent restoration of peace and order in Jerusalem, directly linking these positive outcomes to the decisive execution of the tyrannical queen. The verse signifies the triumph of legitimate Davidic kingship and the return to stability under God's guidance.

2 Kings 11 20 Context

2 Kings 11:20 concludes the dramatic narrative of the coup against Athaliah. The verse immediately follows Joash's formal coronation and anointing, his public display, and the subsequent renewal of the covenant between the Lord, the new king, and the people, along with the destruction of Baal worship in Jerusalem (2 Kgs 11:12, 17-18). Having ruled Judah as a tyrannical usurper for six years, after attempting to exterminate the royal Davidic line (2 Kgs 11:1-3), Athaliah represented a severe threat to the very existence of the Davidic dynasty and true Yahweh worship. The priest Jehoiada orchestrated a meticulous plan to secure Joash's claim and restore divine order. This verse marks the successful culmination of that plan: Athaliah is removed, the rightful king is enthroned, and peace returns, solidifying the re-establishment of the legitimate Davidic monarchy and the nation's spiritual well-being.

2 Kings 11 20 Word analysis

• "So": This conjunctive particle signifies the immediate consequence or outcome of the preceding events, particularly the enthronement of Joash and the execution of Athaliah. It acts as a transitional element emphasizing a cause-and-effect relationship.

• "all the people of the land" (Heb. כָּל־עַם הָאָרֶץ, kol-ʿam hāʾāreṣ):

  • Meaning: This term refers to the common free citizenry or populace, distinguishing them from specific officials or the aristocracy. In Judah, the "people of the land" often signified the loyal and conservative Yahwistic element of society who held significant influence, especially regarding matters of royal legitimacy and national covenant.
  • Significance: Their collective and widespread rejoicing provides crucial legitimacy to the newly established rule of Joash, demonstrating broad public support and consent. It underscores that the shift in power was not merely a palace intrigue but a popularly embraced restoration.

• "rejoiced" (Heb. וַיִּשְׂמְח֥וּ, wayyiśməḥū):

  • Meaning: Derived from the root śāmaḥ, meaning to be glad, joyful, or to exult.
  • Significance: This indicates a profound emotional response of relief, deliverance, and celebration, highlighting the depth of their suffering under Athaliah and their profound gratitude for liberation. It points to the celebratory nature of divine judgment and restoration of proper order.

• "and the city" (Heb. וְהָעִ֖יר, vəhāʿîr):

  • Meaning: Refers specifically to Jerusalem, the capital, seat of the king, and location of the Temple.
  • Significance: Pinpoints the geographic center of the change, showing that peace was restored at the heart of the kingdom.

• "was quiet" (Heb. וְשָׁקָ֑טָה, vəšāqāṭāh):

  • Meaning: From the verb šāqaṭ, signifying to be tranquil, at rest, still, or to cease from commotion and turmoil. It conveys a sense of peaceful stability and security.
  • Significance: This emphasizes the immediate end to the chaos, insecurity, and political instability that characterized Athaliah's reign. It symbolizes the divine blessing of shalom (peace, wholeness) descending upon Jerusalem as righteousness was re-established.

• "They put Athaliah to death" (Heb. וְאֶת־עֲתַלְיָה֙ הֵמִ֣יתוּ, wəʾet-ʿatalyāh hēmîtū):

  • Meaning: This clause confirms the decisive action taken against Athaliah as commanded by Jehoiada (2 Kgs 11:15).
  • Significance: It explicitly states the cause of the popular rejoicing and the city's peace—the elimination of the tyrannical and idolatrous queen. Her death was an act of righteous judgment, essential for purging the kingdom of Omride wickedness and restoring divine favor. It confirms the finality of her usurpation.
  • Polemics: As the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, Athaliah represented the deeply entrenched Baal worship of the Northern Kingdom, which she brought to Judah. Her execution served as a strong polemic against idolatry and an affirmation of Yahweh's sole sovereignty.

• "with the sword" (Heb. בַּחֶ֙רֶב֙, baḥerev):

  • Meaning: The specific instrument of her execution.
  • Significance: Signifies a decisive and lethal judgment, characteristic for usurpers and those facing severe royal or divine punishment.

• "at the king's house" (Heb. בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ, bêṯ hammɛleḵ):

  • Meaning: Near the royal palace complex, specifically indicated in 2 Kgs 11:16 as "at the entrance of the Horses' Gate to the king's house."
  • Significance: While prevented from desecrating the sacred Temple courts with her blood (2 Kgs 11:15), her death "at the king's house" (the seat of power) dramatically underscores the complete removal of her corrupting influence from the very heart of the royal authority she had usurped. It signifies a purging of wickedness from the Davidic throne itself.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet": This phrase eloquently juxtaposes popular sentiment with civil tranquility. It shows that the positive emotional response of the citizens was paralleled by a tangible cessation of turmoil and instability within the capital, indicating a holistic restoration of order. The people's joy confirms the righteousness of the coup, while the city's quietness reflects divine favor and renewed governance.
  • "They put Athaliah to death with the sword at the king's house": This serves as the direct explanation for the joy and quietness. The physical act of removing the usurper and symbol of evil through judicial execution—and its specific location away from the temple yet within the domain of the legitimate king—signified the complete purification of the royal institution and the land from her wicked reign.

2 Kings 11 20 Bonus section

• Restoration of the Davidic Lamp: Athaliah's attempt to annihilate the Davidic line (2 Kgs 11:1) was a direct assault on God's promise to David (2 Sam 7:12-16). The rescue of Joash and his subsequent enthronement, celebrated in this verse, reaffirms God's unfailing commitment to maintain a "lamp" for David in Jerusalem, ensuring the continuity of the covenant lineage. This preservation, culminating in Jesus Christ, highlights God's sovereignty over human evil.
• Symbolic Purification: The meticulous steps taken, from Jehoiada's precise planning to ensuring Athaliah was executed outside the sacred Temple area, followed by her death at the "king's house," underscore a theological purging. It symbolizes the cleansing of both the spiritual (Temple) and governmental (Palace) centers from her pagan pollution, allowing for a renewed era of national and spiritual purity under a Yahweh-covenant-abiding king.

2 Kings 11 20 Commentary

2 Kings 11:20 presents the culmination of a pivotal event in Judah's history, highlighting God's faithfulness to the Davidic covenant and the establishment of righteous order. The verse paints a picture of societal liberation: the universal "rejoicing" of the people reflects their profound relief from Athaliah's oppressive and idolatrous rule, contrasting with the previous period of fear and turmoil. This widespread popular approval not only validates the new monarch's legitimacy but also underscores the return of God's favor to His covenant people. The immediate "quietness" that descends upon Jerusalem is more than just the absence of commotion; it is the spiritual "rest" and peace (Hebrew šāqaṭ) granted when a nation turns back to God and His chosen king. Athaliah's execution, the reason for this dramatic shift, was not mere political revenge but a divinely ordained act of judgment, ensuring the survival of the promised Davidic lineage and purging the heart of the kingdom from a corrupting Baalistic influence. Thus, the verse signifies the triumphant restoration of stability, security, and the true worship of Yahweh in Judah.