2 Kings 12 1

2 Kings 12:1 kjv

In the seventh year of Jehu Jehoash began to reign; and forty years reigned he in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba.

2 Kings 12:1 nkjv

In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba.

2 Kings 12:1 niv

In the seventh year of Jehu, Joash became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother's name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba.

2 Kings 12:1 esv

In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash began to reign, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba.

2 Kings 12:1 nlt

Joash began to rule over Judah in the seventh year of King Jehu's reign in Israel. He reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother was Zibiah from Beersheba.

2 Kings 12 verses

2 Kings 12 1 Meaning

This verse introduces the beginning of King Jehoash's (Joash's) reign over the Southern Kingdom of Judah. It chronologically dates his ascension by synchronizing it with the seventh year of King Jehu's rule in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. It states that Jehoash reigned for forty years in Jerusalem, the capital, and identifies his mother as Zibiah, who was from Beersheba. This statement sets the historical stage for his lengthy tenure and re-establishes the legitimate Davidic line on the throne after a period of usurpation.

2 Kings 12 1 Context

2 Kings 12:1 introduces the reign of King Jehoash (Joash) of Judah. This verse directly follows the dramatic account in 2 Kings 11, where Joash, the only surviving male heir of the Davidic line, was hidden for six years from his grandmother Athaliah, who had seized the throne after a bloody massacre of the royal family. Under the courageous care and spiritual guidance of Jehoiada the high priest, Joash was eventually proclaimed king in a powerful coup that saw Athaliah overthrown and executed. Thus, this opening verse signals the re-establishment of the legitimate Davidic lineage on the throne of Judah after a period of idolatry and usurpation. It marks a moment of divine faithfulness in preserving the covenant line and sets the stage for a period of rebuilding and initial righteousness in Judah.

2 Kings 12 1 Word analysis

• In the seventh year:

  • Hebrew: בִּשְׁנַת הַשֶּׁבַע (bišənat haššeḇa‘)
  • Significance: This precise chronological marker provides synchronism with the reign of King Jehu of Israel, a standard practice in the Books of Kings. It signifies Jehoash's immediate accession following the coup against Athaliah in her own seventh year of usurpation (2 Kgs 11:3), emphasizing God's prompt intervention to restore the Davidic kingdom.

• of Jehu:

  • Hebrew: יֵהוּא (Yēhû’)
  • Significance: Refers to the Northern Kingdom's zealous king, renowned for his divinely appointed role in eradicating Baal worship. By referencing Jehu, the narrative anchors Judah's timeline within the broader history of the divided monarchy.

• Jehoash:

  • Hebrew: יְהוֹאָשׁ (Yehō'āš)
  • Meaning: "The LORD has given," or "The LORD has seized."
  • Significance: Also known as Joash. His name inherently speaks to his miraculous survival, being "given" back to the people from the clutches of death, or "seized" from the destruction intended by Athaliah. He represents the divinely preserved link in the Davidic covenant line.

• began to reign:

  • Hebrew: מָלַךְ (mālakh – "he reigned")
  • Significance: This marks the formal commencement of his kingship. It is a declarative statement that confirms his legitimate enthronement and the resumption of proper rule under the Davidic covenant, following Athaliah's illegitimate and ungodly usurpation.

• and he reigned forty years:

  • Hebrew: וְאַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה מָלָךְ (wə’arəba‘îm shānāh mālakh – "and forty years he reigned")
  • Significance: "Forty" often denotes a significant or complete period in biblical narratives. Here, it indicates a substantial and remarkably stable reign, suggesting a divinely sustained period of peace for Judah after the chaos of Athaliah’s rule, largely attributed to Jehoiada's influence during his formative years.

• in Jerusalem:

  • Hebrew: בִּירוּשָׁלַ‍ִם (bîrûshālaim)
  • Significance: Jerusalem was the designated capital of Judah, the city of David, and the chosen site for the Temple, God's dwelling place among His people. Jehoash reigning "in Jerusalem" signifies the proper re-establishment of the legitimate monarchy rooted in the covenant city.

• His mother's name was Zibiah:

  • Hebrew: וְשֵׁם אִמּוֹ צִבְיָה (wəshēm ’immō Tsiḇyāh)
  • Meaning of Zibiah: "Gazelle."
  • Significance: The inclusion of the mother's name was a standard component of the regnal formula for kings of Judah. It provided a clear marker of legitimacy and lineage within the royal family, differentiating it from the less formal regnal records of the Northern Kingdom.

• of Beersheba:

  • Hebrew: מִבְּאֵר שָׁבַע (miBə’er Sheva‘)
  • Meaning of Beersheba: "Well of the Oath" or "Well of Seven."
  • Significance: Beersheba was a prominent city located at the southern extreme of Judah. Mentioning Zibiah's origin ties Jehoash directly to the geographical and demographic heartland of Judah, reinforcing his native Israelite heritage and grounding his legitimacy.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash began to reign": This opening declaration firmly roots Jehoash's ascension in a precise historical context, linking the political timeline of Judah to that of the contemporary northern kingdom under Jehu. It highlights the providential timing of God's action in restoring the legitimate Davidic monarchy after the devastating usurpation by Athaliah, marking a new, legitimate era for Judah.
  • "and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem": This phrase succinctly encapsulates the duration and geographical focus of Jehoash’s rule. The forty-year period implies a significant span of stability and re-establishment for the Davidic dynasty. Ruling "in Jerusalem" underscores the theological significance of his reign, anchoring it in the chosen city of God and the heart of Judah's spiritual and political life, directly affirming the restoration of divine order.
  • "His mother's name was Zibiah of Beersheba": This standard, yet crucial, element of the Judahite royal formula verifies Jehoash's legitimate lineage. While seemingly a minor detail, in Jehoash's extraordinary story of survival, this specific identification served to fully legitimize him as the true heir, linking his personal identity directly to the recognized structures of the Davidic dynasty and to a foundational southern city of Judah.

2 Kings 12 1 Bonus section

The "regnal formula" used in 2 Kings 12:1 is a hallmark of the historical record for Judahite kings. It typically includes the king's age at accession (seven years old, mentioned in 2 Kgs 11:21 and 2 Chr 24:1, but not directly in this specific verse), the length of reign, the capital city (Jerusalem), and the mother's name. This detail for Judahite kings, often omitted for Israelite kings, suggests a greater emphasis on dynastic continuity and legitimacy linked to a clear, established lineage, critical for the Davidic covenant. This formula emphasizes that Jehoash was a fully recognized and properly installed king of the line of David, not just a survivor of a massacre. His unique circumstances—rescued as an infant and enthroned by the high priest—make these legitimizing details particularly significant in validating his rule and demonstrating God's unwavering commitment to His covenant.

2 Kings 12 1 Commentary

2 Kings 12:1 marks the foundational verse for King Jehoash’s reign, immediately establishing its chronological place after the critical events of Athaliah’s overthrow and Jehoash’s miraculous rescue described in chapter 11. More than a simple historical entry, it serves as a profound statement of God’s covenant faithfulness to the Davidic line. Jehoash's ascension, timed precisely with Jehu's seventh year, highlights divine providence in preserving the royal seed necessary for the coming Messiah. His substantial forty-year reign, centered in Jerusalem, signifies a divinely granted period of initial stability and reconstruction for Judah, under the initial guidance of Jehoiada, before a tragic turn later in his life. The meticulous detailing of his mother's identity further legitimizes him as the true and chosen successor, underscoring the miraculous continuity of the kingship despite existential threats.