2 Kings 11:15

But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(15) The captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host.—The centurions of the royal guard are called “the officers of the host” (comp. Numbers 31:14) to signify that it was they who gave effect to the high priest’s orders by communicating them to their troops.

Have her forth without the ranges.—Rather, Cause her to go out between the ranks—i.e., escort her out of the sacred precincts with a guard on both sides.

Him that followeth her—i.e., whoever shows any sympathy with her, or attempts to take her part. There might have been some of her partisans in the large gathering in the Temple court.

For the priest had said.—This is a parenthetic statement accounting for the order just given; and “had said” may mean “thought.”

Benson Commentary

2 Kings 11:15. Jehoiada commanded the officers of the host — Of those companies of Levites, who are elsewhere called the Lord’s host, and now were the king’s host. Have her forth without the ranges — Through which they had suffered her to come. If she will not go out of them of her own accord, force her out of them. And him that followeth her, kill with the sword — If any of the people that shall come hither on this occasion, shall stand up for her help, let them be slain. Let her not be slain in the house of the Lord — That is, in the court of the temple, lest it be polluted with her blood.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

11:13-16 Athaliah hastened her own destruction. She herself was the greatest traitor, and yet was first and loudest in crying, Treason, treason! The most guilty are commonly the most forward to reproach others.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Have her forth without the ranges - Rather, "Conduct her out between your ranks." Guard her, i. e., on all sides, that the people may not fall upon her and kill her as she passes through the court, thereby polluting the temple.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

15. without the ranges—that is, fences, that the sacred place might not be stained with human blood.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

The officers of the host; of these companies of Levites, who are elsewhere called the Lord’s host, and now were the king’s host.

Without the ranges; of which see above, 2 Kings 11:8. If she will not go out of them of her own accord, force her out of them.

Him that followeth her; if any of the people, come hither upon this occasion, shall stand up for her help.

In the house of the Lord, i.e. in the court of the temple, lest it bc polluted with her blood.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host,.... Of the priests and Levites:

and said unto them, have her forth without the ranges; the ranks of the guards, which were at the gate leading to the palace, or rather "within" them (g); the meaning is, that he ordered her to be had out of the court of the temple, and be put within their ranks, and enclosed by them, that her blood might not be shed in the temple, and yet not escape them:

and him that followeth her, kill with the sword: that takes her part, and offers to help and assist her, passing through the ranks after her, dispatch him at once:

for the priest had said, let her not be slain in the house of the Lord: that it might not be defiled with her blood; by which it appears that the guards had orders concerning her before, should she come to the temple, see 2 Kings 11:13.

(g) "intra ordines", Munster, Junius, Tremellius, Piscator, Noldius, p. 79. No. 365. So Jarchi, Kimchi, Ben Gersom, & Ben Melech.

Geneva Study Bible

But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that {o} followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD.

(o) To take her part.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

15. But [R.V. And] Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the [R.V. omits the] hundreds, the officers of the host] R.V. that were set over the host. The changes bring the version into close agreement with 2 Chron. By the ‘host’ is meant the combined body who had been gathered by Jehoiada, and put under the direction of the five captains.

Have her forth without the ranges] R.V. between the ranks. That the meaning is ‘within’ and not ‘without’ the ranks is manifest from Leviticus 16:15 where the same prepositional form is found and cannot be otherwise translated than ‘within’. The object of Jehoiada’s order is plain. He would keep Athaliah surrounded by his own guards, but get her removed beyond the precincts of the temple. This harmonizes with the order recorded at the end of this verse, that she should not be slain in the house of the Lord.

and him that followeth her kill [R.V. slay] with the sword] The verb is the same as in the next clause. The persons who might perhaps be expected lo follow her, when she was led away guarded from the temple, would be those of her own attendants, who had not been allowed to come between the lines of the guard, yet now might think it their duty to try and rescue their mistress.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 15. - But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains - literally, princes - of the hundreds, the officers of the host - the commanders, i.e., of the small "army" assembled in the temple court - and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges; rather, have her forth, or conduct her out between your ranks. The object was probably to preserve her from suffering violence at the hands of any of the people within the temple precincts, which Jehoiada desired to preserve free from pollution. And him that followeth her kill with the sword; i.e. if any come after her out of the temple, to attempt a rescue, slay them with the sword. The order, given aloud, was sufficient to deter persons from making the attempt. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the Lord. Jehoiada had previously given an order that her execution should take place outside the temple. 2 Kings 11:15

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Jehoiada then commanded the captains החיל פּקדי, those placed over the army, i.e., the armed men of the Levites, to lead out Athaliah between the ranks, and to slay every one who followed her, i.e., who took her part (המת, inf. abs. instead of imperative); for, as is added supplementarily in explanation of this command, the priest had (previously) said: "Let her not be slain in the house of Jehovah." The temple was not to be defiled with the blood of the usurper and murderess.