Why was Joash hidden in the temple for six years according to 2 Kings 11:2? Canonical Text (2 Kings 11:2) “But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes who were about to be put to death. She hid him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah, and he was not killed.” Historical Background: The House of David in Jeopardy After Jehoram’s death, his son Ahaziah reigned briefly in Judah (2 Kings 8:25 – 9:29). When Ahaziah was assassinated by Jehu, his mother Athaliah—a Baal-devoted princess of the Omride dynasty in Israel—seized Judah’s throne (2 Kings 11:1). In a calculated purge, she “destroyed all the royal heirs” (v. 1), aiming to obliterate the Davidic line and replace Yahweh’s covenant dynasty with Baal-sympathetic rule. Her coup placed the messianic promise of 2 Samuel 7:12-16 in mortal danger. Jehosheba and Jehoiada: Guardians of the Davidic Covenant Jehosheba, half-sister of Ahaziah and married to High Priest Jehoiada (2 Chron 22:11), rescued the infant prince Joash. Their marriage forged an alliance between the royal and priestly lines, enabling covert protection inside the temple precincts—territory under Jehoiada’s control. Their action preserved a single surviving heir, safeguarding God’s oath to David. The Temple as Sanctuary and Strategic Stronghold 1. Spiritual sanctuary: Mosaic law recognized the tabernacle (and later the temple) as a place of refuge (cf. Exodus 21:13; 1 Kings 1:50-53). Housing Joash in the temple echoed this established custom. 2. Restricted access: Athaliah, a Baal worshiper, had limited legitimacy and fewer loyal priests within the Jerusalem temple. Jehoiada could monitor entryways, minimizing discovery. 3. Symbolic statement: Hiding the rightful king in Yahweh’s house visibly tied the fate of the monarchy to the worship of Yahweh rather than Baal, underscoring covenant fidelity. Six Years of Concealment: Practical and Theological Reasons • Joash needed to reach the age of seven (2 Kings 11:21) to be publicly presented and receive covenantal instruction (Deuteronomy 6:7; Proverbs 22:6). • Jehoiada required time to build a network among Levites, commanders, and tribal chiefs (2 Chron 23:1-7) to mount a successful, blood-minimal coup. • “Six years” evokes the sabbatical pattern (Exodus 23:10-11); the seventh year signified liberation and restoration—fitting for Joash’s enthronement and Judah’s renewal. Messianic Implications and Preservation of the Seed The hiding of Joash foreshadowed later satanic attempts to annihilate the messianic line: Haman’s decree (Esther 3), Herod’s massacre (Matthew 2:16-18). Each time, divine providence intervened. Joash’s survival maintained the genealogical line that culminated in Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:6-16), validating the continuity of God’s redemptive plan. Archaeological and Manuscript Corroboration • The Tel Dan Stele (9th c. BC) references a “House of David,” supporting the historical reality of a Davidic dynasty contemporaneous with Athaliah’s era. • The Ketef Hinnom silver scrolls (~7th c. BC) preserve the priestly blessing (Numbers 6:24-26), confirming a functioning priesthood in Jerusalem preceding the exile, consonant with Jehoiada’s temple leadership. • Masoretic, Dead Sea Scroll, and Septuagint witnesses agree on the core details of 2 Kings 11, demonstrating textual stability: Athaliah’s purge, Jehosheba’s rescue, six-year concealment, and Joash’s crowning. Theological Takeaways for Today 1. God’s sovereignty operates through ordinary yet courageous believers (Jehosheba, Jehoiada). 2. Covenant promises are inviolable; opposition—political, spiritual, or cultural—cannot thwart divine intent. 3. Spiritual leadership (priest and king) must unite around God’s Word; the temple’s sanctity protected the Davidic hope then, as Christ—the true Temple—secures salvation now (John 2:19-22). Answer to the Question Joash was hidden in the temple for six years to protect the last surviving Davidic heir from Athaliah’s genocide, to fulfill God’s covenant with David, and to allow Jehoiada time to marshal loyal forces. The temple provided both sacred sanctuary and strategic security, ensuring that at the divinely appropriate seventh year the true king could emerge, preserve the messianic line, and demonstrate Yahweh’s faithfulness to His Word. |
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