2 Kings 11:14
And she looked out and saw the king standing by the pillar, according to the custom. The officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, "Treason! Treason!"
And she looked out and saw the king standing by the pillar, according to the custom.

Jehoash stood in the recognized royal place within the temple precincts, publicly identified as the rightful heir of David. At only seven years old, he had been preserved by God through the faithful courage of Jehosheba and the protection of Jehoiada the priest. The temple setting joined kingship to covenant responsibility before the Lord.

2Ki 23:3 So the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant…
2Ch 34:31 So the king stood by the pillar and made a covenant…

The officers and trumpeters were beside the king,

The military commanders guarded the young king, while the trumpeters announced his coronation to the gathered people. Their presence showed that Jehoash’s accession was neither secret nor merely priestly action; the nation’s leaders formally recognized him.

2Ch 23:13 And she looked and saw the king standing by his pillar…
2Ki 9:13 Quickly, each man took his garment and put it under Jehu…

and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets.

The celebration marked the restoration of David’s line after Athaliah’s violent six-year usurpation. The people rejoiced because God had preserved His covenant promise that David would not lack a descendant to reign. The sound of trumpets proclaimed deliverance and the public triumph of God’s purposes over human rebellion.

1Ki 1:39 Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tabernacle.…
1Ki 1:40 All the people followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing……

Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason! Treason!”

Athaliah treated the restoration of the rightful king as betrayal, though she had seized the throne by murdering the royal heirs. Her grief exposed the collapse of her unlawful rule. God’s preservation of Jehoash demonstrated that no human scheme can finally overthrow His covenant or silence the line through which the promised Messiah would come.

2Ki 9:23 Joram turned around and fled, calling out to Ahaziah,…
2Ki 19:1 On hearing this report, King Hezekiah tore his clothes…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Athaliah
The mother of Ahaziah, who seized the throne of Judah and ruled as queen after her son's death. She is known for her ruthless attempt to eliminate the royal line of David.

2. Joash (Jehoash)
The young king of Judah, hidden from Athaliah's massacre and later revealed and crowned as king in this passage.

3. The Temple of the LORD
The location where Joash was crowned king, symbolizing the restoration of rightful worship and leadership in Judah.

4. The Pillar
A significant place in the temple where kings stood during their coronation, representing authority and legitimacy.

5. The Officers and Trumpeters
Loyal supporters of the Davidic line who played a role in the coronation of Joash, signifying the restoration of rightful rule.
Teaching Points
God's Sovereignty in Leadership
Despite human attempts to thwart God's plans, His purposes prevail. Joash's survival and coronation demonstrate God's control over leadership and history.

The Importance of Righteous Leadership
The restoration of the Davidic line through Joash highlights the need for leaders who uphold God's covenant and lead people in righteousness.

The Role of Community in Upholding Truth
The officers and trumpeters, along with the people, played a crucial role in supporting the rightful king. This underscores the importance of community in standing for truth and justice.

The Consequences of Usurping Authority
Athaliah's cry of "Treason!" and her subsequent downfall serve as a warning against the dangers of seizing power illegitimately and opposing God's will.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the account of Joash's coronation illustrate God's faithfulness to His promises, particularly regarding the Davidic covenant?

2. In what ways can we, as a community of believers, support and uphold righteous leadership in our churches and society?

3. Reflect on a time when you witnessed or experienced God's sovereignty in a situation that seemed hopeless. How did it strengthen your faith?

4. What lessons can we learn from Athaliah's downfall about the dangers of pride and self-exaltation?

5. How can we apply the principles of rightful authority and community support in our personal and professional lives today?
Connections to Other Scriptures
2 Chronicles 23
This chapter provides a parallel account of Joash's coronation and Athaliah's downfall, offering additional details about the events.

1 Kings 1
The anointing of Solomon as king, which also involved a public ceremony with trumpets and rejoicing, similar to Joash's coronation.

Psalm 2
This psalm speaks of God's anointed king and the futility of opposing God's chosen ruler, reflecting the divine legitimacy of Joash's kingship.
The Preservation and Coronation of JoashC.H. Irwin 2 Kings 11:1-16
AthaliahJ. Parker, D. D.2 Kings 11:1-21
Malign SuccessionChristian Commonwealth2 Kings 11:1-21
The History of AthaliahDavid Thomas, D. D.2 Kings 11:1-21
The History of AthaliahD. Thomas 2 Kings 11:1-21
The Coronation of JoashJ. Orr 2 Kings 11:4-21
People
Ahaziah, Athaliah, Carians, Carites, David, Jehoash, Jehoiada, Jehoram, Jehosheba, Joash, Joram, Mattan
Places
Samaria, Sur
Topics
Athaliah, Athali'ah, Behold, Beside, Blew, Blowing, Broken, Calleth, Captains, Clothes, Conspiracy, Cried, Cry, Custom, Dais, Faith, Garments, Giving, Heads, Horns, Joy, Manner, Officers, Ordinance, Parting, Pillar, Platform, Princes, Regular, Rejoiced, Rejoicing, Rendeth, Rent, Robes, Saying, Signs, Sounding, Standing, Stood, Tore, Treason, Trumpeters, Trumpets, Violently
Dictionary of Bible Themes
2 Kings 11:14

     5286   custom
     5595   trumpet
     5969   treachery

2 Kings 11:1-16

     7245   Judah, kingdom of

2 Kings 11:1-21

     5487   queen

2 Kings 11:12-14

     5443   pillars

Library
Jehoiada and Joash
'And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. 2. 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. 3. And he was with her hid in the house of the Lord six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land. 4. And the seventh year Jehoiada
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

New Uses for Old Trophies
The matter I shall speak to you about to-night will lie under four heads. We will give them to you as they occur to us. I. And the first is this, IT IS WELL FOR US TO HANG ALL OUR TROPHIES IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD. We, too, are warriors. Every genuine Christian has to fight. Every inch of the way between here and heaven we shall have to fight, for as hitherto every single step of our pilgrimage has been one prolonged conflict. Sometimes we have victories, a presage of that final victory, that perfect
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 17: 1871

Of the Weight of Government; and that all Manner of Adversity is to be Despised, and Prosperity Feared.
So much, then, have we briefly said, to shew how great is the weight of government, lest whosoever is unequal to sacred offices of government should dare to profane them, and through lust of pre-eminence undertake a leadership of perdition. For hence it is that James affectionately deters us, saying, Be not made many masters, my brethren (James iii. 1). Hence the Mediator between God and man Himself--He who, transcending the knowledge and understanding even of supernal spirits, reigns in heaven
Leo the Great—Writings of Leo the Great

Mothers, Daughters, and Wives in Israel
In order accurately to understand the position of woman in Israel, it is only necessary carefully to peruse the New Testament. The picture of social life there presented gives a full view of the place which she held in private and in public life. Here we do not find that separation, so common among Orientals at all times, but a woman mingles freely with others both at home and abroad. So far from suffering under social inferiority, she takes influential and often leading part in all movements, specially
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life

Kings
The book[1] of Kings is strikingly unlike any modern historical narrative. Its comparative brevity, its curious perspective, and-with some brilliant exceptions--its relative monotony, are obvious to the most cursory perusal, and to understand these things is, in large measure, to understand the book. It covers a period of no less than four centuries. Beginning with the death of David and the accession of Solomon (1 Kings i., ii.) it traverses his reign with considerable fulness (1 Kings iii.-xi.),
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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