Jehosheba, also known as Jehoshabeath, is a notable figure in the Hebrew Bible, recognized for her courageous actions during a tumultuous period in the history of the Kingdom of Judah. She is mentioned primarily in the books of 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles.

Family Background

Jehosheba was a princess of the royal house of Judah. She was the daughter of King Jehoram of Judah and the sister of King Ahaziah. Her mother was likely Athaliah, the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of Israel, although the biblical text does not explicitly state this. Jehosheba was married to Jehoiada, the high priest, which positioned her uniquely at the intersection of the royal and priestly lines.

Heroic Deed

Jehosheba's most significant act is recorded in 2 Kings 11:1-3 and 2 Chronicles 22:10-12. After the death of her brother Ahaziah, Athaliah, Jehosheba's mother, seized the throne of Judah and sought to eliminate all potential royal heirs to secure her position. In a bold and dangerous move, Jehosheba rescued her infant nephew Joash, the son of Ahaziah, from the massacre orchestrated by Athaliah. The Berean Standard Bible recounts this event:

"When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs. But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the sons of the king who were being put to death. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah, and he was not killed. And Joash remained hidden with his nurse in the house of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land." (2 Kings 11:1-3)

Jehosheba's actions were instrumental in preserving the Davidic line, which was crucial for the fulfillment of God's covenant with David. By hiding Joash in the temple for six years, she ensured the survival of the legitimate royal lineage.

Religious Significance

Jehosheba's marriage to Jehoiada, the high priest, underscores her connection to the religious leadership of Judah. Her actions not only preserved the royal line but also facilitated a religious and political renewal in Judah. When Joash was finally revealed and crowned king, Jehoiada led a covenant renewal ceremony, reaffirming the nation's commitment to the LORD and dismantling the worship of Baal that had been promoted by Athaliah.

Legacy

Jehosheba's bravery and faithfulness are celebrated as a testament to God's providence and the importance of righteous action in the face of evil. Her account highlights the role of women in God's redemptive history and serves as an example of courage and devotion to God's purposes. Through her decisive intervention, the Davidic line was preserved, paving the way for the eventual birth of Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah, who would come from the house of David.Jehosheba

fullness, or oath, of the Lord

Jehosheba

(Jehovah's oath), daughter of Joram king of Israel, and wife of jehoiada the high priest. (2 Kings 11:2) Her name in the Chronicles is given JEHOSHABEATH. (B.C. 882.) As she is called, (2 Kings 11:2) "the daughter of Joram , sister of Ahaziah," it has been conjectured that she was the daughter, not of Athaliah, but of Joram by another wife. She is the only recorded instance of the marriage of a princess of the royal house with a high priest.

Jehosheba

The aunt of Joash, king of Judah, whose life in infancy and childhood she saved, in spite of the designs of Athaliah, 2 Kings 11:1 3.

Jehovah-swearing, the daughter of Jehoram, the king of Israel. She is called Jehoshabeath in 2 Chronicles 22:11. She was the only princess of the royal house who was married to a high priest, Jehoiada (2 Chronicles 22:11). JEHOSHEBA

je-hosh'-e-ba, je-ho-she'-ba (yehoshebha`, "Yahweh is an oath"): Called "Jehoshabeath" in 2 Chronicles 22:11; daughter of Jehoram king of Judah, possibly by a wife other than Athaliah (2 Kings 11:2). According to 2 Chronicles 22:11, she was the wife of Jehoiada, the priest. She hid Jehoash, the young son of King Ahaziah, and so saved his life from Queen Athaliah.

3089. Yehosheba -- "the LORD is an oath," wife of Jehoiada the ...
... "the LORD is an oath," wife of Jehoiada the priest. Transliteration: Yehosheba Phonetic
Spelling: (yeh-ho-sheh'-bah) Short Definition: Jehosheba. ... Jehosheba. ...
/hebrew/3089.htm - 6k

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 ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/jehoiada and joash.htm

The Boy Joash on the Throne of Judah
... the mother of Ahaziah, learned that her son was dead, she rose and put to death
all of Ahaziah's children except Joash, whom his aunt, Jehosheba, secretly took ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/the boy joash on the.htm

How Athaliah Reigned Over Jerusalem for Five [Six] Years when ...
... one of Ahaziah's sons was preserved, who escaped death after the manner following:
Ahaziah had a sister by the same father, whose name was Jehosheba, and she ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/chapter 7 how athaliah reigned.htm

The Fourth vision "In Heaven"
... While Jehosheba, the wife of the high priest, was hidden, with the child, in one
of the chambers of the House of God, her husband, Jehoiada, was going about ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the fourth vision in heaven.htm

Jehosheba (2 Occurrences)
... 22:11). Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. JEHOSHEBA. je-hosh ... Queen Athaliah.
Multi-Version Concordance Jehosheba (2 Occurrences). 2 Kings ...
/j/jehosheba.htm - 8k

Athaliah (17 Occurrences)
... This was carried out: but one of them, Jehoash, a babe, escaped by the intervention
of his aunt, Jehosheba (1 Kings 11:2 2 Chronicles 22:11). ...
/a/athaliah.htm - 19k

Jehoash (28 Occurrences)
... While yet an infant, he was saved from the general massacre of the family by his
aunt Jehosheba, and was apparently the only surviving descendant of Solomon (2 ...
/j/jehoash.htm - 32k

Jehoiada (51 Occurrences)
... He married Jehosheba, or Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram (2 Chronicles
22:11), and took an active part along with his wife in the preservation and ...
/j/jehoiada.htm - 36k

Jehosh'eba (1 Occurrence)
Jehosh'eba. Jehosheba, Jehosh'eba. Jehoshua . Multi-Version Concordance ... (See
RSV). Jehosheba, Jehosh'eba. Jehoshua . Reference Bible.
/j/jehosh'eba.htm - 6k

Jehoram (27 Occurrences)
... 16). His wife was Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel. His daughter
Jehosheba was married to the high priest Jehoiada. He ...
/j/jehoram.htm - 30k

Joash (49 Occurrences)
... Athaliah's usurpation of the throne, she massacred the royal princes, Jehoash was
saved from her unnatural fury by the action of his aunt Jehosheba, the wife ...
/j/joash.htm - 41k

Jo'ash (44 Occurrences)
... 2 Kings 11:2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took
Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king's sons who ...
/j/jo'ash.htm - 19k

Jehoshabeath (1 Occurrence)
... JEHOSHABEATH. je-ho-shab'-e-ath (yehoshabh`ath, "Yahweh is an oath"): In 2
Chronicles 22:11 = JEHOSHEBA (which see) Compare 2 Kings 11:2. ...
/j/jehoshabeath.htm - 7k

Jehoshaphat's (2 Occurrences)

/j/jehoshaphat's.htm - 7k

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