“And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him.”
Cross references: : 2 Kings 11:4 Of the reign of Athaliah, or after the death of Ahaziah.
“And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.”
Meaning of Judah and Benjamin: read why they are called Israel, 2 Chron. 15:17 .
“And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king's son shall reign, as the LORD hath said of the sons of David.”
2 Sam. 7:12 , 16 ; 1 Kings 2:4 ; 2 Chron. 21:7
“And a third part shall be at the king's house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD.”
2 Kings 11:6 Which was the chief gate of the Temple toward the East.
“And the Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whosoever else cometh into the house, he shall be put to death: but be ye with the king when he cometh in, and when he goeth out.”
Meaning, to make any tumult, or to hinder their enterprise.
“So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.”
Which had finished their course on the Sabbath, and so the other part entered to keep their turn.
“And he set all the people, every man having his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king round about. side: Heb. shoulder temple: Heb. house”
Meaning, the most holy place where the Ark stood.
“Then they brought out the king's son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save the king. God: Heb. Let the king live”
That is, the book of the Law, or as some read, they put upon him his royal apparel.
“And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of musick, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason. Treason: Heb. Conspiracy”
Or, saw the king standing. Declaring her vile impudence, which having unjustly and by murder usurped the crown, would still have defeated the true possessor, and therefore called true obedience treason.
“Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth of the ranges : and whoso followeth her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said, Slay her not in the house of the LORD.”
To join with her party, and to maintain her authority.
“And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD'S people.”
That they would only serve him and renounce all idolatry.
“Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in pieces, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.”
According to their covenant made to the Lord. As the Lord commanded in his Law both for the person and also the city, Deut. 13:9 and 15.
“And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of the LORD: and they came through the high gate into the king's house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom.”
Which was the principal gate, that the King might be seen of all the people.
“And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword.”
For where a tyrant and an idolater reigneth, there can be no quietness for the plagues of God are ever among such people.