Jehoshabeath’s brave rescue of the infant Joash ensured the Davidic line would continue against all odds.
“But Jehoshabeath the king’s daughter took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the king’s sons who were being put to death, and placed him and his nurse in the bedroom. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah so that she would not put him to death.” (v.11) This verse highlights the brave intervention by Jehoshabeath, who was part of Judah’s royal family in the ninth century BC. She was the daughter of King Jehoram (reigned approximately 848-841 BC) and sister of the slain King Ahaziah (ruled briefly in 841 BC). Because Athaliah—often thought to be the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of Israel—sought to eliminate the royal descendants of David, Jehoshabeath risked her own life and rescued Joash, the last surviving male heir who was just an infant at the time. By moving swiftly and discreetly, she preserved the lineage through which the future kings of Judah would reign.
“...and placed him and his nurse in the bedroom.” (v.11) The bedroom mentioned here may have been a secluded chamber in the palace or near the temple in Jerusalem, a site which had become central for Judah’s worship and was historically protected (see 1 Kings 8 for Solomon’s dedication at the temple). This private space provided enough secrecy to shelter Joash from Athaliah’s murderous ambitions. Since Athaliah sought to announce herself as the sovereign ruler (2 Kings 11), Jehoshabeath’s courageous action guarded Joash, ensuring that the Davidic promise of a rightful ruler from the line of David (see 2 Samuel 7) could be fulfilled.
“So Jehoshabeath ... hid him from Athaliah so that she would not put him to death.” (v.11) Joash was divinely protected, in part, through the faithful obedience of Jehoshabeath and her husband Jehoiada the priest, who played a pivotal role in preserving true worship in Judah (2 Chronicles 23). Their vigilance illustrates God’s commitment to His covenant, as ultimately the lineage through David leads to Jesus Christ, the Messiah (Matthew 1). This hidden king would later ascend to the throne (circa 835 BC) and restore the proper worship of the LORD, highlighting how one act of courage can uphold divine purposes despite human plots.
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2 Chronicles 22:11 meaning
“But Jehoshabeath the king’s daughter took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the king’s sons who were being put to death, and placed him and his nurse in the bedroom. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of King Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest (for she was the sister of Ahaziah), hid him from Athaliah so that she would not put him to death.” (v.11) This verse highlights the brave intervention by Jehoshabeath, who was part of Judah’s royal family in the ninth century BC. She was the daughter of King Jehoram (reigned approximately 848-841 BC) and sister of the slain King Ahaziah (ruled briefly in 841 BC). Because Athaliah—often thought to be the daughter of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of Israel—sought to eliminate the royal descendants of David, Jehoshabeath risked her own life and rescued Joash, the last surviving male heir who was just an infant at the time. By moving swiftly and discreetly, she preserved the lineage through which the future kings of Judah would reign.
“...and placed him and his nurse in the bedroom.” (v.11) The bedroom mentioned here may have been a secluded chamber in the palace or near the temple in Jerusalem, a site which had become central for Judah’s worship and was historically protected (see 1 Kings 8 for Solomon’s dedication at the temple). This private space provided enough secrecy to shelter Joash from Athaliah’s murderous ambitions. Since Athaliah sought to announce herself as the sovereign ruler (2 Kings 11), Jehoshabeath’s courageous action guarded Joash, ensuring that the Davidic promise of a rightful ruler from the line of David (see 2 Samuel 7) could be fulfilled.
“So Jehoshabeath ... hid him from Athaliah so that she would not put him to death.” (v.11) Joash was divinely protected, in part, through the faithful obedience of Jehoshabeath and her husband Jehoiada the priest, who played a pivotal role in preserving true worship in Judah (2 Chronicles 23). Their vigilance illustrates God’s commitment to His covenant, as ultimately the lineage through David leads to Jesus Christ, the Messiah (Matthew 1). This hidden king would later ascend to the throne (circa 835 BC) and restore the proper worship of the LORD, highlighting how one act of courage can uphold divine purposes despite human plots.