Ahaziah, king of Judah, is killed by Jehu, king of Israel. Ahaziah’s mother, Athaliah, who was a member of Ahab’s household, proclaims herself queen and orders the massacre of all remaining members of the royal household. Miraculously, Ahaziah’s infant son, Joash, survives. He is hidden from his grandmother for seven years, until a priest named Jehoiada organizes an uprising in the Temple and proclaims Joash king. Queen Athaliah hears the commotion in the Temple and goes to see what is happening. When she arrives, she is seized and put to death. Jehoiada rules Judah until Joash comes of age. The new regent annuls the worship of Baal (which the late queen had encouraged), reestablishes peace in Judah, and reinstitutes service of God in Jerusalem. Though Athaliah committed multiple sins, there is an opportunity to correct the situation and eradicate evil.
“And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal” (2 Kings 11:1)
“And he brought forth the king’s son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king” (2 Kings 11:12)
“And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD’S people; between the king also and the people” (2 Kings 11:17)
Cleanliness is the result of avoiding evil stemming from both internal and external impulses.
