Should Christians always submit to governing authorities (Romans 13:1)? Can God’s people ever play a part in overthrowing an unjust regime? Today’s text raises these questions.

Ahaziah is Jehoram’s only surviving son. He reigns for one year, during which he does “evil in the eyes of the Lord” (2 Chronicles 22:1–4). Influenced by his mother, Athaliah, and other members of Ahab’s family, he joins Joram king of Israel in another attempt to recapture Ramoth Gilead from Aram (vv. 5–6).

Like Ahab in the earlier battle, Joram is wounded. While he is recovering at Jezreel, Ahaziah, the officials of Judah, and some other male relatives visit him. They are all swept away in Jehu’s coup (vv. 7–9). It is fitting that Jehu, anointed by God to destroy Ahab’s line, should also kill Ahaziah, who has followed Ahab’s ways. Ahaziah is buried properly, but only because of Jehu’s respect for his godly grandfather Jehoshaphat.

While Ahaziah lived, Athaliah had exercised influence through him, but once he dies, she seizes power, killing the remaining princes of the Judean royal family. Jehosheba, daughter of Jehoram, rescues the infant Joash, son of Ahaziah. With the help of her husband Jehoiada, a priest, she hides him in the temple for six years (vv. 10–12).

Judah, in spite of the corrupting influence of Ahab’s house, is not like Israel. There are many in Judah, particularly among the priests and Levities, who remain loyal to the Lord
and to David’s line.

Jehoiada waits for the right moment, then acts decisively. He binds military leaders, priests, and Levites in a covenant, and they make plans to have Joash declared king in the Lord’s temple (23:1–7). This is a brave move, but Jehoiada has calculated correctly: many in Judah support him. He has the temple surrounded by armed men, crowns Joash king, and presents him with a copy of the covenant law (vv. 8–11; see Deuteronomy 17:18–20).

Amid the joyous celebrations, Athaliah comes to the temple, sees what has happened, and cries “Treason!” (2 Chronicles 23:12–13). But no one listens and she is killed, just as she killed others in order to gain power (vv. 14–15).

Jehoiada’s aim is not simply to restore the throne of Judah to David’s line, but also to bring the people back to God. He makes another covenant “that he, the people and the king would be the Lord’s people” (v. 16). The people show their loyalty by destroying the temple of Baal and killing its priest (v. 17).

Worship in the Lord’s temple is restored, along the lines laid down by both Moses and David. Joash is placed on the throne, and the line of David is publicly reinstated. The people rejoice, glad that Athaliah is gone, and peace is restored (vv. 18–21).

See also 2 Kings 8:25–9:29; 11.