2 Kings 11:21 — Meaning and Application

2 Kings 11:1

"And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. {seed...: Heb. seed of the kingdom}"

2 Kings 11:2

"But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons {which were} slain; and they hid him, {even} him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain. {Jehosheba: also called, Jehoshabeath} {Joash: also called, Jehoash}"

2 Kings 11:3

"And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land."

2 Kings 11:4

"And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and shewed them the king's son."

2 Kings 11:5

"And he commanded them, saying, This {is} the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you that enter in on the sabbath shall even be keepers of the watch of the king's house;"

2 Kings 11:6

"And a third part {shall be} at the gate of Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of the house, that it be not broken down. {that...: or, from breaking up}"