Athaliah and Jehosheba

This study of the Bible we are looking at two women in the southern area of Israel known as Judah.  One was out to destroy the line of Judah and the other to preserve it.  Athelia was as bad a queen as any fairy tale could produce.  People feared her for her ruthlessness in killing her own grandsons and promoting Baal worship just like her parents Ahab and Jezebel. Athalia married the king of Judah thereby uniting the north and south. When the king died after a few years her son Ahaziah became king just to be killed after a few months by Jehu, Jezebel's nemesis. After losing both her husband and son, she must have felt vulnerable and isolated, especially after her father's line had also been destroyed. Her paranoia and lust for power led her to kill her own grandsons in order to secure the crown for herself.  She probably gloated that she killed all Judah's royal heirs thereby preventing the prophecy of a future Messiah from David's line. Athaliah reigned for 5 years promoting Baal and leading the Israelites further and further from God.  

Athaliah's confidence grew and as a result didn't notice a brewing conspiracy. You see her stepdaughter had a son that she had hidden from her stepmother. Jehosheba had hidden Joash before he could be killed.  Jehosheba was married to the high priest and hid her son in the temple. As soon as Athaliah realized what was happening she stormed the temple claiming treason. She didn't get very far, being arrested and executed just outside the temple. As soon as Athaliah had  been killed the people of Judah celebrated by destroying the temple of Baal.  

Their story reminds us of another event that took place seven hundred years earlier.  The Pharoah in Egypt has ordered all male babies to be killed. Like Pharoah, Athalia was tricked by her own child. Once again a woman's courage and compassion helped to save the promise. 

It was King David who made plans to replace the tabernacle with a great temple for worship. The tabernacle was not a permanent building. In 2 Samuel 7:2, we see where David thought that God should have as magnificent a house as his own. So he gathered stone, iron, bronze and cedar logs in preparation for building the temple. He also obtained a hundred thousand talents of gold and a million talents of silver.  This amounts to 3,750 tons of gold and 37,500 tons of silver. Can you even imagine all that?  

David had the concept but it was his son Solomon who actually built the temple in Jerusalem. Building began in Solomon's 4th year of reign and continued for seven years.  Read 1 Kings 5-8 to get a picture of this structure.  

Jehosheba and her husband, the high priest, hid the heir to the throne in that same structure.  The temple now held not only the presence of the true God, but also the ancestor of God's Son, Jesus.  Through the actions of one brave woman, the lineage of David was protected and put salvation assured.

Questions

Read 2 Kings 11:1-3

1.  Athalia grew up as the daughter of Jezebel.  How do you suppose that upbringing affected the person she became?

2.  Who might be included here?  Other kids?  Grandsons?  What would cause such a total loss of natural affection that Athaliah could do such a thing?

3.  How do you think Athaliah justified her actions in her own mind?

4.  Have you ever been so eager to get your own way that you did something you're not proud of, even ashamed to admit you did?  Think about what that was and what was the outcome?

5.  What do you think went through Jehosheba's mind when she saved the baby Joash while his brothers and sisters were slaughtered (verse 2)?  Describe how you imagine these events from her point of view.

6.  Recall a time in your life when you bravely did what was right?  Was it hard or easy?  What was the result?

7.  For six years God allowed Athaliah to reign unopposed while young prince Joash hid (2 Kings 11:3).  Have you ever had to wait for God's plan to be fulfilled?  Six years? Longer?  Describe what you learned.

Read 2 Kings 11:4-21

8. 2 Kings 11:4-12 contain details of the careful preparations Jehoiada made  before showing young Joash to anyone.  Why would such preparations be necessary?  What would have happened if Joash had been killed.

9.  Not Athaliah's response when she sees the child-king (2 Kings 11:14).  How could she have responded differently?  Why did she respond as she did?

10.  Every situation can bring different responses from us.  Describe a difficult situation in your life and list possible responses to that situation.   Which response did you choose?  Was it the right one?  Why or why not?

11.  Joash was the last of King David's line.  Jehosheba probably didn't know she was playing a role in assuring the eventual birth of the Messiah, Jesus, the promised descendant of  David.   What does this say about how God works?  Was this a victory for God as well as for the monarchy?

12.  In 2 Kings 11:17 the people make a covenant, a promise, to be "the Lord's people."  If you have ever made such a promise, what has it meant in your life?

13.  Athaliah was brave in a way  -- she took action in her own interests, with horrible results.   Jehosheba was brave in a more admirable way.   When has your life called for courage?  In what ways do you need courage now?

Hopefully you’ve caught on by now, God always wins!  When people like Athaliah try to put an end to God's plan for redemption, or when people like the priests of Baal lead others away from God to worship idols, God will still triumph.

Sometimes we question this when we see life events unfolding before our eyes.  We wonder how in the world will God be able to maintain His Soveriegnty.  No matter how much we wonder how, we know for sure that He will!

Read the following promises in scripture.

Psalm 25:3

Proverbs 19:21

2 Corinthians 2:14

Reflect on 2 Chronicles 22:10-12; 2 Chronicles 22:23

• Praise God for His Power which is far greater than evil. 
• Thank God for His faithfulness in always keeping His promises.
• Confess any tendency to allow difficult circumstances to interfere with your faith.
• Ask God for courage to act on behalf of the innocent no matter the circumstances.

Final Thoughts 

Scripture often reveals its richest insights when we have learned to pray through what we have just read. Use this story of Jehosheba to teach yourself how to pray the scriptures.  Though an often overlooked minor character, she played a decisive role in our lives.

Put yourself in her shoes.  Imagine how she felt as she defied her queen hiding her son while mourning the killing of her other sons.  Where do you think she found strength?  What do you think were her temptations and fears?  Imagine what her life was like.  Ask God to use this story to speak to you. Ask God for the grace to be like her, as a woman who always cherishes, protects, and nurtures life. Now, take some time to think about the joy she felt the moment she learned of Athaliah's defeat, and the boy she saved was now her king. Let this woman's story encourage you to do what is right regardless of the risks involved.