- 15-
of matters. On the elevated stand "at the entering in," probably to the court of the
priests,* usually occupied, at least on solemn occasions, by the king (2 Kings 23:3; 2
Chronicles 34:31), she saw the youthful prince, and beside him "the captains" and the
Levites blowing their silver trumpets,** while "the people of the land" greeted their new
monarch.
- 2 Chronicles 23:13. But opinions differ as to the exact locality.
** The word used for "trumpets" is that commonly used of those blown by the Levites. In
general, it will be observed that this reference, and that to "the people of the land" -
indeed, the whole account - seem not only to confirm, but to imply that in the Book of
Chronicles.
According to the Biblical account, Athaliah rent her clothes and cried, "Conspiracy,
conspiracy!" while Josephus adds that she called on those present to kill the young king.
The appearance and attempted interference of the queen was the signal for her
destruction. By direction of Jehoiada, she was led forth beyond the Temple between "the
ranks" formed to prevent her escape or communication with possible adherents. Any who
might attempt to follow her were to be immediately cut down, while Athaliah herself was
to be killed beyond the bounds of the Sanctuary. It must have been close to it, where the
stables communicated with the palace, that she met her fate.
While this was passing outside the Temple, Jehoiada completed the second part of the
royal installation by a twofold solemn act, of which the first consisted in a covenant by
which the new king and the people bound themselves to renewed allegiance to Jehovah;
while by the second the king similarly bound himself to the people, no doubt to. rule in
accordance with the law as laid down in the Book of Deuteronomy (2 Kings 11:17). The
ancient God-appointed constitution in Church and State having thus been re-established,
the new king was conducted in state to the palace by the principal entrance, and formally
enthroned. It was probably only after this that the people proceeded to the house of Baal,
wholly destroying it and its altars and images, and slaying Mattan, the priest of Baal. The
religious reformation thus inaugurated was completed by the appointment of the officials
required to superintend and carry on the orderly worship of the Temple - as we infer from
2 Chronicles 23:18, 19, in accordance with the arrangements originally made by David,
but which had since fallen into desuetude. And the whole account of this religious
revolution concludes with this significant record: "And all the people of the land rejoiced,
and the city was in quiet."
(^)