Bible Strands
2 Kings 11:15
And Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the house of the LORD.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jehoiada the priest issues a direct order to the military commanders of the hundreds while the public coronation is occurring and Athaliah is publicly denouncing the coup.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיְצַו (va/y.Tzav) translates literally as "and he commanded," establishing Jehoiada's authoritative directive to the officers of the army. This verb anchors the narrative shift from ritual celebration to enforced security.
The thread — This directive recalls Jehoiada's prior mobilization of the same commanders in 2 Kings 11:4 and 11:9, and parallels his distribution of King David's weapons to those officers in 2 Chronicles 23:9.
Why it lands — The text states that Jehoiada explicitly forbids execution within the temple precincts to preserve its sanctity. This requires the reader to recognize that religious boundaries can function as legal constraints on political violence.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the Lord.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 11:4 Then in the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards, and had them brought into the house of the LORD. There he made a covenant with them and put them under oath. He showed them the king’s son
- 2 Kings 11:9 So the commanders of hundreds did everything that Jehoiada the priest had ordered. Each of them took his men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—and came to Jehoiada the priest.
- 2 Chronicles 23:9 Then Jehoiada the priest gave to the commanders of hundreds the spears and the large and small shields of King David that were in the house of God.
- 2 Chronicles 23:14 And Jehoiada the priest sent out the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, saying, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the house of the LORD.”
- Ezekiel 9:7 Then He told them, “Defile the temple and fill the courts with the slain. Go forth!” So they went out and began killing throughout the city.
- Ezekiel 21:14 ‘So then, son of man, prophesy and strike your hands together. Let the sword strike two times, even three. It is a sword that slays, a sword of great slaughter closing in on every side!