Chapter 11: The ruling of Ataliah, and the revolt against her

1. Ataliah kills all of the descendants of Achaziyahu, except for one who manages to escape:

• Ataliah kills all of the descendants of Achaziyahu: Ataliah, who was the mother of Achaziyahu, saw that her son was dead [and desired to lead the monarchy herself], so she rose and destroyed all those of royal descent [i.e. all of the children of Achaziyahu, her grandchildren].
• Yehosheva hides one of the sons of Achaziyahu: Yehosheva, who was King Yoram’s daughter and Achaziyahu’s sister, saved Yehoash the son of Achaziyahu from among all the slain children of the king. She hid him and his wetnurse [who was the wife of the high priest^[1]] in the bedchamber [which was in the attic of the holy of holies of the temple^[2]]. They concealed him from Ataliah, and thus he was not slain.
• The years of hiding: Yehoash was in hiding with his wetnurse in the temple of G-d for six years, during the period that Ataliah was ruling over the land.

2. Yehoyada arranges a revolt against Ataliah who is killed:

• A meeting is called with the nation’s military leaders and ministers: In the seventh year of reign of Ataliah, Yehoyada [the high priest] called upon the nation’s leaders, ministers, and mighty warriors [and Kohanim and Levites^[3], to gather for a secret meeting]. He brought them into the temple and made a pact with them [that they will not reveal to anyone what he’s about to tell them, and that they support him in coordinating Yehoash as King^[4]]. He then showed them the king’s son who was in hiding in the temple.
• Yehoyada instructs the priests to guard Yehoash: Yehoyada instructed the Kohanim and Levites as follows to guard Yehoash. “A third of you [Kohanim and Levites^[5]] of those who come on Shabbos for your Temple shift are to keep guard of the king’s palace [so that nobody kill Yehoash^[6]], and you must guard it very well without taking your mind off of it. A third of you are to stand guard by the Sur gate, and a third of you in the Ratzim gate [which is in the Azarah of the Temple^[7]]. The two thirds of you [who are guarding by the Sur and Ratzim gate in the entrance shift of Kohanim and Levites] as well as all those who are by the leaving shift on Shabbos, shall keep watch of the Temple, to guard the king. You shall surround the king, each one with his weapons in his hand to protect him. Anyone who comes past the ranks shall be put to death, and you shall be with the king whenever he goes out and comes in.” The officers did exactly as Yehoyada the priest had instructed them, and each one took his men, both the shift coming in on Shabbos and the shift leaving on Shabbos, and they arrived to Yehoyada the priest. Yehoyada gave the officers spears and shields that had belonged to King Dovid, which were in the Temple. The men stood guard with their weapons in their hand, from the right end of the Temple to the left end of the Temple, in front of the altar, surrounding the king.

[1] Metzudos Dovid 11:3

[2] Rashi 11:2

[3] See Metzudos Dovid 11:4; Rashi 11:5

[4] See Rashi 11:4

[5] Rashi 11:5

[6] Rashi 11:5

[7] Rashi 11:5