MPV Commentary

He Is Made King.

4. The seventh year of Athaliah's reign had arrived, marking seven years since Jehoash was rescued from his mother's hiding place. Jehoiada sent for the leaders and arranged a meeting with them under the pretext of a public festival. He revealed to them the secret of the young king's preservation and secured their agreement to overthrow the tyrant.

The conduct of Jehoiada, who took the lead in this conspiracy, can be justified on several grounds. Athaliah was an usurper from a family destined for destruction by divine decree. Moreover, Jehoash had a stronger claim to the throne than his own wife, as the sovereignty of Judah had been divinely appointed to the house of David. Jehoiada's actions were likely motivated by his official duty as high priest to uphold God's laws and by the support of the chief authorities in the land.

It appears that Jehoiada was also guided by a divine impulse, encouraged by the counsel and exhortations of the prophets of the time.