MPV Commentary

Athaliah, Destroying the Seed Royal to Save Joash, Usurps

10. Athaliah arose and destroyed all the royal descendants of David—see 2 Kings 11:1-3. Her actions were motivated by a desire for revenge against the royal family of Ahab, whom she had seen massacred. She expected Jehu to carry out his commission to eliminate Ahab's entire lineage, including hers. To protect herself and secure her position, Athaliah decided to seize the throne and destroy any remaining royal heirs. This was partly because they opposed the worship of Baal, which she sought to maintain, and partly because a young prince on the throne would have made his mother queen mother, supplanting Athaliah.

12. He [Joash] was hidden in the house of God—Jehoiada and his family lived in one of the priestly apartments within the temple complex.