MPV Commentary

1. In the seventh year of Jehoiada's leadership, he took action to secure the future of Joash, the young prince who was next in line for the throne. He enlisted the support of five trusted officers who had been part of the royal guard and were known to be opposed to Athaliah's rule.

2. Jehoiada entrusted these leaders with a crucial secret: the preservation of the young prince. He gained their pledge of loyalty by having them swear an oath in private, ensuring they would stand by Joash when the time was right. The leading men of Judah and Benjamin, who made up the remaining Israelites, were all informed about the plan.

3. They gathered in Jerusalem at a strategic moment, likely during one of the annual festivals that brought people from across the kingdom to the capital city.

4-9. Jehoiada outlined a defense strategy for securing Joash's position as king. The people were divided into three groups: one group served as guards for the young prince, while the other two groups were stationed at all the doors and gates of Jerusalem. To avoid arousing suspicion, the military officers who entered the temple unarmed were secretly given weapons from the sacred armory, where David had stored his trophies.

8. Jehoiada deliberately kept the temple guard units on duty beyond their usual rotation period to ensure a larger force was available for this critical moment.

11. The people then brought out Joash and placed the crown on his head, giving him the royal regalia, including a bracelet or possibly even a copy of the law (Deuteronomy 17:18). This marked the official beginning of Joash's reign as king.