Jehosheba

1Athaliah was the mother of King Ahaziah. When she saw that her son was dead, she acted. She killed everyone in the royal family who might become king.

And when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal.

NoteIn those days a king's son became the next king after him. Athaliah killed the boys in the family so that she could rule instead.

2But Jehosheba was the daughter of King Joram and the sister of Ahaziah. She took Joash, the little son of Ahaziah, away from the king's sons who were being killed. She hid him and his nurse in a bedroom. Athaliah never found him, so he was not killed.

But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons which were slain; and they hid him, even him and his nurse, in the bedchamber from Athaliah, so that he was not slain.

NoteJehosheba was Joash's aunt. A nurse was a woman who fed a baby and cared for him. Joash was still very small.

3Joash stayed hidden with his nurse in the temple, God's house, for six years. All that time Athaliah ruled the land.

And he was with her hid in the house of the LORD six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land.

NoteThe temple was God's house in Jerusalem. It had many side rooms where the priests lived, so a child could stay hidden there.

10Athaliah was Ahaziah's mother. When she saw that her son was dead, she began killing the whole royal family of Judah.

But when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal of the house of Judah.

NoteThe royal family means the king's children and close relatives. Long ago, a person taking over sometimes killed them all. Then no one was left who could take the throne back.

11But Jehoshabeath, a daughter of King Jehoram, took Joash, the baby son of Ahaziah. She stole him away from the king's sons who were being killed. She hid him and the woman who cared for him in a bedroom. Jehoshabeath was Ahaziah's sister and the wife of Jehoiada the priest. She hid Joash from Athaliah, so Athaliah could not kill him.

But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest, (for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.

NoteA priest was a man whose job was to lead people in worshiping God. The woman who cared for Joash fed him and looked after him, like a babysitter who lived with the family.

12Joash stayed hidden with them in God's house for six years. During those years, Athaliah ruled the land.

And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.

NoteGod's house was the temple in Jerusalem. It was the special building where people came to worship God.