“THE KINGS – ATHALIAH & JOASH”
Season 4: Kings
Episode 6: “The Kings – Athaliah & Joash”
Today’s Bible Bite: 2 Kings 11
Video Story:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4aY00-_ZpLk (What’s In the Bible)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7GuGDD1ndg (Alvarez Family Films)
“Joash was seven years old when he began to reign.” (2 Kings 11:21)
Wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel have a daughter named Athaliah who married King Jehoram of Judah. The two kingdoms were now connected again through the royal families, but they were not a good influence on one another! King Jehoram and Queen Athaliah did not follow God, but worshipped Baal, the false god, just like Queen Jezebel did. They had a son named Ahaziah who became the next king after his father, but died just a year later while visiting his relatives in Israel. Athaliah was wicked like her parents and when she heard that her son had been killed, she tried to murder all the boys who might be able to become the next king of Judah, including her grandsons! Then she became queen and ruled Judah for six years. But what she didn’t realize is that one of the king’s sons had been rescued by his aunt Jehosheba.
Baby Joash grew up hidden away in the Temple, but when he turned seven Jehoida the priest knew it was time for him to become king. Jehoida gathered a bunch of good people together and they crowned Joash as their new king. When Queen Athaliah heard the noise, she went to find out what was going on. Was she ever surprised! She had thought she had murdered everyone who had a rightful claim to the throne, but found herself the victim of her own scheming when Joash was crowned king and she was killed for her wicked plan.
Think about it...
• The royal families of the Northern and Southern kingdoms tried to make an alliance, but it wasn’t a good thing. Why not?
• When Queen Athaliah heard that her son had been killed she decided she wanted to be queen. What happened?
• Jehosheba hid baby Joash to keep him safe from his grandmother, Queen Athaliah. What do you think life would have been like for Joash living in the Temple and trying not to be noticed by the wicked queen?
• Queen Athaliah was killed because she had been so mean and King Joash was made the new king. Is it ever a good plan to do what’s wrong in order to get what you want? Why or why not?
Prayer: Thank you, God, for keeping baby Joash safe. Thank you, too, that he was a much better ruler than his father or his grandmother had been. Thank you that you helped Jehosheba and Jehoida be brave and do what’s right. Help me to do what is right too.