2 Kings 11:17

¶ And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD'S people; between the king also and the people.

And Jehoiada {H3077} made {H3772} a covenant {H1285} between the LORD {H3068} and the king {H4428} and the people {H5971}, that they should be the LORD'S {H3068} people {H5971}; between the king {H4428} also and the people {H5971}.

Y'hoyada made a covenant between ADONAI, the king and the people, that they would be ADONAI's people, and [a covenant] between the king and the people.

Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people that they would be the LORD’s people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people.

And Jehoiada made a covenant between Jehovah and the king and the people, that they should be Jehovah’s people; between the king also and the people.

Commentary

Context of 2 Kings 11:17

2 Kings 11 describes a pivotal moment in the history of Judah. After the death of King Ahaziah, his mother Athaliah, a zealous worshiper of Baal and daughter of Ahab and Jezebel, seized the throne and ruthlessly murdered all the royal heirs to secure her power. However, Ahaziah's infant son Joash was secretly rescued by his aunt Jehosheba and her husband, the high priest Jehoiada, and hidden in the temple for six years. Verse 17 marks the culmination of Jehoiada's courageous plan to overthrow the idolatrous queen Athaliah and restore the rightful Davidic line to the throne. Following Athaliah's execution (2 Kings 11:16), Jehoiada immediately moved to re-establish proper worship and governance in Judah.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Covenant Renewal and Restoration: This verse highlights a solemn act of covenant renewal. Jehoiada orchestrated two distinct but related covenants: one between the LORD, the king, and the people, and another between the king and the people. This act signified a spiritual cleansing and a return to faithfulness after Athaliah's reign of idolatry. It was a reaffirmation of Judah's identity as a nation set apart for God.
  • The Role of Righteous Leadership: High priest Jehoiada emerges as a powerful figure of godly leadership. He not only preserved the legitimate heir to the throne but also guided the nation in a spiritual reformation, ensuring their commitment to the LORD. His actions demonstrate the profound impact a faithful leader can have on a society's spiritual trajectory.
  • Identity as "The LORD's People": The central purpose of the first covenant was "that they should be the LORD'S people." This phrase underscores the core identity of Israel, established through earlier covenants such as the one at Sinai (Exodus 19:5). It signifies a unique relationship of belonging, obedience, and divine protection.
  • God's Faithfulness to His Promises: Despite the nation's spiritual decline and the near extinction of the Davidic line, this event demonstrates God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant with David (2 Samuel 7:16), ensuring a successor for the throne and preserving the lineage through which the Messiah would eventually come.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "covenant" is berith (בְּרִית), which signifies a binding agreement or pact, often accompanied by oaths and rituals. In biblical contexts, a covenant with God is not merely a contract but a solemn relationship initiated by God, establishing obligations and promising blessings upon faithfulness. The double mention of "covenant" in this verse emphasizes the dual nature of the agreements made: one vertical (God-king-people) and one horizontal (king-people), both crucial for the stability and spiritual health of the kingdom.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of covenant and commitment in both individual and communal life. For believers today, it highlights:

  1. Personal Commitment to God: Like the people of Judah, we are called to reaffirm our identity as God's people, living in obedience and devotion to Him.
  2. The Role of Godly Leadership: The story of Jehoiada underscores the necessity of righteous leaders who guide others towards faithfulness and uphold divine principles.
  3. Community Responsibility: The covenant between the king and the people reminds us of the mutual responsibilities within a community, whether in a church, family, or society, to uphold justice and righteousness.
  4. Spiritual Renewal: Just as Judah experienced a spiritual restoration, there is always hope for renewal and a return to God, even after periods of spiritual decline.
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Cross-References

  • 2 Samuel 5:3 (6 votes)

    So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the LORD: and they anointed David king over Israel.

  • 2 Chronicles 15:12 (5 votes)

    And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;

  • 2 Chronicles 15:14 (5 votes)

    And they sware unto the LORD with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.

  • Joshua 24:25 (4 votes)

    So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.

  • 2 Chronicles 34:31 (4 votes)

    And the king stood in his place, and made a covenant before the LORD, to walk after the LORD, and to keep his commandments, and his testimonies, and his statutes, with all his heart, and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant which are written in this book.

  • 1 Samuel 10:25 (3 votes)

    Then Samuel told the people the manner of the kingdom, and wrote [it] in a book, and laid [it] up before the LORD. And Samuel sent all the people away, every man to his house.

  • Ezra 10:3 (3 votes)

    Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.