A brave princess (1)

11.06.2021

Friday 11 June 2021

“However, Joshabeath the king's daughter took Joash the son of Ahaziah and took him from the group of the king's sons when they were put to death. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom in the temple. Joshabeath thus hid him from Athalie, and she did not kill him.” 2 Chronicles 22. 11

Have you heard of a princess of Judah called Joshabeath ? With such a name, no wonder you know Esther or even Deborah better ! Mentioned in only 2 verses (2 Kings 11.2 and 2 Chronicles 22. 11), she was married to a priest, Jehojada, who became famous for the education he gave to the future young king, Joash. She also happened to be the half-sister of King Ahaziah of Judah, whose reign lasted only a year. Here is his story. We are in Jerusalem in 841 BC. News reaches the palace that King Ahaziah has just been murdered by the men of Jehu, whom God had commissioned to destroy all the offspring of Ahab of Israel, one of the wickedest kings in biblical history. Achazia had found herself in the wrong place at the wrong time and had just suffered the consequences. King Ahazia's mother, Athaliah, when she hears the news, orders the assassination of all her grandchildren, in order to reign in Jerusalem in place of her son. Enter Princess Joshabeath, horrified at the idea of the massacre that begins in the rooms of the palace. She rushes to little Joas, still in his room, manages to extract him from the soldiers sent by Athalie and comes to hide him in the Temple where her husband officiates every day. Joas will remain hidden for 6 years in this place without Athalie discovering his existence. Worshiper of Baal like Jezebel, the Temple was the last place in Jerusalem where Athalia would have imagined doing any research. The Bible continues by revealing to us that finally the young boy was recognized as king of Judah and Athaliah executed (2 Chronicles 23). The Bible is filled with these little anecdotes told in two or three verses, which nevertheless contain events of great significance, if we take the trouble to do a little research. Now this courageous princess was either Athalie's very daughter or her daughter-in-law, the Bible not revealing her exact parentage since her father had probably had several wives. Let's see tomorrow the lessons to be learned from its history !

Source (His Word for Today)