John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 3. And he was with her hid in the house of the Lord six years , etc.] In the temple; not in the holy of holies, as Jarchi, but in a chamber of the priests and Levites, of which there were several in a temple, as Kimchi, and others; and the husband of Jehosheba, being high priest, had one of them for his own use; and here the child was hid six years, so that he was but a year old when he was first taken and preserved, for he was made king when seven years of age, ( 2 Kings 11:21), and Athaliah did reign over the land ; the only instance we hear of a woman reigning in Israel, and this was not by right, but by usurpation; and so, according to the Jewish canons, a woman might not rule; which thus runs f124 , they do not set a woman in the kingdom, as it is said, ( Deuteronomy 17:15), “a king over them”, not a queen; and so, in all places of power and authority in Israel, they put in them none but a man.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-12 - Athaliah destroyed all she knew to be akin to the crown. Jehoash, on of the king's sons, was hid. Now was the promise made to David bound u in one life only, and yet it did not fail. Thus to the Son of David the Lord, according to his promise, will secure a spiritual seed hidden sometimes, and unseen, but hidden in God's pavilion, and unhurt Six years Athaliah tyrannized. Then the king was brought forward. child indeed, but he had a good guardian, and, what was better, a goo God to go to With such joy and satisfaction must the kingdom of Chris be welcomed into our hearts, when his throne is set up there, and Sata the usurper is cast out. Say, Let the King, even Jesus, live, for eve live and reign in my soul, and in all the world.
Original Hebrew ויהי1961 אתה854 בית1004 יהוה3068 מתחבא2244 שׁשׁ8337 שׁנים8141 ועתליה6271 מלכת4427 על5921 הארץ׃776
