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2 Kings 11:20
And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was in quiet: and they slew Athaliah with the swordbeside the king's house.

Psalm 58:10,11
The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked…

Proverbs 11:10
When it goeth well with the righteous, the city rejoiceth: and when the wicked perish,there is shouting.

And the city was quiet,
The quietness of the city signifies a return to peace and order after a period of turmoil and violence under Athaliah's rule. This peace is not just the absence of conflict but a restoration of divine order and justice. In biblical terms, peace (shalom) often indicates completeness and harmony with God's will. The quietness can be seen as a fulfillment of God's promise to bring peace to His people when they follow His ways, as seen inLeviticus 26:6. It also foreshadows the peace that Christ, the Prince of Peace, brings to the hearts of believers and ultimately to the world.

because Athaliah had been put to the sword.
Athaliah's execution was a necessary act to remove the illegitimate and idolatrous influence from the throne of Judah. Her death marked the end of a dark chapter in Judah's history, characterized by Baal worship and the persecution of the faithful. The phrase "put to the sword" indicates a decisive and final judgment, reflecting the biblical principle that those who lead God's people astray face severe consequences. This act of justice parallels other instances in Scripture where God removes wicked rulers to protect His covenant people, such as the fall of Jezebel in2 Kings 9. It also serves as a typological foreshadowing of Christ's ultimate victory over sin and evil, ensuring the establishment of His righteous kingdom.

“all the people of the land rejoiced” (2 Chron 23:21) captures an eruption of relief and celebration.

• Judah’s citizens finally see a rightful king—Joash—crowned (2 Kings 11:12). After years under an illegitimate, murderous queen, the covenant line of David is restored just as God had promised (2 Samuel 7:12–16).

• Jehoiada the priest has just renewed the covenant between the LORD, the king, and the people (2 Chron 23:16), prompting joy similar to earlier national renewals (1 Samuel 11:14-15; 2 Chron 15:12-15).

• Their rejoicing echoes David’s jubilant procession with the ark—“David and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark… with shouts and the sound of trumpets” (2 Samuel 6:15). When God’s order is honored, praise naturally breaks out.

“the city was quiet” highlights the immediate, palpable peace that follows righteous leadership.

•Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan.” The switch from groaning under Athaliah to quiet contentment under Joash vividly fulfills this proverb.

• In Solomon’s day, “Judah and Israel lived in safety… every man under his vine and fig tree” (1 Kings 4:25). The same hush of security now returns to Jerusalem.

•Judges 5:31 concludes Deborah’s victory song with, “Then the land had rest forty years.” God often punctuates deliverance with a calm that lets His people catch their breath and rebuild.

The peace and joy stem “because Athaliah had been put to the sword.”

• Athaliah’s execution (2 Kings 11:16) is not mere palace intrigue; it is God-ordained justice removing an idolatrous usurper who had slaughtered the royal seed (2 Chron 22:10).

•Deuteronomy 13:5 commands Israel to “purge the evil from among you” when idolatry threatens the covenant community. Jehoiada applies this principle, and the nation immediately feels the lift of spiritual oppression.

•Psalm 37:35-38 contrasts the short-lived triumph of the wicked with the enduring peace of the righteous; Athaliah’s swift downfall underscores that truth. The sword falls, idolatry is cut off, and the people taste freedom.

The verse paints a simple but powerful progression: the removal of evil (Athaliah) leads to peace (“the city was quiet”), which in turn births celebration (“all the people… rejoiced”). God’s faithfulness to preserve the Davidic line, honor covenant obedience, and bring justice reminds us that He still replaces turmoil with quiet gladness when His rightful rule is embraced.

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