And he was with them hid in the house of God six years: and Athaliah reigned over the land.

2 CHRONICLES 22:12KJV
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2 Chronicles 22:12 (KJV)

What does 2 Chronicles 22:12 mean?

2 Chronicles 22:12 describes how Joash, a young descendant of King David, was secretly hidden in the temple of God for six years while Athaliah ruled over the land. This verse highlights a period when the rightful heir to the throne was kept safe from danger during a time of political upheaval.

The setting is the kingdom of Judah, after Athaliah seized power by killing off the royal family. Joash’s aunt, Jehoshabeath, and the high priest Jehoiada protected him by hiding him in the temple (the “house of God”). During these six years, Athaliah, who was not from the line of David, ruled as queen, unaware that the true king was alive and being sheltered.

The Hebrew behind 2 Chronicles 22:12

  • "hid" (סָתַר, satar): This word means to conceal or keep something secret. The use of this word emphasizes the deliberate and careful effort to keep Joash’s presence unknown to Athaliah.
  • "house" (בַּיִת, bayit) and "God" (אֱלֹהִים, elohim): Together, these refer to the temple, the central place of worship in Jerusalem. The temple was not only a religious center but also a place of refuge and protection in this context.
  • "reigned" (מָלַךְ, malakh): This word means to rule as a monarch. The verse uses it to describe Athaliah’s time as the ruler, highlighting that her reign occurred while the rightful king was in hiding.

Why 2 Chronicles 22:12 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the line of David was not completely wiped out, even though Athaliah tried to destroy it. The survival of Joash is crucial for the continuation of the Davidic dynasty.
  • The verse underscores the temple’s role not just as a place of worship but as a sanctuary and a place of safety during times of crisis.
  • It sets up the dramatic reversal in the next chapter, where Joash is revealed and Athaliah’s illegitimate rule comes to an end, restoring the rightful king to the throne.

Where else these words appear

“Athaliah” Hebrew H6271 · used in 17 verses

  • 2 Kings 8:26 Two and twenty years old was Ahaziah when he began to reign; and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother's name was Athaliah, the daughter of Omri king of Israel.
  • 2 Kings 11:14 And when she looked, behold, the king stood by a pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets: and Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason.
  • 2 Chronicles 22:11 But Jehoshabeath, the daughter of the king, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king's sons that were slain, and put him and his nurse in a bedchamber. So Jehoshabeath, the daughter of king Jehoram, the wife of Jehoiada the priest,(for she was the sister of Ahaziah,) hid him from Athaliah, so that she slew him not.

“hid” Hebrew H2244 · used in 33 verses

  • Genesis 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
  • 1 Samuel 13:6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in a strait,(for the people were distressed,) then the people did hide themselves in caves, and in thickets, and in rocks, and in high places, and in pits.
  • 2 Chronicles 18:24 And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.