THE LEARNING OF YERUSHALMI IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF
Dora Bas Rivka Silver O'H
Dora Bas Rivka Silver O'H
II Kings - Chapter 11
Rabbi Dr. Gidon Rothstein
And One Queen
By Rabbi Jack Abramowitz
Atalya, mother of Achaziah, saw her son was dead and took the opportunity to eradicate his heirs, her own grandchildren. (Remember, she was the daughter of Ahab and Jezebel - the apple doesn't fall far from the tree!) She wiped all the descendants of Solomon, through whom the throne is transmitted, except for one. This one was saved by Yehosheva.
Who was Yehosheva? She was: Yehoram's daughter, Achaziah's sister, wife of Yehoyada, the Kohein Gadol (High Priest). She was Atalya's own daughter.
So, Yehosheva took her infant nephew Yoash and hid him from Atalya. He was hidden in the Temple for six years, while Atalya usurped the throne. In the seventh year, Yehoyada called together the leaders of the people and revealed to them that a rightful heir was still alive. It was time to restore him.
Yehoyada divided his forces so as to protect the young king from any who would harm him. With everyone in place, Yehoyada crowned Yoash with David's ceremonial crown (see II Samuel 12) and gave him the Torah scroll that all kings must carry. The people cheered, "Long live the king!"
Atalya heard the commotion coming from the Temple and went to investigate. When she saw what was going on, she tore her clothes and shouted, "It's a coup!" (Like she should talk!) Yehoyada had Atalya arrested, so that she wouldn't be executed in the Temple. She was marched through the back streets to the service entrance of the palace and was executed there.
Yehoyada then forged a covenant between the people and G-d, and between the people and the king. The people tore down the temple of Baal in Judah and smashed the idols. They marched the new king to the palace via the public thoroughfare and placed him on the throne. The Navi doesn't tell us any specifics of Atalya's reign, except that the people rejoiced that it was over.
A short Insight into II Kings, Chapter 11
In parshas Tzav, we read about the various sacrifices. With regard to mincha (meal) offerings, verse nine says, “Any meal offering that is baked in the oven and any that is made in a deep pan or upon a shallow pan – it shall belong to the Kohein who offers it; it shall be his.”Rashi, quoting the gemora asks, “You might think that that specific Kohein is entitled to the whole meal offering himself. Therefore the verse says, 'To all of the children of Aharon it should be.' Consequently, you might think that it should belong to all of the Kohanim. Therefore, the verse says, 'To the Kohein who brings it.' How is [a reconciliation of these verses possible]?
The meal offering is divided to the family of Kohanim in charge of the service for that day. After all, Rabbeinu Bachya explains, “The Kohanim were divided into twenty-four group and would rotate on a weekly basis. As Yehoyada stated (our chapter, verse 9), “Each [captain] took his men, those who were arriving on the Shabbos and those who were leaving on the Shabbos, and came to Yehoyada the Kohein.”
Every one of these groups worked in the Bais Hamikdash from Shabbos to Shabbos. They were also sub-divided into groups for each of the six days of the work week. When Shabbos arrived, they worked together.
Thus, whenever a sacrifice was brought during their respective weeks of service, they would divide the sacrifice amongst those in that group who were working that day.
