What does 2 Kings 11:18 mean?
"And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal, and brake it down; his altars and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the LORD." - 2 Kings 11:18
The verse 2 Kings 11:18 from the King James Version of the Bible reads as follows: "And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal, and brake it down; his altars and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the Lord."
This verse comes at the end of a passage that describes the reign of King Joash in Judah. It occurs after the young king has been hidden away in the temple for six years to protect him from his evil grandmother Athaliah, who had been ruling the kingdom. When Joash comes of age, the high priest Jehoiada orchestrates a plan to overthrow Athaliah and establish Joash as the rightful king.
The context of this verse is one of religious and political upheaval. Athaliah had promoted the worship of the pagan god Baal in Judah and had persecuted the followers of the Lord. However, with the rise of Joash, the people of the land rallied behind him and sought to restore the worship of the true God. As a result, they went into the house of Baal and destroyed the altars and images of the false god, and then executed the priest of Baal, Mattan, in front of his own altars. This act symbolized a clean break from the idolatrous practices that had been forced upon the people, and a return to the worship of the Lord.
The themes present in this verse are those of faithfulness, restoration, and the rejection of false idols. The actions of the people in destroying the house of Baal and killing the priest signify a turning point for the nation of Judah. They are reclaiming their heritage and returning to the worship of the Lord, as they were originally commanded to do. This event also serves as a reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and the importance of remaining faithful to him.
The symbolism in this verse is powerful and multi-layered. The destruction of the house of Baal represents the eradication of false beliefs and practices. It demonstrates the power of the Lord over all other gods and the futility of worshiping anything other than the one true God. The breaking down of the altars and images also serves as a physical manifestation of the spiritual cleansing that is taking place within the nation. By removing these objects of idolatry, the people are making a clear statement about their priorities and allegiances.
The execution of the priest of Baal, Mattan, adds another layer of symbolism to this verse. It shows that the people are willing to take decisive and drastic action to rid themselves of the corrupt influences that had been imposed on them. By removing the leader of the false religion, they are cutting off the head of the snake and preventing any further spread of idolatry.
Overall, 2 Kings 11:18 is a powerful and symbolic verse that conveys a message of faithfulness, restoration, and the rejection of false idols. It serves as a reminder of the consequences of turning away from God and the importance of remaining faithful to him. This verse is a powerful example of the transformative power of God's grace and the willingness of his people to take decisive action in reclaiming their faith and heritage.
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2 Kings 11:18 - "And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal, and brake it down; his altars and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the LORD."
"And all the people of the land went into the house of Baal, and brake it down; his altars and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the LORD." - 2 Kings 11:18
2 Kings 18:11 - "And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes:"
Joshua 11:18 - "Joshua made war a long time with all those kings."
2 Kings 2:11
2 Kings 2:11
2 Kings 2:11
2 Kings 14:18 - "And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?"
1 Kings 18:11 - "And now thou sayest, Go, tell thy lord, Behold, Elijah is here."
2 Kings 1:18 - "Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?"
2 Kings 15:11 - "And the rest of the acts of Zachariah, behold, they are written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel."
1 Kings 2:18 - "And Bath-sheba said, Well; I will speak for thee unto the king."
2 Kings 7:11 - "And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house within."
"And the king of Assyria did carry away Israel unto Assyria, and put them in Halah and in Habor by the river of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes:" - 2 Kings 18:11
2 Kings 8:18 - "And he walked in the way of the kings of Israel, as did the house of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife: and he did evil in the sight of the LORD."
2 Kings 18:18 - "And when they had called to the king, there came out to them Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder."
"Joshua made war a long time with all those kings." - Joshua 11:18
2 Kings 2:11 – "As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared."
1 Kings 18:2 - "And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. And there was a sore famine in Samaria."
2 Kings 18:15 - "And Hezekiah gave him all the silver that was found in the house of the LORD, and in the treasures of the king's house."
2 Kings 18:36 - "But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king's commandment was, saying, Answer him not."
2 Kings 11:21 - "Seven years old was Jehoash when he began to reign."
2 Samuel 11:18 - "¶ Then Joab sent and told David all the things concerning the war;"
"And the rest of the acts of Amaziah, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Judah?" - 2 Kings 14:18
2 Kings 3:18 - "And this is but a light thing in the sight of the LORD: he will deliver the Moabites also into your hand."
2 Kings 18:33 - "Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?"
2 Kings 18:5 - "He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him."
2 Kings 24:11 - "And Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came against the city, and his servants did besiege it."
2 Kings 19:11 - "Behold, thou hast heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, by destroying them utterly: and shalt thou be delivered?"
2 Kings 16:18 - "And the covert for the sabbath that they had built in the house, and the king's entry without, turned he from the house of the LORD for the king of Assyria."