Matthew Henry's Complete Bible Commentary

Verses 10—12

We have here what we had before, 2 Kings 11:1-11:16 1. A wicked woman endeavouring to destroy the house of David, that she might set up a throne for herself upon the ruins of it. Athaliah barbarously cut off all the seed-royal (2 Chronicles 22:10), perhaps intending to transmit the crown of Judah after herself to some of her own relations, that though her family was cut off in Israel by Jehu it might be planted in Judah. 2. A good woman effectually preserving it from being wholly extirpated. One of the late king’s sons, a child of a year old, was rescued from among the dead, and saved alive by the care of Jehoiada’s wife (2 Chronicles 22:11, 22:12), that a lamp might be ordained for God’s anointed; for no word of God shall fall to the ground. MHBCC 390.7