The Meaning of 2 Kings 11:15 Explained

2 Kings 11:15

KJV: But Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the host, and said unto them, Have her forth without the ranges: and him that followeth her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the LORD.

YLT: And Jehoiada the priest commandeth the heads of the hundreds, inspectors of the force, and saith unto them, 'Bring her out unto the outside of the ranges, and him who is going after her, put to death by the sword:' for the priest had said, 'Let her not be put to death in the house of Jehovah.'

Darby: And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds that were set over the host, and said to them, Lead her forth without the ranks; and whosoever follows her, slay with the sword; for the priest said, Let her not be put to death in the house of Jehovah.

ASV: And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth between the ranks; and him that followeth her slay with the sword. For the priest said, Let her not be slain in the house of Jehovah.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But Jehoiada  the priest  commanded  the captains  of the hundreds,  the officers  of the host,  and said  unto them, Have her forth  without  the ranges:  and him that followeth  her kill  with the sword.  For the priest  had said,  Let her not be slain  in the house  of the LORD. 

What does 2 Kings 11:15 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Kings 11:13-20 - Covenanting To Be The Lord's People
The death of Athaliah led the way to a thorough change throughout the kingdom. There was a double covenant, first, between the Lord on the one hand and the king and the people on the other, and second, between the king and the people; then the demolition of the Baal-house, which had sadly profaned the Holy City; and finally regulations for the proper performance of diving worship. These led the way to the public enthronement of the boy-king. The joy and quiet which ensued always follow the casting out of evil. Adjust a nation or an individual to the claims of God, and at once peace and joy succeed. The Lord Jesus, who is now hidden, shall one day be manifested, as we have seen. Those that hate Him shall be put to shame. Then shall come salvation and the kingdom of God. Every evil that exalts itself against Him shall be cast out, and the nations shall rejoice and be quiet because they have discovered their rightful ruler. Notice the alliance between the young king and the aged priest. It was necessary, under the old Covenant, that the functions of king and priest should be fulfilled by different individuals. The civil and religious elements demanded separate expression, but in Jesus they perfectly blend. He is "a priest upon His throne," Zechariah 6:13. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Kings 11

1  Jehoash, being saved by Jehosheba his aunt from Athaliah's massacre,
3  is hidden six years in the house of God
13  Jehoiada, giving order to the captains, in the seventh year anoints him king
17  Jehoiada restores the worship of God

What do the individual words in 2 Kings 11:15 mean?

And commanded Jehoiada the priest - the captains of hundreds the hundreds the officers of the army and said to them take outside her outside in the house under guard and whoever follows her slay with the sword For had said the priest not do let her be killed in the house of Yahweh
וַיְצַו֩ יְהוֹיָדָ֨ע הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אֶת־ שָׂרֵ֥י [המיאות] (הַמֵּא֣וֹת ׀) פְּקֻדֵ֣י הַחַ֗יִל וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם֙ הוֹצִ֤יאוּ אֹתָהּ֙ אֶל־ מִבֵּ֣ית לַשְּׂדֵרֹ֔ת וְהַבָּ֥א אַחֲרֶ֖יהָ הָמֵ֣ת בֶּחָ֑רֶב כִּ֚י אָמַ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן אַל־ תּוּמַ֖ת בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה

וַיְצַו֩  And  commanded 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
יְהוֹיָדָ֨ע  Jehoiada 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יְהֹויָדָע  
Sense: father of Benaiah, David’s mighty warrior.
הַכֹּהֵ֜ן  the  priest 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
שָׂרֵ֥י  the  captains 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: סָרַר 
Sense: prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain.
[המיאות]  of  hundreds 
Parse: Article, Number, feminine plural
(הַמֵּא֣וֹת ׀)  the  hundreds 
Parse: Article, Number, feminine plural
Root: מֵאָה 
Sense: hundred.
פְּקֻדֵ֣י  the  officers 
Parse: Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine plural construct
Root: פָּקַד 
Sense: to attend to, muster, number, reckon, visit, punish, appoint, look after, care for.
הַחַ֗יִל  of  the  army 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: חַיִל 
Sense: strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army.
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֲלֵיהֶם֙  to  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הוֹצִ֤יאוּ  take  outside 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
אֹתָהּ֙  her 
Parse: Direct object marker, third person feminine singular
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אֶל־  outside 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
מִבֵּ֣ית  in  the  house 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
לַשְּׂדֵרֹ֔ת  under  guard 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: שְׂדֵרָה  
Sense: row, rank (of soldiers).
אַחֲרֶ֖יהָ  whoever  follows  her 
Parse: Preposition, third person feminine singular
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
הָמֵ֣ת  slay 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive absolute
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
בֶּחָ֑רֶב  with  the  sword 
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: חֶרֶב  
Sense: sword, knife.
אָמַ֣ר  had  said 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הַכֹּהֵ֔ן  the  priest 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
תּוּמַ֖ת  do  let  her  be  killed 
Parse: Verb, Hofal, Imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
בֵּ֥ית  in  the  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
יְהוָֽה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.