Her name was Jehosheba (Jehoshabeath).

Her name contains God’s name, Jehovah, and the verb “to swear or make an oath.” It can be interpreted as “God has sworn” or “she worships Jehovah.”  She worked quickly with God so that His promise to King David was not destroyed by evil.

Her story: 2 Kings 11:2; 2 Chronicles 22:10-12

Jehosheba is mentioned only twice in Scriptures and her bold action is described in both passages. There are many characters in her story. Jehosheba’s father was King Jehoram, the king of Judah. He had many wives and one wife was Athaliah, a daughter of Ahab and Jezebel (consider the ultimate wicked step-mother). Jehosheba married a priest in Jerusalem named Jehoiada. Athaliah had a son, Ahaziah. When Jehoram died, Ahaziah became the king. During Ahaziah’s reign, God sent Jehu to destroy the evil household of Ahab and Jezebel and the prophets of Baal in Israel. Jehu eradicated the family in Israel and then moved toward Judah to execute their family there. He found Ahaziah, his brothers and those who served him and executed them all. When that happened, Athaliah decided she would rule Judah and she annihilated all the royal male heirs, Jehoram’s line, she could find. Jehosheba hid an infant heir, Joash, and his nurse in the temple. They lived hidden in the temple for six years. When he turned seven, Jehoiada, the priest and Jehosheba’s husband, sent for the commanders of the army, bodyguards, and couriers and introduced them to Joash. They revolted against Athaliah and made Joash king.  Joash reigned forty years and did what was right in God’s sight. 

Her legacy for us:  We often understand the importance of protecting the innocent from evil, but we may not know the significance of these actions when we take an eternal perspective. History tells of others who hid away souls God intended to preserve. When we work with God, our actions make kingdom differences.

Our response to Him: How quickly do I act to save and care for the people and things You care for? What needs to change in me so that my worship and service of You becomes courageous?

Addendum: I got caught up reading the Jehosheba’s backstory. It is truly a good vs. evil tale played out in the lives of human begins. One thing struck me. Many of the evil kings had short, bloody, chaotic reigns, but Joash ruled 40 years. He worked to repair the temple, but when he was threatened by a neighboring king, he gave all the consecrated things from the temple as a tribute/ransom for safety. Later, his own servants conspired against him. And this is the question that I’m discussing with God: Where in my life do you see me handing away things that are consecrated to You and Your service? How do I treasure and care for what You treasure?