Holy Smokes: Was That a Coup or a Revival?

Reading through 2 Kings 9 to 11, I found myself focused less on the dramatic violence of Jehu and more on what happens after the dust settles. Once the royal bloodshed ends and a new king is in place, there's a shift in attention to the religious infrastructure of the kingdom. The destruction of Baal's temple, in particular, caught my attention—not just as a religious act, but as a political move.

Smash the Idols, Secure the Throne?

After Joash is crowned king in chapter 11, the high priest Jehoiada leads a public rejection of Baal worship. The temple of Baal is torn down, its priest killed, and its altars demolished. It's a decisive moment that reads like a clear return to earlier religious traditions. But it also raises questions about what role religion is playing here. Was this a genuine return to faith or a carefully orchestrated moment of political consolidation?

Joash: The Pint-Sized King with a Powerhouse Priest

Joash is a child when he's crowned, so much of the power rests in the hands of Jehoiada. As a high priest, he holds both religious and political influence. The removal of Athaliah, the restoration of the Davidic line, and the purging of Baal worship all come as a package. It's hard not to notice how religious reform and political stability are completely intertwined in this story.

Faith, Unity, or Just a Great PR Move?

That overlap brings up a broader question: when leaders make changes to religious institutions, is it always about belief? Or is it sometimes about creating unity, authority, or legitimacy?

In this case, tearing down Baal's temple may have helped re-establish a collective identity after years of turmoil. Athaliah had come from the northern kingdom, and her reign was marked by associations with foreign gods. By contrast, Joash’s installation as king is steeped in ritual that ties him back to earlier traditions. The people cheer, the priest anoints him, the city celebrates. It's a public reset, not just of power but of narrative.

What Did the Crowd Really Think?

I wonder how ordinary people would have experienced this shift. Would they have felt relief, confusion, fear? Did they truly abandon Baal, or simply follow the winds of power? Reading these chapters with a modern lens, it's easy to spot how religion and politics are often used together to shape social order. Whether in ancient Judah or in contemporary societies, the question of who gets to define "right worship" or "true tradition" is often bound up with who holds the reins of power.

In the end, the destruction of Baal’s temple isn’t just about one god being rejected in favor of another. It's also about authority being reasserted, loyalties being redirected, and a kingdom trying to find its footing after years of instability.