Joash

He came to the throne at seven years old, hidden from the world for six years before that — a child kept alive in the house of God while a queen tried to erase his bloodline from the earth. The story of Joash, eighth king of Judah, is one of survival, squandered grace, and a life that bent sharply in two directions.

When King Ahaziah of Judah died, his mother Athaliah moved to seize power by destroying every royal heir she could find. She very nearly succeeded. But Jehosheba, the sister of Ahaziah, took the infant Joash and hid him — him and his nurse — in the house of the LORD. For six years, Athaliah ruled Judah while the rightful heir lay concealed in the temple courts, unknown to the court that was hunting his family.

³And he was with her hid in the house of the Lord six years. And Athaliah did reign over the land.

2 Kings 11:3·KJV

The Davidic line, the covenant thread God had been weaving since the promise to David himself, was reduced to one small child in a hiding place.

In the seventh year, Jehoiada the priest acted. He gathered the captains of the guard, made a covenant with them, showed them the king's son, and set the machinery of a careful, decisive coup in motion. Soldiers were posted at every gate, weapons drawn. At the appointed moment, Joash was brought out, the crown was placed on his head, and the testimony was put into his hand. They anointed him and clapped their hands and cried, "God save the king."

¹²And he brought forth the king’s son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, God save the king.

2 Kings 11:12·KJV

Athaliah heard the noise, came to the temple, and saw it — and was led out and executed. The throne of David was restored to the house of David. A seven-year-old boy was its occupant.