NOTES for Ch2 22:1-12
How tempting it would be to regard Athaliah as the principal source of the evil that triumphed in Judah! Her contribution to the spread of lawlessness was undoubtedly great, but only because she opened her heart to the darkness that had been trying for centuries, even without her, to enslave each of us. Once evil has entered the world, it does not disappear but gives birth to new evil. Attempts to end evil by force lead to new bloodshed, and then streams of blood lead to new streams. What, then, should be done? Should the violent eradication of evildoers continue until complete victory, or should we try to stop evil through peace and love?
The second way seems impossible. Those drawn into the cycle of violence, retribution, new violence in revenge for retribution and so on have no intention of ending violence. This is a very human reaction, but, in the words of a Japanese writer, “the human, all too human, is always something animal.” To be truly human, we must open ourselves to what comes from above. Only then can peace enter our hearts and afterward be established on earth.