¹⁸ He followed the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter^(A) of Ahab. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

²⁶ Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem one year. His mother’s name was Athaliah,^(A) a granddaughter of Omri^(B) king of Israel.

Athaliah and Joash^(A)

11 When Athaliah^(B) the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family. ² But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram^[a] and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash^(C) son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed.^{(D) 3} He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the Lord for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

¹² Jehoiada brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him; he presented him with a copy of the covenant^(A) and proclaimed him king. They anointed^(B) him, and the people clapped their hands^(C) and shouted, “Long live the king!”^(D)

¹³ When Athaliah heard the noise made by the guards and the people, she went to the people at the temple of the Lord. ¹⁴ She looked and there was the king, standing by the pillar,^(E) as the custom was. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets.^(F) Then Athaliah tore^(G) her robes and called out, “Treason! Treason!”^(H)

¹⁵ Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of the troops: “Bring her out between the ranks^[a] and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the temple^(I) of the Lord.” ¹⁶ So they seized her as she reached the place where the horses enter^(J) the palace grounds, and there she was put to death.^(K)

²⁰ All the people of the land rejoiced,^(A) and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the palace.

Athaliah and Joash^(A)

¹⁰ When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family of the house of Judah. ¹¹ But Jehosheba,^[a] the daughter of King Jehoram, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes who were about to be murdered and put him and his nurse in a bedroom. Because Jehosheba,^[b] the daughter of King Jehoram and wife of the priest Jehoiada, was Ahaziah’s sister, she hid the child from Athaliah so she could not kill him. ¹² He remained hidden with them at the temple of God for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

¹² When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and cheering the king, she went to them at the temple of the Lord.