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11 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal offspring. But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were slain, even him and his nurse, and put them in the bedroom; and they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not slain. He was with her hidden in Yahweh’s house six years while Athaliah reigned over the land. In the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the captains over hundreds of the Carites and of the guard, and brought them to him into Yahweh’s house; and he made a covenant with them, and made a covenant with them in Yahweh’s house, and showed them the king’s son. He commanded them, saying, “This is what you must do: a third of you, who come in on the Sabbath, shall be keepers of the watch of the king’s house; a third of you shall be at the gate Sur; and a third of you at the gate behind the guard. So you shall keep the watch of the house, and be a barrier. The two companies of you, even all who go out on the Sabbath, shall keep the watch of Yahweh’s house around the king. You shall surround the king, every man with his weapons in his hand; and he who comes within the ranks, let him be slain. Be with the king when he goes out, and when he comes in.”

The captains over hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded; and they each took his men, those who were to come in on the Sabbath, with those who were to go out on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 The priest delivered to the captains over hundreds the spears and shields that had been king David’s, which were in Yahweh’s house. 11 The guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, along by the altar and the house, around the king. 12 Then he brought out the king’s son, and put the crown on him, and gave him the covenant; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, “Long live the king!”

13 When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into Yahweh’s house: 14 and she looked, and behold, the king stood by the pillar, as the tradition was, with the captains and the trumpets by the king; and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes, and cried, “Treason! Treason!”

15 Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds who were set over the army, and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks. Kill anyone who follows her with the sword.” For the priest said, “Don’t let her be slain in Yahweh’s house.” 16 So they made way for her; and she went by the way of the horses’ entry to the king’s house, and she was slain there. 17 Jehoiada made a covenant between Yahweh and the king and the people, that they should be Yahweh’s people; also between the king and the people. 18 All the people of the land went to the house of Baal, and broke it down. They broke his altars and his images in pieces thoroughly, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. The priest appointed officers over Yahweh’s house. 19 He took the captains over hundreds, and the Carites, and the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from Yahweh’s house, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king’s house. He sat on the throne of the kings. 20 So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. They had slain Athaliah with the sword at the king’s house.

21 Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.

Athaliah Usurps the Throne

11 When Athaliah,(A) Ahaziah’s mother,(B) saw that her son was dead,(C) she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs. Jehosheba,(D) who was King Jehoram’s daughter and Ahaziah’s(E) sister, secretly rescued Joash son of Ahaziah from among the king’s sons who were being killed and put him and the one who nursed him in a bedroom. So he was hidden from Athaliah and was not killed. Joash was in hiding with her in the Lord’s temple six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.

Athaliah Overthrown

In(F) the seventh year, Jehoiada(G) sent for the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards.(H) He had them come to him in the Lord’s temple, where he made a covenant with them and put them under oath. He showed them the king’s son and commanded them, “This is what you are to do: A third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath(I) are to provide protection for the king’s palace. A third are to be at the Foundation[a] Gate and a third at the gate behind the guards. You are to take turns providing protection for the palace.[b](J)

“Your two divisions that go off duty on the Sabbath are to provide the king protection at the Lord’s temple. Completely surround the king with weapons in hand. Anyone who approaches the ranks is to be put to death. Be with the king in all his daily tasks.”[c](K)

So the commanders of hundreds did everything the priest Jehoiada commanded. They each brought their men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—and came to the priest Jehoiada.(L) 10 The priest gave to the commanders of hundreds King David’s spears and shields(M) that were in the Lord’s temple. 11 Then the guards stood with their weapons in hand surrounding the king—from the right side of the temple to the left side, by the altar and by the temple.

12 Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, put the crown(N) on him, gave him the testimony,[d](O) and made him king. They anointed(P) him and clapped their hands and cried, “Long live the king!” (Q)

13 When Athaliah(R) heard the noise from the guard and the crowd, she went out to the people at the Lord’s temple.(S) 14 She looked, and there was the king standing by the pillar(T) according to the custom. The commanders and the trumpeters were by the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets.(U) Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed “Treason! Treason!” (V)

15 Then the priest Jehoiada(W) ordered the commanders of hundreds(X) in charge of the army, “Take her out between the ranks, and put to death by the sword anyone who follows her,” for the priest had said, “She is not to be put to death in the Lord’s temple.”(Y) 16 So they arrested her, and she went through the horse entrance(Z) to the king’s palace, where she was put to death.(AA)

Jehoiada’s Reforms

17 Then(AB) Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people that they would be the Lord’s people(AC) and another covenant between the king and the people.[e](AD) 18 So all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed its altars and images to pieces,(AE) and they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, at the altars.(AF)

Then Jehoiada the priest appointed guards for the Lord’s temple.(AG) 19 He took the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards,(AH) and all the people of the land, and they brought the king from the Lord’s temple. They entered the king’s palace by way of the guards’ gate. Then Joash(AI) sat on the throne of the kings. 20 All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet, for they had put Athaliah to death by the sword in the king’s palace.

Judah’s King Joash

21 Joash[f](AJ) was seven years old when he became king.(AK)

Footnotes

  1. 11:6 See 2Ch 23:5; MT here reads Sur
  2. 11:6 Hb obscure
  3. 11:8 Lit king when he goes out and when he comes in
  4. 11:12 Or him the copy of the covenant, or him a diadem, or him jewels
  5. 11:17 Some Gk versions, 2Ch 23:16 omit and another covenant between the king and the people
  6. 11:21 = The Lord Has Bestowed