2 Kings 11
Christian Standard Bible
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. 2 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. 3 Joash was in hiding with her in the Lord’s temple six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.
Athaliah Overthrown
4 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 5 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. 6 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)
7 “Your two divisions that go off duty on the Sabbath are to provide the king protection at the Lord’s temple. 8 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)
9 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
2 Kings 11
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
Athaliah Reigns over Judah
11 Now when Athaliah, Ahaziah’s mother, saw that her son was dead, she set about to destroy all the royal family.(A) 2 But Jehosheba, King Joram’s daughter, Ahaziah’s sister, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king’s children who were about to be killed; she put[a] him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus she[b] hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not killed;(B) 3 he remained with her six years, hidden in the house of the Lord, while Athaliah reigned over the land.
Jehoiada Anoints the Child Joash
4 But in the seventh year Jehoiada summoned the captains of the Carites and of the guards and had them come to him in the house of the Lord. He made a covenant with them and put them under oath in the house of the Lord; then he showed them the king’s son.(C) 5 He commanded them, “This is what you are to do: one-third of you, those who go off duty on the Sabbath and guard the king’s house(D) 6 (another third being at the gate Sur and a third at the gate behind the guards), shall guard the palace, 7 and your two divisions that come on duty in force on the Sabbath and guard the house of the Lord[c] 8 shall surround the king, each with weapons in hand, and whoever approaches the ranks is to be killed. Be with the king in his comings and goings.”
9 The captains did according to all that the priest Jehoiada commanded; each brought his men who were to go off duty on the Sabbath, with those who were to come on duty on the Sabbath, and came to the priest Jehoiada.(E) 10 The priest delivered to the captains the spears and shields that had been King David’s, which were in the house of the Lord;(F) 11 the guards stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the south side of the house to the north side of the house, around the altar and the house, to guard the king on every side. 12 Then he brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, and gave him the covenant; they proclaimed him king and anointed him; they clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!”(G)
Death of Athaliah
13 When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she went into the house of the Lord to the people;(H) 14 when she looked, there was the king standing by the pillar, according to custom, with the captains and the trumpeters beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!”(I) 15 Then the priest Jehoiada commanded the captains who were set over the army, “Bring her out between the ranks and kill with the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest said, “Let her not be killed in the house of the Lord.” 16 So they laid hands on her; she went through the horses’ entrance to the king’s house, and there she was put to death.
17 Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and people, that they should be the Lord’s people; also between the king and the people.(J) 18 Then all the people of the land went to the house of Baal and tore it down; his altars and his images they broke in pieces, and they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars. The priest posted guards over the house of the Lord.(K) 19 He took the captains, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land; then they brought the king down from the house of the Lord, marching through the gate of the guards to the king’s house. He took his seat on the throne of the kings.(L) 20 So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been killed with the sword at the king’s house.
21 [d]Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.(M)
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New Revised Standard Version, Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.