23 In the seventh year Jehoiada showed his strength. He made a covenant with the commanders of units of a hundred: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zikri. They went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites(A) and the heads of Israelite families from all the towns. When they came to Jerusalem, the whole assembly made a covenant(B) with the king at the temple of God.

Jehoiada said to them, “The king’s son shall reign, as the Lord promised concerning the descendants of David.(C) Now this is what you are to do: A third of you priests and Levites who are going on duty on the Sabbath are to keep watch at the doors, a third of you at the royal palace and a third at the Foundation Gate, and all the others are to be in the courtyards of the temple of the Lord. No one is to enter the temple of the Lord except the priests and Levites on duty; they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the others are to observe(D) the Lord’s command not to enter.[a] The Levites are to station themselves around the king, each with weapon in hand. Anyone who enters the temple is to be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes.”

The Levites and all the men of Judah did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered.(E) Each one took his men—those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were going off duty—for Jehoiada the priest had not released any of the divisions.(F) Then he gave the commanders of units of a hundred the spears and the large and small shields that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of God. 10 He stationed all the men, each with his weapon in his hand, around the king—near the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.

11 Jehoiada and his sons brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him; they presented him with a copy(G) of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him and shouted, “Long live the king!”

12 When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and cheering the king, she went to them at the temple of the Lord. 13 She looked, and there was the king,(H) standing by his pillar(I) at the entrance. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and musicians with their instruments were leading the praises. Then Athaliah tore her robes and shouted, “Treason! Treason!”

14 Jehoiada the priest sent out the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of the troops, and said to them: “Bring her out between the ranks[b] and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “Do not put her to death at the temple of the Lord.” 15 So they seized her as she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate(J) on the palace grounds, and there they put her to death.

16 Jehoiada then made a covenant(K) that he, the people and the king[c] would be the Lord’s people. 17 All the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols and killed(L) Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.

18 Then Jehoiada placed the oversight of the temple of the Lord in the hands of the Levitical priests,(M) to whom David had made assignments in the temple,(N) to present the burnt offerings of the Lord as written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and singing, as David had ordered. 19 He also stationed gatekeepers(O) at the gates of the Lord’s temple so that no one who was in any way unclean might enter.

20 He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people and all the people of the land and brought the king down from the temple of the Lord. They went into the palace through the Upper Gate(P) and seated the king on the royal throne. 21 All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword.(Q)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 23:6 Or are to stand guard where the Lord has assigned them
  2. 2 Chronicles 23:14 Or out from the precincts
  3. 2 Chronicles 23:16 Or covenant between the Lord and the people and the king that they (see 2 Kings 11:17)

耶何耶大謀攻亞她利雅

23 第七年,耶何耶大奮勇自強,將百夫長耶羅罕的兒子亞撒利雅約哈難的兒子以實瑪利俄備得的兒子亞撒利雅亞大雅的兒子瑪西雅細基利的兒子以利沙法召來,與他們立約。 他們走遍猶大,從猶大各城裡招聚利未人和以色列的眾族長到耶路撒冷來。 會眾在神殿裡與王立約。耶何耶大對他們說:「看哪,王的兒子必當做王,正如耶和華指著大衛子孫所應許的話。」 又說:「你們當這樣行:祭司和利未人,凡安息日進班的,三分之一要把守各門, 三分之一要在王宮,三分之一要在基址門,眾百姓要在耶和華殿的院內。 除了祭司和供職的利未人之外,不准別人進耶和華的殿,唯獨他們可以進去,因為他們聖潔;眾百姓要遵守耶和華所吩咐的。 利未人要手中各拿兵器,四圍護衛王,凡擅入殿宇的必當治死。王出入的時候,你們當跟隨他。」

利未人和猶大眾人都照著祭司耶何耶大一切所吩咐的去行,各帶所管安息日進班出班的人來,因為祭司耶何耶大不許他們下班。 祭司耶何耶大便將神殿裡所藏大衛王的槍、盾牌、擋牌交給百夫長, 10 又分派眾民手中各拿兵器,在壇和殿那裡,從殿右直到殿左,站在王子的四圍。 11 於是領王子出來,給他戴上冠冕,將律法書交給他,立他做王。耶何耶大和眾子膏他,眾人說:「願王萬歲!」

亞她利雅被殺

12 亞她利雅聽見民奔走、讚美王的聲音,就到民那裡,進耶和華的殿。 13 看見王站在殿門的柱旁,百夫長和吹號的人侍立在王左右,國民都歡樂、吹號,又有歌唱的用各樣的樂器領人歌唱讚美,亞她利雅就撕裂衣服,喊叫說:「反了!反了!」 14 祭司耶何耶大帶管轄軍兵的百夫長出來,吩咐他們說:「將她趕到班外,凡跟隨她的必用刀殺死。」因為祭司說:「不可在耶和華殿裡殺她。」 15 眾兵就閃開讓她去,她走到王宮的門,便在那裡把她殺了。

耶何耶大與民及王立約

16 耶何耶大與眾民和王立約,都要做耶和華的民。 17 於是眾民都到巴力廟,拆毀了廟,打碎壇和像,又在壇前將巴力的祭司瑪坦殺了。 18 耶何耶大派官看守耶和華的殿,是在祭司利未人手下;這祭司利未人是大衛分派在耶和華殿中,照摩西律法上所寫的給耶和華獻燔祭,又按大衛所定的例歡樂、歌唱。 19 且設立守門的把守耶和華殿的各門,無論為何事,不潔淨的人都不准進去。 20 又率領百夫長和貴胄與民間的官長,並國中的眾民,請王從耶和華殿下來,由上門進入王宮,立王坐在國位上。 21 國民都歡樂,合城都安靜。眾人已將亞她利雅用刀殺了。

Joash Crowned King of Judah(A)

23 In (B)the seventh year (C)Jehoiada strengthened himself, and made a covenant with the captains of hundreds: Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, Azariah the son of (D)Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri. And they went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the (E)chief fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.

Then all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said to them, “Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as the Lord has (F)said of the sons of David. This is what you shall do: One-third of you (G)entering on the Sabbath, of the priests and the Levites, shall be keeping watch over the doors; one-third shall be at the king’s house; and one-third at the Gate of the Foundation. All the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord. But let no one come into the house of the Lord except the priests and (H)those of the Levites who serve. They may go in, for they are holy; but all the people shall keep the watch of the Lord. And the Levites shall surround the king on all sides, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes into the house, let him be put to death. You are to be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.”

So the Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each man took his men who were to be on duty on the Sabbath, with those who were going off duty on the Sabbath; for Jehoiada the priest had not dismissed (I)the divisions. And Jehoiada the priest gave to the captains of hundreds the spears and the large and small (J)shields which had belonged to King David, that were in the temple of God. 10 Then he set all the people, every man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and by the temple, all around the king. 11 And they brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, (K)gave him the [a]Testimony, and made him king. Then Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, “Long live the king!”

Death of Athaliah(L)

12 Now when (M)Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people in the temple of the Lord. 13 When she looked, there was the king standing by his pillar at the entrance; and the leaders and the trumpeters were by the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, also the singers with musical instruments, and (N)those who led in praise. So Athaliah tore her clothes and said, (O)“Treason! Treason!”

14 And Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who were set over the army, and said to them, “Take her outside under guard, and slay with the sword whoever follows her.” For the priest had said, “Do not kill her in the house of the Lord.”

15 So they seized her; and she went by way of the entrance (P)of the Horse Gate into the king’s house, and they killed her there.

16 Then Jehoiada made a (Q)covenant between himself, the people, and the king, that they should be the Lord’s people. 17 And all the people went to the [b]temple of Baal, and tore it down. They broke in pieces its altars and images, and (R)killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. 18 Also Jehoiada appointed the oversight of the house of the Lord to the hand of the priests, the Levites, whom David had (S)assigned in the house of the Lord, to offer the burnt offerings of the Lord, as it is written in the (T)Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was established by David. 19 And he set the (U)gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the Lord, so that no one who was in any way unclean should enter.

20 (V)Then he took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the house of the Lord; and they went through the Upper Gate to the king’s house, and set the king on the throne of the kingdom. 21 So all the people of the land rejoiced; and the city was quiet, for they had slain Athaliah with the sword.

Joash Made King

23 (A)But in the seventh year Jehoiada took courage and entered into a covenant with the commanders of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri. And they went about through (B)Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the heads of fathers' houses of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. And all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And Jehoiada[a] said to them, “Behold, the king's son! Let him reign, (C)as the Lord spoke concerning the sons of David. This is the thing that you shall do: (D)of you priests and Levites who come off duty on the Sabbath, one third shall be gatekeepers, and one third shall be at the king's house and one third at the Gate of the Foundation. And all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord. Let no one enter the house of the Lord except the priests (E)and ministering Levites. They may enter, for they are holy, but all the people shall keep the charge of the Lord. The Levites shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand. And whoever enters the house shall be put to death. Be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.”

The Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded, and they each brought his men, who were to go off duty on the Sabbath, with those who were to come on duty on the Sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest did not dismiss (F)the divisions. And Jehoiada the priest gave to the captains the spears and the large and small shields that had been King David's, which were in the house of God. 10 And he set all the people as a guard for the king, every man with his weapon in his hand, from the south side of the house to the north side of the house, around the altar and the house. 11 Then they brought out the king's son and put the crown on him and gave him (G)the testimony. And they proclaimed him king, and Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and they said, (H)“Long live the king.”

Athaliah Executed

12 When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she went into the house of the Lord to the people. 13 And when she looked, there was the king standing by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the trumpeters beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and the singers with their musical instruments leading in the celebration. And Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!” 14 Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains who were set over the army, saying to them, “Bring her out between the ranks, and anyone who follows her is to be put to death with the sword.” For the priest said, “Do not put her to death in the house of the Lord.” 15 So they laid hands on her,[b] and she went into the entrance of (I)the horse gate of the king's house, and they put her to death there.

Jehoiada's Reforms

16 And Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king that they should be the Lord's people. 17 Then all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down; his altars and his images they broke in pieces, (J)and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. 18 And Jehoiada posted watchmen for the house of the Lord under the direction of (K)the Levitical priests and the Levites (L)whom David had organized to be in charge of the house of the Lord, to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, (M)as it is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, (N)according to the order of David. 19 He stationed (O)the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the Lord so that no one should enter who was in any way unclean. 20 And he took the captains, the nobles, the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the Lord, marching (P)through the upper gate to the king's house. And they set the king on the royal throne. 21 So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been put to death with the sword.

Footnotes

  1. 2 Chronicles 23:3 Hebrew he
  2. 2 Chronicles 23:15 Or they made a passage for her