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)

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^(A) of the Lord.” ¹⁶ So they seized her as she reached the place where the horses enter^(B) the palace grounds, and there she was put to death.^(C)

¹⁷ Jehoiada then made a covenant^(D) between the Lord and the king and people that they would be the Lord’s people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people.^{(E) 18} All the people of the land went to the temple^(F) of Baal and tore it down. They smashed^(G) the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest^(H) of Baal in front of the altars.

Then Jehoiada the priest posted guards at the temple of the Lord. ¹⁹ He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites,^(I) the guards and all the people of the land, and together they brought the king down from the temple of the Lord and went into the palace, entering by way of the gate of the guards. The king then took his place on the royal throne. ²⁰ All the people of the land rejoiced,^(J) and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the palace.