(A)And the seventh year [a]Jehoiada sent and took the captains over hundreds, with other captains and them of the guard, and caused them to come unto him into the house of the Lord, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the Lord, and showed them the King’s son.

And he commanded them, saying, This is it that ye must do, The third part of [b]you, that cometh on the Sabbath, shall [c]ward toward the King’s house:

And another third part in the gate of [d]Sur: and another third part in the gate behind them of the guard: and ye shall keep watch [e]in the house of Massah.

And two parts of you, that is, all that [f]go out on the Sabbath day, shall keep the watch of the house of the Lord about the king.

And ye shall compass the King round about, every man with his weapon in his hand, and whosoever cometh within the ranges, let him be slain: be you with the King, as he goeth out and in.

¶ And the captains of the hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the Priest commanded, and they took every man of his men that entered into their charge on the Sabbath, with them that went out of it on the [g]Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the Priest.

10 And the [h]Priest gave to the captains of hundreds the spears and the shields that were King David’s, and were in the house of the Lord.

11 And the guard stood, every man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side, about the altar and about the house, round about the King.

12 Then he brought out [i]the king’s son, and put the crown upon him, and gave him [j]the Testimony, and they made him king: also they anointed him, and clapped their hands, and said, God save the King.

13 ¶ And when Athaliah heard the noise of the running of the people, she came into the people in the house of the Lord.

14 And when she looked, behold, the King stood by a [k]pillar, as the manner was, and the princes and the trumpeters by the King, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason, treason.

15 But Jehoiada the Priest commanded the captains of the hundreds that had the rule of the host, and said unto them, Have her [l]forth of the ranges, and he that [m]followeth her, let him die by the sword: for the Priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the Lord.

16 Then they laid hands on her, and she went by the way, by the which the horses go to the house of the King, and there was she slain.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 11:4 The chief priest, Jehosheba’s husband.
  2. 2 Kings 11:5 Of the Levites, which had charge of the keeping of the Temple, and kept watch by course.
  3. 2 Kings 11:5 That none should come upon them, while they were crowning the king.
  4. 2 Kings 11:6 Called the East gate of the Temple, 2 Chron. 23:5.
  5. 2 Kings 11:6 Or, that none break his order.
  6. 2 Kings 11:7 Whose charge is ended.
  7. 2 Kings 11:9 Read verses 5 and 7.
  8. 2 Kings 11:10 To wit, Jehoiada.
  9. 2 Kings 11:12 That is, Joash, which had been kept secret six years.
  10. 2 Kings 11:12 Meaning, the Law of God, which is his chief charge, and whereby only his throne is established.
  11. 2 Kings 11:14 Where the king’s place was in the Temple.
  12. 2 Kings 11:15 Or, out of the Temple.
  13. 2 Kings 11:15 To take her part.

In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of units of a hundred, the Carites(A) and the guards and had them brought to him at the temple of the Lord. He made a covenant with them and put them under oath at the temple of the Lord. Then he showed them the king’s son. He commanded them, saying, “This is what you are to do: You who are in the three companies that are going on duty on the Sabbath(B)—a third of you guarding the royal palace,(C) a third at the Sur Gate, and a third at the gate behind the guard, who take turns guarding the temple— and you who are in the other two companies that normally go off Sabbath duty are all to guard the temple for the king. Station yourselves around the king, each of you with weapon in hand. Anyone who approaches your ranks[a] is to be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes.”

The commanders of units of a hundred did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one took his men—those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were going off duty—and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 Then he gave the commanders the spears and shields(D) that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of the Lord. 11 The guards, each with weapon in hand, stationed themselves around the king—near the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.

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

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,(I) 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.(J) Then Athaliah tore(K) her robes and called out, “Treason! Treason!”(L)

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[b] and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the temple(M) of the Lord.” 16 So they seized her as she reached the place where the horses enter(N) the palace grounds, and there she was put to death.(O)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 11:8 Or approaches the precincts
  2. 2 Kings 11:15 Or out from the precincts