(A)Now in the seventh year Jehoiada sent orders and brought the captains of hundreds of (B)the Carites and of the [a]guards, and brought them to himself at the house of the Lord. Then he made a covenant with them and put them under oath at the house of the Lord, and showed them the king’s son. And he commanded them, saying, “This is the thing that you shall do: (C)a third of you, who come in on the Sabbath and keep watch over the king’s house (a third also shall be at the gate Sur, and a third at the gate behind the [b]guards), [c]shall keep watch over the house [d]for defense. And two parts of you, all who go out on the Sabbath, shall also keep watch over the house of the Lord for the king. Then you shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes within the ranks shall be put to death. And (D)you are to be with the king when he goes out and when he comes in.”

So the captains of hundreds (E)acted in accordance with everything that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each one of them took his men who were to come in on the Sabbath, along with those who were to go out on the Sabbath, and they came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 Then (F)the priest gave the captains of hundreds the spears and shields that had been King David’s, which were in the house of the Lord. 11 The [e]guards stood, each with his weapons in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, by the altar and by the house, around the king. 12 Then he brought the king’s son out, and (G)put the crown on him and gave him (H)the testimony; and they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “(I)Long live the king!”

13 (J)When Athaliah heard the noise of the guards and of the people, she came to the people at the house of the Lord. 14 And she looked, and behold, the king was standing (K)by the pillar according to the custom, with the captains and the [f]trumpeters beside the king; and (L)all the people of the land were joyful and were blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah (M)tore her clothes and cried out, “(N)Conspiracy! Conspiracy!” 15 And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds who were appointed over the army and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks, and whoever follows her, put to death with the sword!” For the priest said, “She is not to be put to death at the house of the Lord.” 16 So they [g]seized her, and when [h]they brought her to the horses’ entrance of the king’s house, she was (O)put to death there.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 11:4 Lit runners
  2. 2 Kings 11:6 Lit runners
  3. 2 Kings 11:6 Lit and shall
  4. 2 Kings 11:6 Or possibly in shifts
  5. 2 Kings 11:11 Lit runners
  6. 2 Kings 11:14 Lit trumpets
  7. 2 Kings 11:16 Lit laid hands on her
  8. 2 Kings 11:16 Lit she entered

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