Athaliah Overthrown

In(A) the seventh year, Jehoiada(B) sent for the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards.(C) 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 and commanded them, “This is what you are to do: A third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath(D) are to provide protection for the king’s palace. 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](E)

“Your two divisions that go off duty on the Sabbath are to provide the king protection at the Lord’s temple. 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](F)

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.(G) 10 The priest gave to the commanders of hundreds King David’s spears and shields(H) 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(I) on him, gave him the testimony,[d](J) and made him king. They anointed(K) him and clapped their hands and cried, “Long live the king!” (L)

13 When Athaliah(M) heard the noise from the guard and the crowd, she went out to the people at the Lord’s temple.(N) 14 She looked, and there was the king standing by the pillar(O) 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.(P) Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed “Treason! Treason!” (Q)

15 Then the priest Jehoiada(R) ordered the commanders of hundreds(S) 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.”(T) 16 So they arrested her, and she went through the horse entrance(U) to the king’s palace, where she was put to death.(V)

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Footnotes

  1. 11:6 See 2Ch 23:5; MT here reads Sur
  2. 11:6 Hb obscure
  3. 11:8 Lit king when he goes out and when he comes in
  4. 11:12 Or him the copy of the covenant, or him a diadem, or him jewels

(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