Joash Anointed King in Judah

(A)But in the seventh year (B)Jehoiada sent and brought the captains of (C)the Carites and of the guards, and had them come to him in the house of the Lord. And he made a covenant with them and put them under oath in the house of the Lord, and he showed them the king's son. And he commanded them, “This is the thing that you shall do: one third of you, (D)those who come off duty on the Sabbath and guard the king's house ((E)another third being at the gate Sur and a third at the gate behind the guards) shall guard the palace.[a] And the two divisions of you, which come on duty in force on the Sabbath and guard the house of the Lord on behalf of the king, shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand. And whoever approaches the ranks is to be put to death. Be with the king (F)when he goes out and when he comes in.”

The captains 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, and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 And the priest gave to the captains the spears and (G)shields that had been King David's, which were in the house of the Lord. 11 And the guards stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the south side of the house to the north side of the house, around the altar and the house on behalf of the king. 12 Then he brought out the king's son and put (H)the crown on him and gave him (I)the testimony. And they proclaimed him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, (J)“Long live the king!”

13 When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she went into the house of the Lord to the people. 14 And when she looked, there was the king standing (K)by the pillar, according to the custom, and the captains and the trumpeters beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and (L)blowing trumpets. And Athaliah (M)tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!” 15 Then Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains who were set over the army, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to death with the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest said, “Let her not be put to death in the house of the Lord.” 16 So they laid hands on her; and she went through the horses' entrance to the king's house, and there she was put to death.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 11:6 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain

But in the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of the Carites and of the guards and had them come to him at the Lord’s temple. He made a covenant with them, and made them swear a solemn pledge in the Lord’s temple. Then he showed them the king’s son. He commanded them, “This is what you must do: A third of you coming on sabbath duty will guard the palace, a second third will be at the Sur Gate, and the final third will be at the gate behind the guards. You will take turns guarding the temple.[a] You who are in the first two groups that usually go off duty on the Sabbath should also guard the Lord’s temple to protect the king. Surround the king completely, each of you with your weapons drawn. Whoever comes near your ranks must be killed. Stay near the king wherever he goes.”

The unit commanders did everything that Jehoiada the priest ordered. They each took charge of those men reporting for duty on the Sabbath as well as those going off duty on the Sabbath. They came to the priest Jehoiada. 10 Then the priest gave the unit commanders King David’s spears and shields, which were kept in the Lord’s temple. 11 The guards, each with their weapons drawn, then took up positions near the temple and the altar, stretching from the south side of the temple to the north side to protect the king. Everyone was holding his weapons, surrounding the king. 12 Jehoiada then brought out the king’s son, crowned him, gave him the royal law,[b] and made him king and anointed him, as everyone applauded and cried out, “Long live the king!”

13 When Athaliah heard the noise made by the guard and the people, she went to the people at the Lord’s temple 14 and saw the king standing by the royal pillar, as was the custom, with the commanders and trumpeters beside the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Athaliah ripped her clothes and screamed, “Treason! Treason!”

15 Then the priest Jehoiada ordered the unit commanders who were in charge of the army: “Take her out under guard,”[c] he told them, “and kill anyone who follows her.” This was because the priest had said, “She must not be executed in the Lord’s temple.” 16 They arrested her when she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate at the royal palace. She was executed there.

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 11:6 Heb uncertain
  2. 2 Kings 11:12 Heb lacks royal.
  3. 2 Kings 11:15 Heb uncertain