Athaliah and Joash
1
When Athaliah 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 (=Joram) and sister of Ahaziah,
took Joash 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.
3
He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the LORD for six years
while Athalia ruled the land.
4
In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of units of a hundred
the Carites 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.
5
He commanded tem, saying, "This is what you are to do: You who are
in the three companies that are going on duty on the Sabbath -
a third of you guarding the royal palace,
6
a third at the Sur Gate, and a third at the gate behind the guard,
who take turns guarding the temple -
7
and you who are in the other two companies that normally go off
Sabbath duty are all to guard the temple for the king.
8
Station yourselves around the king, each man with his weapon in his hand.
Anyonr who approaches your ranks must be put to death.
Stay close to the king wherever he goes."
9
The commanders of units of a hundred did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered.
Each one took his men -those who were going off duty -
and came to Jehoiada the priest.
10
Then he gave the commanders the spears and shields
that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of the LORD.
11
The guards, each with his weapon in his 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 presentred him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king.
They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and shouted,
"Long live the king!"
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, as the custom was.
The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king and all the peole
of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets.
Then Athaliah tore her robes and called out, "Treason! Treason!"
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 and
put to the sword anyone who follows her." For the priest had said,
"She must not be put to death in the temple of the LORD."
16
So they seized her as she reached the place where the horses enter
the palace grounds, and there she was put to death.
17
Jehoiada then made a covenant 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.
18
All the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down.
They smashed the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest
of Baal in front of the altars. Then Jehoiada the priest posted guards
at the temple of the LORD.
19
He took with him th commanders of hundeds, the Cartes, 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
and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet,
because Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the palace.
21
Joash (=Jehoash) was seven years old when he began to reign.
