2 Chronicles 23:8 | New International Reader’s Version

New International Reader’s Version

1 When Joash was seven years old, Jehoiada showed how strong he was. He made a covenant with the commanders of groups of 100 men. The commanders were Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zikri. 2 They went all through Judah. They gathered together the Levites and the leaders of Israelite families from all the towns. They came to Jerusalem. 3 The whole community made a covenant with the new king at God’s temple. Jehoiada said to them, ‘Ahaziah’s son will rule over Judah. That’s what the LORD promised concerning the family line of David. 4 Here’s what I want you to do. A third of you priests and Levites who are going on duty on the Sabbath day must guard the doors. 5 A third of you must guard the royal palace. And a third of you must guard the Foundation Gate. All the other men must guard the courtyards of the LORD’s temple. 6 Don’t let anyone enter the temple except the priests and Levites who are on duty. They can enter because they are set apart to the LORD. But all the other men must obey the LORD’s command not to enter. 7 The Levites must station themselves around the new king. Each man must have his weapon in his hand. Anyone else who enters the temple must be put to death. Stay close to the king no matter where he goes.’ 8 The Levites did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. So did all the men of Judah. Each commander got his men. Some of the men were going on duty on the Sabbath day. Others were going off duty. Jehoiada didn’t let any of the groups go. 9 Then he gave weapons to the commanders of the groups. He gave them spears, large shields and small shields. The weapons had belonged to King David. They had been in God’s temple. 10 Jehoiada stationed all the men around the new king. Each man had his weapon in his hand. They were standing near the altar and the temple. They stood from the south side of the temple to its north side. 11 Jehoiada and his sons brought Ahaziah’s son out. They put the crown on him. They gave him a copy of the covenant. And they announced that he was king. They anointed him. Then they shouted, ‘May the king live a long time!’ 12 Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and cheering the new king. So she went to them at the LORD’s temple. 13 She looked, and there was the king! He was standing next to his pillar at the entrance. The officers and trumpet players were standing beside the king. All the people of the land were filled with joy. They were blowing trumpets. Musicians with their musical instruments were leading the songs of praise. Then Athaliah tore her royal robes. She shouted, ‘Treason! It’s treason!’ 14 Jehoiada the priest sent out the commanders of the groups of 100 men. They were in charge of the troops. He said to them, ‘Bring her away from the temple between the line of guards. Use your swords to kill anyone who follows her.’ The priest had said, ‘Don’t put her to death at the LORD’s temple.’ 15 So they grabbed her as she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate on the palace grounds. There they put her to death. 16 Then Jehoiada made a covenant. He promised that he, the people and the king would be the LORD’s people. 17 All the people went to Baal’s temple. They tore it down. They smashed the altars and the statues of gods. They killed Mattan in front of the altars. He was the priest of Baal. 18 Then Jehoiada put the priests, who were Levites, in charge of the LORD’s temple. David had given them their duties in the temple. He had appointed them to sacrifice burnt offerings to the LORD. He wanted them to do it in keeping with what was written in the Law of Moses. David wanted them to sing and be full of joy. 19 Jehoiada stationed guards at the gates of the LORD’s temple. No one who was ‘unclean’ in any way could enter. 20 Jehoiada took with him the commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people, and all the people of the land. He brought the new king down from the LORD’s temple. They went into the palace through the Upper Gate. Then they seated the king on the royal throne. 21 All the people of the land were filled with joy. And the city was calm. That’s because Athaliah had been killed by a sword.

English Standard Version

Joash Made King

1 But in the seventh year Jehoiada took courage and entered into a covenant with the commanders of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri. (2Ki 11:4) 2 And they went about through Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the heads of fathers’ houses of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. (2Ch 21:2) 3 And all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And Jehoiada^[1] said to them, “Behold, the king’s son! Let him reign, as the Lord spoke concerning the sons of David. (2Ch 6:16) 4 This is the thing that you shall do: of you priests and Levites who come off duty on the Sabbath, one third shall be gatekeepers, (1Ch 9:25; 1Ch 24:4) 5 and one third shall be at the king’s house and one third at the Gate of the Foundation. And all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord. 6 Let no one enter the house of the Lord except the priests and ministering Levites. They may enter, for they are holy, but all the people shall keep the charge of the Lord. (1Ch 23:27) 7 The Levites shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand. And whoever enters the house shall be put to death. Be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.” 8 The Levites and all Judah 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, for Jehoiada the priest did not dismiss the divisions. 9 And Jehoiada the priest gave to the captains the spears and the large and small shields that had been King David’s, which were in the house of God. 10 And he set all the people as a guard for the king, every man with his weapon in his hand, from the south side of the house to the north side of the house, around the altar and the house. 11 Then they brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him and gave him the testimony. And they proclaimed him king, and Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and they said, “Long live the king.” (De 17:18; 1Sa 10:24)

Athaliah Executed

12 When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she went into the house of the Lord to the people. 13 And when she looked, there was the king standing by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the trumpeters beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and the singers with their musical instruments leading in the celebration. And Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!” 14 Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains who were set over the army, saying to them, “Bring her out between the ranks, and anyone who follows her is to be put to death with the sword.” For the priest said, “Do not put her to death in the house of the Lord.” 15 So they laid hands on her,^[2] and she went into the entrance of the horse gate of the king’s house, and they put her to death there. (2Ki 11:16; Ne 3:28; Jer 31:40)

Jehoiada’s Reforms

16 And Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king that they should be the Lord’s people. 17 Then all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down; his altars and his images they broke in pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. (De 13:9) 18 And Jehoiada posted watchmen for the house of the Lord under the direction of the Levitical priests and the Levites whom David had organized to be in charge of the house of the Lord, to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, as it is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, according to the order of David. (Nu 28:2; 1Ch 23:6; 1Ch 23:30; 1Ch 24:1; 1Ch 25:2; 2Ch 5:5; 2Ch 30:27)

Nu 28:21Ch 23:61Ch 23:301Ch 24:11Ch 25:22Ch 5:52Ch 30:27

19 He stationed the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the Lord so that no one should enter who was in any way unclean. (1Ch 26:1) 20 And he took the captains, the nobles, the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the Lord, marching through the upper gate to the king’s house. And they set the king on the royal throne. (2Ki 11:19; 2Ki 15:35) 21 So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been put to death with the sword.