1When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family.2But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram[1] 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.3He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the Lord for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.4In 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.5He 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 – a third of you guarding the royal palace,6a third at the Sur Gate, and a third at the gate behind the guard, who take turns guarding the temple –7and you who are in the other two companies that normally go off Sabbath duty are all to guard the temple for the king.8Station yourselves round the king, each of you with weapon in hand. Anyone who approaches your ranks[2] is to be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes.’9The 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.10Then he gave the commanders the spears and shields that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of the Lord.11The guards, each with weapon in hand, stationed themselves round the king – near the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.12Jehoiada brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him; he presented 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!’13When Athaliah heard the noise made by the guards and the people, she went to the people at the temple of the Lord.14She 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 people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her robes and called out, ‘Treason! Treason!’15Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of the troops: ‘Bring her out between the ranks[3] 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.’16So they seized her as she reached the place where the horses enter the palace grounds, and there she was put to death.17Jehoiada 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.18All 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.19He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, 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.20All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the palace.21Joash[4] was seven years old when he began his reign.[5]
2 Kings 11
English Standard Version
Athaliah Reigns in Judah
1Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family. (2Ki 8:26; 2Ch 22:10)2But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being put to death, and she put[1] him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus they[2] hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not put to death. (2Ki 11:21; 2Ki 12:1)3And he remained with her six years, hidden in the house of the Lord, while Athaliah reigned over the land.
Joash Anointed King in Judah
4But in the seventh year Jehoiada sent and brought the captains of 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. (2Ki 11:9; 2Ki 11:19; 2Ch 23:1)5And he commanded them, “This is the thing that you shall do: one third of you, those who come off duty on the Sabbath and guard the king’s house (1Ch 9:25)6(another third being at the gate Sur and a third at the gate behind the guards) shall guard the palace.[3] (2Ch 23:5)7And 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,8shall 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 when he goes out and when he comes in.” (Nu 27:17)9The 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.10And the priest gave to the captains the spears and shields that had been King David’s, which were in the house of the Lord. (2Sa 8:7; 1Ch 18:7)11And 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.12Then he brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him and gave him the testimony. And they proclaimed him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!” (Ex 25:16; Ex 31:18; De 17:18; 1Sa 10:24; 2Sa 1:10; 2Sa 16:16; 1Ki 1:39)13When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she went into the house of the Lord to the people.14And when she looked, there was the king standing 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 blowing trumpets. And Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!” (Ge 44:13; 1Ki 1:34; 2Ki 23:3; 2Ch 34:31)15Then 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.”16So they laid hands on her; and she went through the horses’ entrance to the king’s house, and there she was put to death.17And Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and people, that they should be the Lord’s people, and also between the king and the people. (Jos 24:25; 2Sa 5:3)18Then all the people of the land 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. And the priest posted watchmen over the house of the Lord. (De 12:3; 2Ki 10:21; 2Ki 10:23; 2Ki 10:26)19And he took the captains, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the Lord, marching through the gate of the guards to the king’s house. And he took his seat on the throne of the kings. (2Ki 11:4; 2Ki 11:6; 2Ch 23:20)20So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been put to death with the sword at the king’s house.
Jehoash Reigns in Judah
21[4] Jehoash[5] was seven years old when he began to reign. (2Ch 24:1)