2 Kings 11

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 Joram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were about to be killed. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom. So they hid him from Athaliah, and he was not killed.

3He remained with her in the house of Yahweh, hidden, for six years, while Athaliah ruled over the land.

4But in the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of hundreds of the Carites and of the guards, and had them come to him in the house of Yahweh. He made a covenant with them and put them under oath in the house of Yahweh, and then he showed them the king’s son.

5He commanded them, “This is what you are to do: a third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath are to keep guard over the king’s palace,

6a third are to be at the Sur Gate, and a third at the gate behind the guards. So you will guard the palace and keep everyone back.

7The two divisions of you who go off duty on the Sabbath are all to guard the house of Yahweh for the king.

8Surround the king on every side, each man with his weapons in his hand. Anyone who approaches your ranks is to be put to death. Stay with the king wherever he goes.”

9The commanders of hundreds did everything that Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each of them took his men, those who were coming on duty on the Sabbath and those who were going off duty on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.

10The priest gave the commanders of hundreds the spears and shields that had belonged to King David, which were in the house of Yahweh.

11The guards stood, each man with his weapons in his hand, from the south side of the temple to the north side, around the altar and the temple, surrounding the king.

12Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him and gave him the testimony. They made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!”

13When Athaliah heard the noise of the guards and the people, she went to the people at the house of Yahweh.

14She looked, and there was the king standing by the pillar, according to the custom, with the commanders and the trumpeters beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, “Treason! Treason!”

15Then Jehoiada the priest commanded the commanders of hundreds who were in charge of the army, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to death with the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the house of Yahweh.”

16So they seized her, and she went by way of the horses’ entrance to the king’s palace, and there she was put to death.

17Then Jehoiada made a covenant between Yahweh and the king and the people, that they would be Yahweh’s people, and also between the king and the people.

18All the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed his altars and his images to pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. Then the priest posted guards over the house of Yahweh.

19He took the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of Yahweh and went by way of the gate of the guards to the king’s palace. Then the king took his seat on the throne of the kings.

20So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet, for they had put Athaliah to death with the sword at the king’s palace.

21Jehoash was seven years old when he became king.