1When Athaliah, 2Ch 22:10 Ahaziah’s mother, 2Kg 8:26 saw that her son was dead, 2Kg 9:27 she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs.

2Jehosheba, 2Kg 11:21; 12:1 who was King Jehoram’s daughter and Ahaziah’s 2Kg 8:25 sister, secretly rescued Joash son of Ahaziah from the king’s sons who were being killed and put him and the one who nursed him in a bedroom. So he was hidden from Athaliah and was not killed.

3Joash was in hiding with Jehosheba in the Lord’s temple six years while Athaliah ruled over the land.

4Then 2Ch 23:1-15 in the seventh year, Jehoiada 2Kg 11:15,17 sent messengers and brought in the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards. 2Kg 11:19 He had them come to him in the Lord’s temple, where he made a covenant with them and put them under oath. He showed them the king’s son

5and commanded them, “This is what you are to do: a third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath 1Ch 9:25 are to provide protection for the king’s palace.

6A third are to be at the Sur gate and a third at the gate behind the guards. You are to take turns providing protection for the palace. Hb obscure 2Ch 23:1-2

7“Your two divisions that go off duty on the Sabbath are to provide protection for the Lord’s temple.

8You must completely surround the king with weapons in hand. Anyone who approaches the ranks is to be put to death. You must be with the king in all his daily tasks.” Lit king when he goes out and when he comes in Nm 27:16-17

9So the commanders of hundreds did everything Jehoiada the priest commanded. They each brought their men — those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty — and went to Jehoiada the priest. 2Ch 23:8

10The priest gave to the commanders of hundreds King David’s spears and shields 2Sm 8:7; 1Ch 18:7 that were in the Lord’s temple.

11Then the guards stood with their weapons in hand surrounding the king — from the right side of the temple to the left side, by the altar and by the temple.

12He brought out the king’s son, put the crown 2Sm 1:10 on him, gave him the testimony, Or him the copy of the covenant, or him a diadem, or him jewels Ex 31:18; 2Kg 23:3 and made him king. They anointed 1Kg 1:39 him and clapped their hands and cried, “Long live the king! ” 1Sm 10:24

13When Athaliah 2Kg 11:1 heard the noise from the guard and the crowd, she went out to the people at the Lord’s temple. 2Ch 23:12

14As she looked, there was the king standing by the pillar 2Kg 23:3; 2Ch 34:31 according to the custom. The commanders and the trumpeters were by the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Nm 10:7-10; 1Kg 1:39-40 Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed “Treason! Treason! ” 2Kg 9:23

15Then Jehoiada 2Kg 11:4 the priest ordered the commanders of hundreds 1Kg 11:4; 2Ch 23:1 in charge of the army, “Take her out between the ranks, and put to death by the sword anyone who follows her,” for the priest had said, “She is not to be put to death in the Lord’s temple.” 1Kg 2:30

16So they arrested her, and she went through the horse entrance Neh 3:28 to the king’s palace, where she was put to death. Gn 9:6; Lv 24:17; 2Kg 11:1

17Then 2Ch 23:16-21 Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people that they would be the Lord’s people Jos 24:25; 2Ch 34:31 and another covenant between the king and the people. Some Gk versions, 2Ch 23:16 omit and another covenant between the king and the people 1Sm 10:25; 2Sm 5:3

18So all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They broke its altars and images into pieces, Dt 12:2-3; 2Kg 10:26-27 and they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, at the altars. 1Kg 18:40

19He took the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards, 2Kg 11:4,6 and all the people of the land, and they brought the king from the Lord’s temple. They entered the king’s palace by way of the guards’ gate. Then Joash 2Kg 11:2-3,12 sat on the throne of the kings.

20All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet, for they had put Athaliah to death by the sword in the king’s palace.