2 Kings 11

¹ When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she rose and destroyed all the royal family.

² But 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 hid him and his nurse in a bedroom. So he was hidden from Athaliah and was not killed.

³ He remained hidden with Jehosheba in the house of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled over 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 in the house of the LORD. He made a covenant with them and made them swear an oath in the house of the LORD. Then he showed them the king's son.

⁵ He commanded them: "This is what you are to do: A third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath are to guard the royal palace;

⁶ a third are to be at the Sur Gate, and a third at the gate behind the guards—guard the palace in shifts.

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

⁸ Station yourselves around the king, each with his weapon in his hand. Anyone who approaches your ranks must be put to death. Stay with 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—both those going on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—and came to Jehoiada the priest.

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

¹¹ The guards, each with his weapon in his hand, stationed themselves around the king—from the south side of the temple to the north side, near the altar and the temple.

¹² Jehoiada brought out the king's son and put the crown on him; he gave him the testimony and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and people clapped their hands and shouted, "Long live the king!"

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

¹⁴ She looked and saw the king standing by the pillar, as was the custom. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, "Treason! Treason!"

¹⁵ Jehoiada the priest commanded the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of the army: "Take 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 house of the LORD."

¹⁶ So they laid hands on her. She went through the horse gate on the way to the palace, 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 demolished its altars and images completely and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. Then Jehoiada the priest posted guards at the house of the LORD.

¹⁹ He 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 house of the LORD and went through the gate of the guards to the palace. The king then took his seat on the royal throne.

²⁰ All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was calm. Athaliah had been put to death with the sword at the palace.

²¹ Joash was seven years old when he became king.