2 Kings
11
- When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw
that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family.
- But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram
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.
- He remained hidden with his nurse at the
temple of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.
- 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 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.
- He 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,
- a third at the Sur Gate, and a third at
the gate behind the guard, who take turns guarding the temple --
- and you who are in the other two companies
that normally go off Sabbath duty are all to guard the temple for the king.
- Station yourselves around the king, each
man with his weapon in his hand. Anyone who approaches your ranks must be
put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes."
- The 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.
- Then he gave the commanders the spears and
shields that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of the
LORD.
- The guards, each with his weapon in his
hand, stationed themselves around the king -- near the altar and the temple,
from the south side to the north side of the temple.
- Jehoiada 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 !"
- When Athaliah heard the noise made by the
guards and the people, she went to the people at the temple of the LORD.
- She 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 !"
- Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders
of units of a hundred, who were in charge of the troops: "Bring 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 temple of the LORD."
- So they seized her as she reached the place
where the horses enter the palace grounds, and there she was put to death.
- 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.
- All 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.
- 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 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,
- and all the people of the land rejoiced.
And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword at
the palace.
- Joash was seven years old when he began
to reign.
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