CHAPTER 11
When Athaliah
the mother
of Ahaziah
saw
that
her son
was dead,
she proceeded
to annihilate
all
the royal
heirs.
But Jehosheba
daughter
of King
Joram,
the sister
of Ahaziah,
took
Joash
son
of Ahaziah
and stole him away
from among
the sons
of the king
who were being murdered.
She put him and his nurse
in a bedroom
to hide
him
from
Athaliah,
and he was not
killed.
And Joash remained
hidden
with his nurse
in the house
of the LORD
for six
years
while Athaliah
ruled
the land.
Then in the seventh
year,
Jehoiada
sent for
the captains
of hundreds,
the Carites,
and the guards,
and had them brought
into the house
of the LORD.
There
he made
a covenant
with them
and put them under oath.
He showed
them
the king's
son
and commanded them,
“This
is what
you are to do:
A third
of you
who come on duty
on the Sabbath
shall guard
the royal
palace,
a third shall be
at the gate
of Sur,
and a third
at the gate
behind
the guards.
You are to take turns
guarding
the temple—
the two
divisions
that would go off duty
on the Sabbath
are to guard
the house
of the LORD
for
the king.
You must surround
the king
with weapons
in hand,
and anyone
who approaches
the ranks
must be put to death.
You must stay
close
to the king
wherever he goes.”
So the commanders
of hundreds
did
everything
that
Jehoiada
the priest
had ordered.
Each of them
took
his men—
those coming on duty
on the Sabbath
and
those going off duty—
and came
to
Jehoiada
the priest.
Then the priest
gave
to the commanders
of hundreds
the spears
and
shields
of King
David
from
the house
of the LORD.
And the guards
stood
with weapons
in hand
surrounding
the king
by the altar
and the temple,
from the south
side
to
the north
side
of the temple.
Then Jehoiada brought out
the king’s
son,
put
the crown
on him,
presented him with the Testimony,
and proclaimed him king.
They anointed him,
and the people clapped
their hands
and declared,
“Long live
the king!”
When Athaliah
heard
the noise
from the guards
and the people,
she went out
to
the people
in the house
of the LORD.
And she looked out
and saw
the king,
standing
by
the pillar,
according to the custom.
The officers
and trumpeters
were beside
the king,
and all
the people
of the land
were rejoicing
and blowing
trumpets.
Then Athaliah
tore
her clothes
and screamed,
"Treason!
Treason!"
And Jehoiada
the priest
ordered
the commanders
of hundreds
in charge of
the army,
“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 house
of the LORD.”
So they seized
Athaliah
as she reached
the horses'
entrance
to the palace grounds,
and there
she was put to death.
Then Jehoiada
made
a covenant
between
the LORD,
the king,
and the people
that they would be
the LORD’s
people.
He also made a covenant between
the king
and
the people.
So all
the people
of the land
went
to the temple
of Baal
and tore it down.
They smashed the altars
and idols
into pieces,
and they killed
Mattan
the priest
of Baal
in front of
the altars.
And Jehoiada the priest
posted
guards
for
the house
of the LORD.
He took with him
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 the LORD
and entered
the royal
palace
by way
of the gate
of the guards.
Then Joash took his seat
on
the royal
throne,
and all
the people
of the land
rejoiced.
And the city
was quiet,
because Athaliah
had been put to
the sword
at the royal
palace.