^aCuando Atalía, madre de Ocozías, vio que su hijo había muerto, se levantó y exterminó a toda la descendencia¹ real. 2 Pero Josaba¹, hija del rey Joram, hermana de Ocozías, tomó a Joás^a, hijo de Ocozías, y lo sacó furtivamente de entre los hijos del rey a quienes estaban dando muerte, y lo puso a él y a su nodriza en la alcoba. Así lo escondieron de Atalía, y no le dieron muerte. 3 Y estuvo escondido con ella en la casa del SEÑOR seis años, mientras Atalía reinaba en el país.

4 Pero en el séptimo año Joiada mandó a buscar¹ e hizo venir a los capitanes de centenas de los cariteos y de la guardia², y los hizo venir a él en la casa del SEÑOR^a. Entonces hizo un pacto con ellos en la casa del SEÑOR y los puso bajo juramento, y les mostró al hijo del rey^b. 5 Y les dio orden^a, diciendo: Esto es lo que haréis: una tercera parte de vosotros, los que entran en el día de reposo y hacen la guardia en la casa del rey, 6 harán¹ la guardia en la casa para su defensa; también una tercera parte estará en la puerta Sur, y otra tercera parte en la puerta detrás de los guardias². 7 Dos partes de vosotros, es decir, todos los que salen el día de reposo, también harán la guardia en la casa del SEÑOR junto al rey. 8 Entonces rodearéis al rey, cada uno con sus armas en la mano; y cualquiera que penetre las filas será muerto. Y estad con el rey cuando salga y cuando entre^a.

9 Y los capitanes de centenas hicieron conforme a todo lo que había ordenado el sacerdote Joiada. Y cada uno de ellos tomó sus hombres, los que habían de entrar en el día de reposo, junto con los que habían de salir el día de reposo, y vinieron al sacerdote Joiada^a. 10 Entonces el sacerdote dio a los capitanes de centenas las lanzas y los escudos que habían sido del rey David^a, que estaban en la casa del SEÑOR. 11 Y los guardias¹ se colocaron cada uno con sus armas en la mano, desde el lado² derecho de la casa hasta el lado³ izquierdo de la misma⁴, junto al altar y junto a la casa, alrededor del rey. 12 Entonces Joiada sacó al hijo del rey y le puso la corona^a, y le dio el libro del testimonio^b; hicieron rey a Joás y lo ungieron, y batiendo palmas, gritaron¹: ¡Viva el rey^c!

13 Al oír Atalía el ruido de la guardia¹ y del pueblo, se llegó al pueblo en la casa del SEÑOR^a, 14 y miró, y he aquí el rey estaba de pie junto a la columna, según la costumbre^a, y los capitanes y los trompetas¹ estaban al lado del rey; y todo el pueblo del país se regocijaba y tocaba trompetas^b. Entonces Atalía rasgó sus vestidos^c, y gritó: ¡Traición, traición^d! 15 Pero el sacerdote Joiada dio orden a los capitanes de centenas que estaban al mando del ejército, y les dijo: Sacadla de entre¹ las filas, y al que la siga, matadlo a espada. Porque el sacerdote había dicho: No la matéis en la casa del SEÑOR. 16 Y le echaron¹ mano; y cuando ella llegó a la entrada de los caballos de la casa del rey, allí la mataron^a.

17 Entonces Joiada hizo un pacto entre el SEÑOR^a y el rey y el pueblo, de que ellos serían el pueblo del SEÑOR; asimismo entre el rey y el pueblo^b. 18 Y todo el pueblo del país fue a la casa de Baal y la derribaron, destruyeron completamente sus altares y sus imágenes^a y mataron delante de los altares a Matán, sacerdote de Baal^b. Y el sacerdote nombró oficiales¹ sobre la casa del SEÑOR. 19 Y tomó a los capitanes de centenas, a los cariteos, a los guardias¹ y a todo el pueblo del país, e hicieron descender al rey de la casa del SEÑOR^a, y vinieron por el camino de la puerta de los guardias^2b a la casa del rey. Y él se sentó en el trono de los reyes. 20 Y todo el pueblo del país se regocijó^a, y la ciudad quedó tranquila, porque Atalía había sido muerta a espada en la casa del rey.

21 ¹Joás² tenía siete años cuando comenzó a reinar^a.

^aWhen Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and eliminated all the royal ¹children. 2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, ^atook Joash the son of Ahaziah and abducted him from among the king’s sons who were being put to death, and put him and his nurse in the bedroom. So they hid him from Athaliah, and he was not put to death. 3 So he was kept hidden with her in the house of the LORD for six years, while Athaliah was reigning over the land.

4 ^aNow in the seventh year Jehoiada sent orders and brought the captains of hundreds of ^bthe Carites and of the ¹guards, and brought them to himself at the house of the LORD. Then he made a covenant with them and put them under oath at the house of the LORD, and showed them the king’s son. 5 And he commanded them, saying, “This is the thing that you shall do: ^aa third of you, who come in on the Sabbath and keep watch over the king’s house 6 (a third also shall be at the gate Sur, and a third at the gate behind the ¹guards), ²shall keep watch over the house ³for defense. 7 And two parts of you, all who go out on the Sabbath, shall also keep watch over the house of the LORD for the king. 8 Then you shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes within the ranks shall be put to death. And ^ayou are to be with the king when he goes out and when he comes in.”

9 So the captains of hundreds ^aacted in accordance with everything that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each one of them took his men who were to come in on the Sabbath, along with those who were to go out on the Sabbath, and they came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 Then ^athe priest gave the captains of hundreds the spears and shields that had been King David’s, which were in the house of the LORD. 11 The ¹guards stood, each with his weapons in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, by the altar and by the house, around the king. 12 Then he brought the king’s son out, and ^aput the crown on him and gave him ^bthe testimony; and they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “^cLong live the king!”

13 ^aWhen Athaliah heard the noise of the guards and of the people, she came to the people at the house of the LORD. 14 And she looked, and behold, the king was standing ^aby the pillar according to the custom, with the captains and the ¹trumpeters beside the king; and ^ball the people of the land were joyful and were blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah ^ctore her clothes and cried out, “^dConspiracy! Conspiracy!” 15 And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds who were appointed over the army and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks, and whoever follows her, put to death with the sword!” For the priest said, “She is not to be put to death at the house of the LORD.” 16 So they ¹seized her, and when ²they brought her to the horses’ entrance of the king’s house, she was ^aput to death there.

17 Then ^aJehoiada made a covenant between the LORD, the king, and the people, that they would be the LORD’S people, and ^bbetween the king and the people. 18 And all the people of the land came to ^athe house of Baal and tore it down; they thoroughly smashed ^bhis altars and his images in pieces, and they ^ckilled Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. Then the priest appointed sentries over the house of the LORD. 19 And he took the captains of hundreds and the ^aCarites, and the ¹guards and all the people of the land; and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD, and came by way of ^bthe gate of the ²guards to the king’s house. And he sat on the throne of the kings. 20 So ^aall the people of the land rejoiced and the city was ¹peaceful. For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword at the king’s house.

21 ^1aJehoash was seven years old when he became king.

^aWhen Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah king of Judah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal offspring. 2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram of Judah and half sister of Ahaziah, ^atook Joash the son of Ahaziah and abducted him from among the king’s sons who were to be killed, and hid him and his nurse in the ¹bedroom. So they hid him from Athaliah, and he was not put to death. 3 Joash was hidden with his nurse in the house (temple) of the LORD for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land.

4 ^aNow in the seventh year Jehoiada the priest, Jehosheba’s husband sent for the captains of hundreds of ^bthe ¹Carites and of the guard and brought them to him to the house of the LORD. Then he made a covenant with them and put them under oath in the house of the LORD, and showed them the king’s hidden son. 5 He commanded them, saying, “This is the thing that you shall do: ^aa third of you who come in reporting for duty on the Sabbath shall keep watch over the king’s house 6 (a third shall also be at the city gate Sur, and a third at the gate behind the guards); so you shall keep watch over the palace from three posts for defense. 7 Two units of you, all those who go out off duty on the Sabbath, shall also keep watch over the house (temple) of the LORD for the protection of the king. 8 You shall surround the young king, each man with weapons in his hand; and whoever comes through the ranks shall be put to death. You are to ^abe with the king when he goes out and when he comes in.”

9 The captains of hundreds ^aacted in accordance with everything that Jehoiada the priest commanded; and each of them took his men who were to come in (on duty) on the Sabbath, with those who were to go out (off duty) on the Sabbath, and they came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 ^aThe priest gave to the captains of hundreds the spears and shields that had been King David’s, which were in the house of the LORD. 11 And the guards stood, each man with weapons in his hand, from the right side to the left side of the temple area, by the altar in the courtyard and by the temple proper, all around the king. 12 Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son and ^aput the crown on him and gave him ^bthe Testimony a copy of the Mosaic Law; and they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “^cLong live the king!”

13 ^aWhen Athaliah heard the sound of the guards and of the people, she went into the house of the LORD to the people. 14 When she looked, behold, there stood the young king on the platform ^aby the pillar, as was customary on such occasions, and the captains and the trumpeters were beside the king; and ^ball the people of the land rejoicing and blowing the trumpets. Then Athaliah ^ctore her clothes and cried, “^dTreason! Treason!” 15 Then Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds appointed over the army and said to them, “Take her out between the ranks, and whoever follows her put to death with the sword.” For the priest had said, “Let her not be put to death in the house (temple) of the LORD.” 16 So they seized her, and she went through the horses’ entrance to the king’s house (palace) , and she was ^aput to death there.

17 Then ^aJehoiada made a covenant between the LORD, the king, and the people, that they would be the LORD’S people—also ^bbetween the king and the people to be his subjects. 18 Then all the people of the land went to ^athe house of Baal and tore it down. ^bThey utterly smashed his altar and his images to pieces, and they ^cput Mattan the priest of Baal to death in front of the altars. And Jehoiada the priest appointed officers over the house of the LORD. 19 Then he took the captains of hundreds, the ^aCarites (royal bodyguards) , the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought the young king down from the house of the LORD, and came by way of ^bthe guards’ gate to the king’s house. And little Joash sat on the throne of the kings. 20 So ^aall the people of the land rejoiced and the city of Jerusalem was quiet. For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword at the king’s house.

21 ^1aJehoash (Joash) was seven years old when he became king.