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

4 ^aNow in the seventh year Jehoiada sent and brought the captains of hundreds of ^bthe Carites and of the ¹guard, and brought them to him in 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 son. 5 He commanded them, saying, “This is the thing that you shall do: ^aone third of you, who come in on the sabbath and keep watch over the king’s house 6 (one third also shall be at the gate Sur, and one third at the gate behind the ¹guards), ²shall keep watch over the house for defense. 7 Two parts of you, even 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 ^abe with the king when he goes out and when he comes in.”

9 So the captains of hundreds ^adid according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each one of them took his men who were to come in on the sabbath, with those who were to go out on the sabbath, and 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 The ¹guards stood each with his weapons in his hand, from the right ²side of the house to the left ³side 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 guard and of the people, she came to the people in the house of the LORD. 14 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 rejoiced and blew trumpets. Then Athaliah ^ctore her clothes and cried, “^dTreason! Treason!” 15 And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds who were appointed over the army and said to them, “Bring her out ¹between the ranks, and whoever follows her put to death with the sword.” For the priest said, “Let her not be put to death in the house of the LORD.” 16 So they ¹seized her, and when she arrived at the horses’ entrance of the king’s house, she was ^aput to death there.

17 Then ^aJehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they would be the LORD’S people, also ^bbetween the king and the people. 18 All the people of the land went to ^athe house of Baal, and tore it down; ^bhis altars and his images they broke in pieces thoroughly, and ^ckilled Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed ¹officers over the house of the LORD. 19 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 the 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 quiet. 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.

^aNow Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son had died. So she rose and caused all the royal seed to perish. 2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, ^atook Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole 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 hidden away with her in the house of Yahweh six years, while Athaliah was reigning over the land.

4 ^aNow in the seventh year Jehoiada sent for and took the commanders of hundreds of ^bthe Carites and of the ¹guard, and brought them to him in the house of Yahweh. Then he cut a covenant with them and had them swear in the house of Yahweh, and showed them the king’s son. 5 And he commanded them, saying, “This is the thing that you shall do: ^aone-third of you, who come in on the sabbath and keep watch over the king’s house 6 (one-third also shall be at the gate Sur, and one-third at the gate behind the ¹guards), ²shall keep watch over the house for defense. 7 And two parts of you, even all who go out on the sabbath, shall also keep watch over the house of Yahweh for the king. 8 And you shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes within the ranks shall be put to death. And ^abe with the king when he goes out and when he comes in.”

9 So the commanders of hundreds ^adid according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each one of them took his men who were to come in on the sabbath, with those who were to go out on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 ^aThen the priest gave to the commanders of hundreds the spears and small shields that had been King David’s, which were in the house of Yahweh. 11 And the ¹guards stood each with his weapons in his hand, from the right ²side of the house to the left ³side 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 ^aThen Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, and she came to the people in the house of Yahweh. 14 And she looked, and behold, the king was standing ^aby the pillar, according to the custom, with the commanders and the ¹trumpeters beside the king; and ^ball the people of the land were glad and blew trumpets. Then Athaliah ^ctore her clothes and cried, “^dTreason! Treason!” 15 And Jehoiada the priest commanded the commanders of hundreds who were appointed over the military force and said to them, “Bring her out ¹between the ranks, and whoever follows her put to death with the sword.” For the priest said, “Let her not be put to death in the house of Yahweh.” 16 So they ¹laid hands on her, and she arrived at the horses’ entrance of the king’s house and was ^aput to death there.

17 Then ^aJehoiada cut a covenant between Yahweh and the king and the people, that they would be the people of Yahweh, also ^bbetween the king and the people. 18 And all the people of the land came to ^athe house of Baal and tore it down; ^bhis altars and his images they broke in pieces thoroughly, and they ^ckilled Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed ¹overseers over the house of Yahweh. 19 And he took the commanders 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 Yahweh, and came by the 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 were glad, and the city was quiet. 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.