^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.