[1] Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she
arose and destroyed all the seed royal. [2] But Jehosheba, the daughter of
king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him
away from among the king`s sons who were slain, even him and his nurse,
[and put them] in the bedchamber; and they hid him from Athaliah, so that
he was not slain; [3] He was with her hid in the house of Yahweh six years.
Athaliah reigned over the land. [4] In the seventh year Jehoiada sent and
fetched the captains over hundreds of the Carites and of the guard, and
brought them to him into the house of Yahweh; and he made a covenant with
them, and took an oath of them in the house of Yahweh, and showed them the
king`s son. [5] He commanded them, saying, This is the thing that you shall
do: a third part of you, who come in on the Sabbath, shall be keepers of
the watch of the king`s house; [6] A third part shall be at the gate Sur;
and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall you keep the watch
of the house, and be a barrier. [7] The two companies of you, even all who
go forth on the Sabbath, shall keep the watch of the house of Yahweh about
the king. [8] You shall compass the king round about, every man with his
weapons in his hand; and he who comes within the ranks, let him be slain:
and be you with the king when he goes out, and when he comes in. [9] The
captains over hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest
commanded; and they took every man his men, those 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] The priest delivered to the captains over
hundreds the spears and shields that had been king David`s, which were in
the house of Yahweh. [11] The guard stood, every man with his weapons in
his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house,
along by the altar and the house, by the king round about. [12] Then he
brought out the king`s son, and put the crown on him, and [gave him] the
testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their
hands, and said, [Long] live the king. [13] When Athaliah heard the noise
of the guard [and of] the people, she came to the people into the house of
Yahweh: [14] and she looked, and, behold, the king stood by the pillar, as
the manner was, and the captains and the trumpets by the king; and all the
people of the land rejoiced, and blew trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her
clothes, and cried, Treason! treason! [15] Jehoiada the priest commanded
the captains of hundreds who were set over the host, and said to them, Have
her forth between the ranks; and him who follows her kill with the sword.
For the priest said, Don`t let her be slain in the house of Yahweh. [16] So
they made way for her; and she went by the way of the horses` entry to the
king`s house: and there was she slain. [17] Jehoiada made a covenant
between Yahweh and the king and the people, that they should be Yahweh`s
people; between the king also and the people. [18] All the people of the
land went to the house of Baal, and broke it down; his altars and his
images broke they in pieces thoroughly, and killed Mattan the priest of
Baal before the altars. The priest appointed officers over the house of
Yahweh. [19] He took the captains over hundreds, and the Carites, and the
guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from
the house of Yahweh, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the
king`s house. He sat on the throne of the kings. [20] So all the people of
the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. Athaliah they had slain with the
sword at the king`s house. [21] Jehoash was seven years old when he began
to reign.