Athaliah Usurps the Throne

11 When Athaliah,(A) Ahaziah’s mother,(B) saw that her son was dead,(C) she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs. Jehosheba,(D) who was King Jehoram’s daughter and Ahaziah’s(E) sister, secretly rescued Joash son of Ahaziah from the king’s sons who were being killed and put him and the one who nursed him in a bedroom. So he was hidden from Athaliah and was not killed. Joash was in hiding with Jehosheba in the Lord’s temple six years while Athaliah ruled over the land.

Athaliah Overthrown

Then(F) in the seventh year, Jehoiada(G) sent messengers and brought in the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards.(H) He had them come to him in the Lord’s temple, where 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(I) are to provide protection for the king’s palace. A third are to be at the Sur gate and a third at the gate behind the guards. You are to take turns providing protection for the palace.[a](J)

“Your two divisions that go off duty on the Sabbath are to provide protection for the Lord’s temple. You must completely surround the king with weapons in hand. Anyone who approaches the ranks is to be put to death. You must be with the king in all his daily tasks.”[b](K)

So the commanders of hundreds did everything Jehoiada the priest commanded. They each brought their men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—and went to Jehoiada the priest.(L) 10 The priest gave to the commanders of hundreds King David’s spears and shields(M) that were in the Lord’s temple. 11 Then the guards stood with their weapons in hand surrounding the king—from the right side of the temple to the left side, by the altar and by the temple.

12 He brought out the king’s son, put the crown(N) on him, gave him the testimony,[c](O) and made him king. They anointed(P) him and clapped their hands and cried, “Long live the king!”(Q)

13 When Athaliah(R) heard the noise from the guard and the crowd, she went out to the people at the Lord’s temple.(S) 14 As she looked, there was the king standing by the pillar(T) according to the custom. The commanders and the trumpeters were by the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets.(U) Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed “Treason! Treason!”(V)

15 Then Jehoiada(W) the priest ordered the commanders of hundreds(X) in charge of the army, “Take her out between the ranks, and put to death by the sword anyone who follows her,” for the priest had said, “She is not to be put to death in the Lord’s temple.”(Y) 16 So they arrested her, and she went through the horse entrance(Z) to the king’s palace, where she was put to death.(AA)

Jehoiada’s Reforms

17 Then(AB) Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people that they would be the Lord’s people(AC) and another covenant between the king and the people.[d](AD) 18 So all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They broke its altars and images into pieces,(AE) and they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, at the altars.(AF)

Then Jehoiada the priest appointed guards for the Lord’s temple.(AG) 19 He took the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards,(AH) and all the people of the land, and they brought the king from the Lord’s temple. They entered the king’s palace by way of the guards’ gate. Then Joash(AI) sat on the throne of the kings. 20 All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet, for they had put Athaliah to death by the sword in the king’s palace.

Judah’s King Joash

21 [e]Joash[f](AJ) was seven years old when he became king.(AK)

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 11:6 Hb obscure
  2. 2 Kings 11:8 Lit king when he goes out and when he comes in
  3. 2 Kings 11:12 Or him the copy of the covenant, or him a diadem, or him jewels
  4. 2 Kings 11:17 Some Gk versions, 2Ch 23:16 omit and [another covenant] between the king and the people
  5. 2 Kings 11:21 2Kg 12:1 in Hb
  6. 2 Kings 11:21 = The Lord Has Bestowed

Athaliah and Joash(A)

11 When Athaliah(B) the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family. But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram[a] and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash(C) son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed.(D) He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the Lord for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of units of a hundred, the Carites(E) and the guards and had them brought to him at the temple of the Lord. He made a covenant with them and put them under oath at the temple of the Lord. Then he showed them the king’s son. He commanded them, saying, “This is what you are to do: You who are in the three companies that are going on duty on the Sabbath(F)—a third of you guarding the royal palace,(G) a third at the Sur Gate, and a third at the gate behind the guard, who take turns guarding the temple— and you who are in the other two companies that normally go off Sabbath duty are all to guard the temple for the king. Station yourselves around the king, each of you with weapon in hand. Anyone who approaches your ranks[b] is to be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes.”

The commanders of units of a hundred did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one took his men—those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were going off duty—and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 Then he gave the commanders the spears and shields(H) that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of the Lord. 11 The guards, each with weapon in hand, stationed themselves around the king—near the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.

12 Jehoiada brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him; he presented him with a copy of the covenant(I) and proclaimed him king. They anointed(J) him, and the people clapped their hands(K) and shouted, “Long live the king!”(L)

13 When Athaliah heard the noise made by the guards and the people, she went to the people at the temple of the Lord. 14 She looked and there was the king, standing by the pillar,(M) as the custom was. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets.(N) Then Athaliah tore(O) her robes and called out, “Treason! Treason!”(P)

15 Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of the troops: “Bring her out between the ranks[c] and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the temple(Q) of the Lord.” 16 So they seized her as she reached the place where the horses enter(R) the palace grounds, and there she was put to death.(S)

17 Jehoiada then made a covenant(T) between the Lord and the king and people that they would be the Lord’s people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people.(U) 18 All the people of the land went to the temple(V) of Baal and tore it down. They smashed(W) the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest(X) of Baal in front of the altars.

Then Jehoiada the priest posted guards at the temple of the Lord. 19 He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites,(Y) the guards and all the people of the land, and together they brought the king down from the temple of the Lord and went into the palace, entering by way of the gate of the guards. The king then took his place on the royal throne. 20 All the people of the land rejoiced,(Z) and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the palace.

21 Joash[d] was seven years old when he began to reign.[e]

Footnotes

  1. 2 Kings 11:2 Hebrew Joram, a variant of Jehoram
  2. 2 Kings 11:8 Or approaches the precincts
  3. 2 Kings 11:15 Or out from the precincts
  4. 2 Kings 11:21 Hebrew Jehoash, a variant of Joash
  5. 2 Kings 11:21 In Hebrew texts this verse (11:21) is numbered 12:1.