¹⁸ All the people of the land went to the temple^(A) of Baal and tore it down. They smashed^(B) the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest^(C) 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,^(D) 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,^(E) and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the palace.