2 Kings 11

11 ¹ When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she set out to destroy the entire royal family. ² But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king's sons who were about to be killed. She hid him and his nurse in a bedroom, keeping him safe from Athaliah, so that he was not killed. ³ He remained hidden with her in the house of our Father for six years, while Athaliah ruled over the land.

The Father Preserves the Rightful King

⁴ In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of hundreds, of the Carites and of the guards, and brought them to him in the house of our Father. He made a covenant with them, put them under oath in the house of our Father, and showed them the king's son. ⁵ He commanded them, "This is what you are to do: a third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath are to keep guard over the royal palace, ⁶ a third at the Sur Gate, and a third at the gate behind the guards; you will take turns keeping watch over the palace. ⁷ Your two other divisions who go off duty on the Sabbath are to guard the house of our Father for the king. ⁸ Surround the king on every side, each man with his weapons in hand, and anyone who comes near the ranks is to be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes."

⁹ The commanders of hundreds did everything Jehoiada the priest had ordered. Each took his men, those coming on duty on the Sabbath along with those going off duty, and came to Jehoiada the priest. ¹⁰ The priest gave the commanders the spears and shields that had belonged to King David, which were kept in the house of our Father. ¹¹ The guards stationed themselves around the king, each man with his weapon in hand, from the south side of the temple to the north side, by the altar and the temple. ¹² Then Jehoiada brought out the king's son, placed the crown on him, and gave him the testimony. They proclaimed him king and anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and shouted, "Long live the king!"

The Fall of Athaliah

¹³ When Athaliah heard the noise of the guards and the people, she came to the people in the house of our Father. ¹⁴ She looked, and there stood the king by the pillar, as the custom was, with the commanders and the trumpeters beside him, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes and shouted, "Treason! Treason!"

¹⁵ Jehoiada the priest gave orders to the commanders of hundreds in charge of the troops: "Bring her out between the ranks, and put to the sword anyone who follows her." For the priest had said, "She must not be put to death in the house of our Father." ¹⁶ So they seized her, and she went by way of the horses' entrance to the royal palace, and there she was put to death.

The People Renew the Covenant

¹⁷ Then Jehoiada made a covenant between our Father and the king and the people, that they would be the people of our Father; and he made a covenant between the king and the people as well. ¹⁸ Then all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed its altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. And the priest posted guards over the house of our Father. ¹⁹ He took the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and together they brought the king down from the house of our Father. They went through the gate of the guards to the royal palace, and he took his seat on the throne of the kings. ²⁰ All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was at peace, now that Athaliah had been put to the sword at the royal palace.

²¹ Joash was seven years old when he became king.