1 W hen Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she rose and destroyed all the royal offspring.

When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal descendants.

2 B ut Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the king’s sons who were being put to death, and placed him and his nurse in the bedroom. So they hid him from Athaliah, and he was not put to death.

But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram, sister of Ahaziah, stole Joash son of Ahaziah from among the king’s sons, who were to be slain, even him and his nurse, and hid them from Athaliah in an inner storeroom for beds; so he was not slain.

3 S o he was hidden with her in the house of the Lord six years, while Athaliah was reigning over the land.

Joash was with his nurse hidden in the house of the Lord for six years. And Athaliah reigned over the land.

4 N ow in the seventh year Jehoiada sent and brought the captains of hundreds of the Carites and of the guard, and brought them to him in 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 son.

In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the captains over hundreds of the Carites and of the guards or runners and brought them to him to the house of the Lord and made a covenant with them and took an oath from them in the house of the Lord and showed them the king’s son.

5 H e commanded them, saying, “This is the thing that you shall do: one third of you, who come in on the sabbath and keep watch over the king’s house

And he commanded them, saying, This is the thing you shall do: a third of you who come in on the Sabbath shall keep watch of the king’s house,

6 ( one third also shall be at the gate Sur, and one third at the gate behind the guards), shall keep watch over the house for defense.

A third shall be at the gate Sur, and a third at the gate behind the guard. So you shall keep watch of the palace and be a barrier.

7 T wo parts of you, even all who go out on the sabbath, shall also keep watch over the house of the Lord for the king.

And two divisions of all you who should go off duty on the Sabbath shall keep the watch of the house of the Lord to the king.

8 T hen you shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes within the ranks shall be put to death. And be with the king when he goes out and when he comes in.”

You shall surround the king, every man with his weapons in his hand. And let anyone who breaks through the ranks be put to death. You be with the king when he goes out and when he comes in.

9 S o the captains of hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each one of them took his men who were to come in on the sabbath, with those who were to go out on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.

The captains over the hundreds did all that Jehoiada the priest commanded; and they took every man his men who were to come on duty on the Sabbath with those who should go off duty on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.

10 T he 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.

To the captains over hundreds the priest gave the spears and shields that had been King David’s, which were in the house of the Lord.

11 T he guards stood each with his weapons in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, by the altar and by the house, around the king.

And the guards stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the right corner to the left corner of the temple area, along by the altar and the temple proper.

12 T hen he brought the king’s son out 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!”

And Jehoiada brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him and gave him the Testimony; and they proclaimed him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, Long live the king!

13 W hen Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people in the house of the Lord.

When Athaliah heard the noise of the guards and the people, she went into the house of the Lord to the people.

14 S he looked and behold, the king was standing by the pillar, according to the custom, with the captains and the trumpeters beside the king; and all the people of the land rejoiced and blew trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “ Treason! Treason!”

When she looked, there stood the king by the pillar, as was customary, and the captains and the trumpeters beside the king, with all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets. And Athaliah rent her clothes and cried, Treason! Treason!

15 A nd Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds who were appointed over the army and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks, and whoever follows her put to death with the sword.” For the priest said, “Let her not be put to death in the house of the Lord.”

Then Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds set over the army and said to them, Take her forth outside the ranks, and him who follows her kill with the sword. For the priest had said, Let her not be slain in the house of the Lord.

16 S o they seized her, and when she arrived at the horses’ entrance of the king’s house, she was put to death there.

They seized her, and she went through the horses’ entrance to the king’s house, and there she was slain.

17 T hen Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people, that they would be the Lord’s people, also between the king and the people.

And Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people that they would be the Lord’s people—and also between the king and the people.

18 A ll the people of the land went to the house of Baal, and tore it down; his altars and his images they broke in pieces thoroughly, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of the Lord.

Then all the people of the land went to the house of Baal and destroyed it. His altar and his images they broke completely in pieces, and Mattan the priest of Baal they slew before the altars. And the priest appointed watchmen to guard the house of the Lord.

19 H e took the captains of hundreds and the Carites and the guards and all the people of the land; and they brought the king down from the house of the Lord, and came by the way of the gate of the guards to the king’s house. And he sat on the throne of the kings.

Then he took the rulers over hundreds, the captains, the guard, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the Lord and came by way of the guards’ gate to the king’s house. And Joash was seated on the throne of the kings.

20 S o all the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet. For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword at the king’s house.

So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been slain with the sword beside the king’s house.

21 J ehoash was seven years old when he became king.

Joash was seven years old when he began to reign.