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

When Ahaziah’s mother Athaliah saw that her son was dead, she got up and killed all the king’s children.

2 B ut 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 being murdered; and they hid him and his nurse in the bedroom, from Athaliah, so that he was not killed.

But King Joram’s daughter Jehosheba, Ahaziah’s sister, took Joash the son of Ahaziah. She stole him away from the king’s sons who were being killed, and put him and his nurse in the bedroom. They hid him from Athaliah, and he was not killed.

3 S o he was hidden with her in the house of the Lord for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land. Joash Crowned King of Judah

Joash was hid with his nurse in the house of the Lord six years, while Athaliah was ruling over the land.

4 I n the seventh year Jehoiada sent and brought the captains of hundreds—of the bodyguards and the escorts—and brought them into the house of the Lord to him. And he made a covenant with them and took an oath from them in the house of the Lord, and showed them the king’s son.

In the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the captains of hundreds, men who watch over the king and the soldiers. He brought them into the house of the Lord, and made an agreement with them. He had them make a promise in the house of the Lord. Then he showed them the king’s son.

5 T hen he commanded them, saying, “This is what you shall do: one-third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath shall be keeping watch over the king’s house,

He told them, “This is what you must do. One third of you who come in on the Day of Rest must keep watch over the king’s house.

6 o ne-third shall be at the gate of Sur, and one-third at the gate behind the escorts. You shall keep the watch of the house, lest it be broken down.

One third are to be at the gate Sur and one third at the gate behind the soldiers. So you will keep watch over the king’s house.

7 T he two contingents of you who go off duty on the Sabbath shall keep the watch of the house of the Lord for the king.

And two parts of all of you who go out on the Day of Rest must keep watch over the house of the Lord for the king.

8 B ut you shall surround the king on all sides, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes within range, let him be put to death. You are to be with the king as he goes out and as he comes in.”

You will stand around the king, with spears in your hands. Whoever comes near must be killed. Be with the king when he goes out and when he comes in.”

9 S o the captains of the hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each of them took his men who were to be on duty on the Sabbath, with those who were going off duty on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.

The captains of hundreds did all that Jehoiada the religious leader told them to do. Each one of them brought his men to Jehoiada the religious leader. Each one brought those who were to come in on the Day of Rest, and those who were to go out on the Day of Rest.

10 A nd the priest gave the captains of hundreds the spears and shields which had belonged to King David, that were in the temple of the Lord.

The religious leader gave the captains the spears and coverings that had been King David’s, which were in the house of the Lord.

11 T hen the escorts stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, all around the king, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, by the altar and the house.

And the soldiers stood from the right side of the house to the left side of the house. Each one held his spear. They stood by the altar and by the house, around the king.

12 A nd he brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, and gave him the Testimony; they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!” Death of Athaliah

Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him, and gave him the Law. They made him king and poured oil on him. Then they clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!”

13 N ow when Athaliah heard the noise of the escorts and the people, she came to the people in the temple of the Lord.

When Athaliah heard the noise of the soldiers and the people, she came to the people in the house of the Lord.

14 W hen she looked, there was the king standing by a pillar according to custom; and the leaders and the trumpeters were by the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. So Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, “Treason! Treason!”

She looked and saw the king standing by the pillar, as was done in those days. The captains and those who blew horns were standing beside the king. And all the people of the land were filled with joy and blew horns. Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “They are turning against the queen!”

15 A nd Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the army, and said to them, “Take her outside under guard, and slay with the sword whoever follows her.” For the priest had said, “Do not let her be killed in the house of the Lord.”

Then Jehoiada the religious leader told the captains of the army, “Bring her out among the soldiers, and kill with the sword whoever follows her.” For the religious leader said, “Do not let her be put to death in the house of the Lord.”

16 S o they seized her; and she went by way of the horses’ entrance into the king’s house, and there she was killed.

So they took hold of her, and she was put to death at the horses’ gate of the king’s house.

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

Then Jehoiada made an agreement between the Lord and the king and the people, that they should be the Lord’s people. And he made an agreement between the king and the people.

18 A nd all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal, and tore it down. They thoroughly broke in pieces its altars and images, 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 tore it down. They broke to pieces all his altars and objects. And they killed Mattan the religious leader of Baal in front of the altars. Then the religious leaders chose men to watch over the house of the Lord.

19 T hen he took the captains of hundreds, the bodyguards, the escorts, and all the people of the land; and they brought the king down from the house of the Lord, and went by way of the gate of the escorts to the king’s house. Then he sat on the throne of the kings.

Jehoiada took the captains and the men who watch over the king, and the soldiers and all the people of the land. They brought the king down from the house of the Lord, by the way of the soldiers’ gate, to the king’s house. And he sat on the throne of the kings.

20 S o all the people of the land rejoiced; and the city was quiet, for they had slain Athaliah with the sword in the king’s house.

So all the people of the land were filled with joy, and the city was quiet. For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword at the king’s house.

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

Joash was seven years old when he became king.