1 I n the seventh year, Jehoiada made himself strong. He made an agreement with the captains of hundreds. These captains were Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Johanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri. They made an agreement with Jehoiada.

In the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and made a covenant with the captains of hundreds: Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri.

2 A nd they went through Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities. They gathered the heads of the fathers’ houses of Israel. And they came to Jerusalem.

And they went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the chief fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.

3 T hen all the people made an agreement with the king in the house of God. Jehoiada said to them, “See, the king’s son will rule, as the Lord has spoken about the sons of David.

Then all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said to them, “Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as the Lord has said of the sons of David.

4 T his is what you must do. One third of you religious leaders and Levites who come in on the Day of Rest will watch the gates.

This is what you shall do: One-third of you entering on the Sabbath, of the priests and the Levites, shall be keeping watch over the doors;

5 O ne third will be at the king’s house, and one third at the Gate of the Foundation. And all the people will be in the open places of the house of the Lord.

one-third shall be at the king’s house; and one-third at the Gate of the Foundation. All the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord.

6 B ut let no one come into the house of the Lord except the religious leaders and the Levite helpers. They may come in, for they are holy. But let all the other people obey the law against going into the holy place of the Lord.

But let no one come into the house of the Lord except the priests and those of the Levites who serve. They may go in, for they are holy; but all the people shall keep the watch of the Lord.

7 T he Levites will stand around the king. Each one will have his spear in his hand. And whoever goes into the house will be killed. Be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.”

And the Levites shall surround the king on all sides, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes into the house, let him be put to death. You are to be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.”

8 T he Levites and all Judah did all that Jehoiada the religious leader told them. Each one of them took his men who were to come in on the Day of Rest, with those who were to go out on the Day of Rest. For Jehoiada the religious leader did not send away any of the groups.

So the Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each man took his men who were to be on duty on the Sabbath, with those who were going off duty on the Sabbath; for Jehoiada the priest had not dismissed the divisions.

9 T hen Jehoiada the religious leader gave the captains of hundreds the spears and the large and small battle-coverings that had been King David’s, which were in the house of God.

And Jehoiada the priest gave to the captains of hundreds the spears and the large and small shields which had belonged to King David, that were in the temple of God.

10 A nd he put all the people in their places around the king. Each man had his spear in his hand. They were put in their places from the right side of the house to the left side, around the altar and the house.

Then he set all the people, every man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and by the temple, all around the king.

11 T hen they brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him. They gave him the Law, and made him king. Jehoiada and his sons poured oil on him and said, “Long live the king!” Death of Athaliah

And they brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, gave him the Testimony, and made him king. Then Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, “ Long live the king!” Death of Athaliah

12 W hen Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came into the house of the Lord to the people.

Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people in the temple of the Lord.

13 S he looked and saw the king beside his pillar at the gate. The captains and those who blew the horns were beside the king. And all the people of the land were filled with joy and blew horns. The singers were playing music and leading the praise. Athaliah tore her clothes and called out, “They are turning against the queen!”

When she looked, there was the king standing by his pillar at the entrance; and the leaders and the trumpeters were by the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, also the singers with musical instruments, and those who led in praise. So Athaliah tore her clothes and said, “Treason! Treason!”

14 T hen Jehoiada the religious leader brought out the captains of hundreds who were over the army, and said to them, “Bring her out from among the groups of people. And kill with the sword whoever follows her.” For the religious leader said, “Do not kill her in the house of the Lord.”

And Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who were set over 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 kill her in the house of the Lord.”

15 S o they took hold of her. And when she came to the Horse Gate of the king’s house, they killed her there.

So they seized her; and she went by way of the entrance of the Horse Gate into the king’s house, and they killed her there.

16 T hen Jehoiada made an agreement between himself and all the people and the king, that they should be the Lord’s people.

Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, the people, and the king, that they should be the Lord ’s people.

17 A ll the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down. They broke in pieces his altars and the objects made to look like him. And they killed Mattan the religious leader of Baal in front of the altars.

And all the people went to the temple of Baal, and tore it down. They broke in pieces its altars and images, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.

18 T hen Jehoiada put the duties of the Lord’s house under the care of the religious leaders and the Levites. David had chosen them to take care of the Lord’s house. They were to give the burnt gifts of the Lord, as it is written in the Law of Moses. It was to be done with joy and singing, as David had told them.

Also Jehoiada appointed the oversight of the house of the Lord to the hand of the priests, the Levites, whom David had assigned in the house of the Lord, to offer the burnt offerings of the Lord, as it is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was established by David.

19 A nd Jehoiada put the gate-keepers in their places of the Lord’s house. This was so no one would go in who was in any way unclean.

And he set the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the Lord, so that no one who was in any way unclean should enter.

20 T hen he took the captains of hundreds, the princes, the leaders of the people, and all the people of the land. And they brought the king down from the house of the Lord. They came through the high gate to the king’s house. And they placed the king upon the throne of the nation.

Then he took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the house of the Lord; and they went through the Upper Gate to the king’s house, and set the king on the throne of the kingdom.

21 S o all the people of the land were filled with joy, and the city was quiet. For they had killed Athaliah with the sword.

So all the people of the land rejoiced; and the city was quiet, for they had slain Athaliah with the sword.