2 Kings 11
1 When Athaliah, Ahaziah’s mother, saw that her son was dead, she rose up and destroyed all the royal descendants.
2 But Jehosheba, King Joram’s daughter and Ahaziah’s sister, took Joash, Ahaziah’s son. She secretly removed him from among the king’s sons who were being killed, along with his nurse, and brought them to the bedroom. They hid him from Athaliah, and he was not killed.
3 He remained hidden with her in the house of the LORD for six years, while Athaliah ruled the land.
4 In the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the commanders of hundreds of the Carites and the guards, and brought them to him in the house of the LORD. He made a covenant with them, had them swear an oath in the house of the LORD, and showed them the king’s son.
5 He commanded them: “This is what you are to do: one third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath shall guard the king’s house.
6 Another third shall be at the Gate of Sur, and another third at the gate behind the guards. In this way you shall guard the palace in shifts.
7 The two divisions among you, all who go off duty on the Sabbath, shall guard the house of the LORD beside the king.
8 You shall surround the king on every side, each man with his weapon in hand. Anyone who enters your ranks shall be put to death. Stay with the king when he goes out and when he comes in.”
9 The commanders of hundreds did everything that Jehoiada the priest had ordered. Each took his men, those coming on duty on the Sabbath together with those going off duty on the Sabbath, and they came to Jehoiada the priest.
10 The priest gave the commanders of hundreds the spears and shields that had belonged to King David and were in the house of the LORD.
11 The guards took their positions, each man with his weapon in hand, from the right side of the house to the left side, beside the altar and the house, surrounding the king.
12 Then he brought out the king’s son, placed the crown and the testimony on him, and they proclaimed him king and anointed him. They clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!”
13 When Athaliah heard the noise of the guards and the people, she went to the people in the house of the LORD.
14 She looked, and there was the king, standing by the pillar as was the custom, with the commanders and the trumpeters beside the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes and shouted, “Treason! Treason!”
15 Jehoiada the priest commanded the commanders of hundreds, the army officers: “Take her out through the ranks, and kill with the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the house of the LORD.”
16 They seized her, and she came to the king’s house by way of the horse entrance, where she was put to death.
17 Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD, the king, and the people, that they would be the LORD’s people; he also made a covenant between the king and the people.
18 All the people of the land went to the house of Baal and tore it down. They smashed his altars and images to pieces, and they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars. The priest posted guards at the house of the LORD.
19 He took the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD. They entered the king’s house by way of the Gate of the Guards, and he sat on the throne of the kings.
20 All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. Athaliah had been put to death with the sword at the king’s house.
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