2 Kings 11

Athaliah Seizes the Throne

1When Athaliah mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal offspring. 2But Jehosheba daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being put to death, him and his nurse, into the bedroom. They hid him from Athaliah, and he was not put to death. 3He was with her hidden in the house of the LORD six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land.

Jehoiada Prepares to Crown Joash

4In the seventh year Jehoiada sent and took the commanders of hundreds of the Carites and the guards and brought them to himself in the house of the LORD. He made a covenant with them and put them under oath in the house of the LORD, and he showed them the king’s son. 5He commanded them, saying, “This is the thing that you shall do: one third of you who come in on the Sabbath shall keep watch over the king’s house; 6one third shall be at the Gate of Sur, and one third at the gate behind the guards. You shall keep watch over the house for defense. 7And the two divisions of you who go out on the Sabbath shall keep watch over the house of the LORD around the king. 8You shall surround the king, each man with his weapons in his hand. Whoever comes within the ranks shall be put to death. Be with the king when he goes out and when he comes in.” 9The commanders of hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each took his men, those coming in on the Sabbath together with those going out on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10The priest gave to the commanders of hundreds the spears and shields that had belonged to King David, which were in the house of the LORD. 11The guards stood, each man with his weapons in his hand, from the south side of the house to the north side of the house, by the altar and the house, all around the king.

Joash Is Crowned

12Then he brought out the king’s son, put the crown upon him and the testimony, and they made him king and anointed him. They clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!”

Athaliah Is Put to Death

13Athaliah heard the sound of the guards and the people, and she came to the people at the house of the LORD. 14She looked, and behold, the king was standing by the pillar according to the custom, with the commanders and the trumpeters beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!” 15Then Jehoiada the priest commanded the commanders of hundreds who were appointed over the army and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks. Whoever follows her, put to death with the sword.” For the priest had said, “She shall not be put to death in the house of the LORD.” 16So they laid hands on her, and she went by the way of the horses’ entrance to the king’s house, and there she was put to death.

Covenant Is Renewed and Baal’s Temple Is Destroyed

17Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD’s people, and also between the king and the people. 18Then all the people of the land went to the house of Baal and tore it down. They completely broke its altars and images in pieces and killed Mattan priest of Baal before the altars. Then the priest appointed oversight over the house of the LORD.

Joash Takes the Throne

19He 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 and came by the way of the gate of the guards to the king’s house. He sat upon the throne of the kings. 20All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after they had put Athaliah to death with the sword at the king’s house. 21Joash was seven years old when he became king.