1When Athaliahthe motherof Ahaziahsawthat her sonwas dead,she roseand destroyedallthe royaloffspring.2But Jehosheba,the daughterof KingJoram,sisterof Ahaziah,tookJoashthe sonof Ahaziahand stolehim from amongthe king'ssonswho were being putto death,and placedhim and his nursein the bedroom.So they hidhim from Athaliah,and he was not putto death.3So he was hiddenwith her in the houseof the LORDsixyears,while Athaliahwas reigningoverthe land.
4Now in the seventhyearJehoiadasentand broughtthe captainsof hundredsof the Caritesand of the guard,and broughtthem to him in the houseof the LORD.Then he madea covenantwith them and putthem underoathin the houseof the LORD,and showedthem the king'sson.5He commandedthem, saying,"Thisis the thingthat you shall do:one thirdof you, who comein on the sabbathand keepwatchover the king'shouse6(one thirdalso [shall be] at the gateSur,and one thirdat the gatebehindthe guards),shall keepwatchover the housefor defense.7"Twopartsof you, [even] allwho goout on the sabbath,shall also keepwatchover the houseof the LORDfor the king.8"Then you shall surroundthe king,eachwith his weaponsin his hand;and whoever comeswithinthe ranksshall be putto death.And be with the kingwhen he goesout and when he comesin."
9So the captainsof hundredsdidaccording to allthat Jehoiadathe priestcommanded.And eachoneof them tookhis menwho were to comein on the sabbath,with those who were to goout on the sabbath,and cameto Jehoiadathe priest.10The priestgaveto the captainsof hundredsthe spearsand shieldsthat [had been] KingDavid's,which[were] in the houseof the LORD.11The guardsstoodeachwith his weaponsin his hand,from the rightsideof the houseto the leftsideof the house,by the altarand by the house,aroundthe king.12Then he broughtthe king'ssonout and putthe crownon him and [gave him] the testimony;and they madehim kingand anointedhim, and they clappedtheir handsand said,"[Long] livethe king!"
13When Athaliahheardthe noiseof the guard[and of] the people,she cameto the peoplein the houseof the LORD.14She lookedand behold,the kingwas standingby the pillar,according to the custom,with the captainsand the trumpetersbesidethe king;and allthe peopleof the landrejoicedand blewtrumpets.Then Athaliahtoreher clothesand cried,"Treason!Treason!"15And Jehoiadathe priestcommandedthe captainsof hundredswho were appointedover the armyand saidto them, "Bringher out betweenthe ranks,and whoever followsher putto deathwith the sword."For the priestsaid,"Let her not be putto deathin the houseof the LORD."16So they seizedher, and when she arrivedat the horses'entranceof the king'shouse,she was putto deaththere.
17Then Jehoiadamadea covenantbetweenthe LORDand the kingand the people,that they would be the LORD'Speople,also betweenthe kingand the people.18Allthe peopleof the landwentto the houseof Baal,and toreit down;his altarsand his imagesthey brokein piecesthoroughly,and killedMattanthe priestof Baalbeforethe altars.And the priestappointedofficersoverthe houseof the LORD.19He tookthe captainsof hundredsand the Caritesand the guardsand allthe peopleof the land;and they broughtthe kingdownfrom the houseof the LORD,and cameby the wayof the gateof the guardsto the king'shouse.And he saton the throneof the kings.20So allthe peopleof the landrejoicedand the citywas quiet.For they had putAthaliahto deathwith the swordat the king'shouse.
21Jehoashwas sevenyearsoldwhen he becameking.
