1Now when Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal offspring.
2But 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 put to death — him and his nurse — into the bedchamber. And they hid him from Athaliah, and he was not put to death.
3And he remained with her in the house of Yahweh, hiding, for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land.
4In the seventh year Jehoiada sent and took the commanders of hundreds of the Carites and of the runners, and brought them to himself into the house of Yahweh. He made a covenant with them and put them under oath in the house of Yahweh, and he showed them the king’s son.
5Then he commanded them, saying, “This is the thing that you shall do: a third of you who come in on the Sabbath shall keep watch over the king’s house,
6and a third at the Gate of Sur, and a third at the gate behind the runners. So you shall keep watch over the house, alternating.
7And the two divisions of you, all who go off duty on the Sabbath, shall keep watch over the house of Yahweh around the king.
8You shall surround the king on every side, each man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes within the ranks shall be put to death. Be with the king when he goes out and when he comes in.”
9So the commanders of hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each took his men — those who were to come in on the Sabbath together with those who were to go off duty on the Sabbath — and they came to Jehoiada the priest.
10And the priest gave to the commanders of hundreds the spear and the shields that had belonged to King David, which were in the house of Yahweh.
11The runners 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 by the house, around the king.
12Then he brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him, and gave him the testimony; and they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!”
13When Athaliah heard the sound of the runners and the people, she came to the people in the house of Yahweh.
14And she 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 the trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, “Treason! Treason!”
15And Jehoiada the priest commanded the commanders of hundreds, those appointed over the force, and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks, and whoever follows her, put to death with the sword” — for the priest had said, “Let her not be put to death in the house of Yahweh.”
16So they laid hands on her, and she went by way of the horses’ entrance to the king’s house, and there she was put to death.
17Then Jehoiada made the covenant between Yahweh and the king and the people, that they should be a people for Yahweh; and also between the king and the people.
18And all the people of the land went to the house of Baal and tore it down; his altars and his images they thoroughly smashed, and Mattan the priest of Baal they killed before the altars. And the priest appointed overseers over the house of Yahweh.
19He took the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the runners, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of Yahweh; and they came by way of the gate of the runners to the king’s house, and he sat on the throne of the kings.
20So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. And Athaliah they had put to death with the sword at the king’s house.
21Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.
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