2Kings 11

Queen Athaliah Rules in Judah

11When Athaliah, the mother of King Ahaziah of Judah, learned that her son was dead, she began to destroy the rest of the royal family.H6271H517H274H7200H1121H4191H6965H6H2233H4467 2But Ahaziah's sister Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram

, took Ahaziah's infant son, Joash, and stole him away from among the rest of the king's children, who were about to be killed. She put Joash and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah, so the child was not murdered.H3089H1323H4428H3141H269H274H3947H3101H1121H274H1589H8432H4428H1121H4191H5641H3243H2315H4296H6440H6271H4191 3Joash remained hidden in the Temple of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled over the land.H2244H1004H3068H8337H8141H6271H4427H776

Revolt against Athaliah

4In the seventh year of Athaliah's reign, Jehoiada the priest summoned the commanders, the Carite mercenaries, and the palace guards to come to the Temple of the LORD. He made a solemn pact with them and made them swear an oath of loyalty there in the LORD's Temple; then he showed them the king's son.H7637H8141H3077H7971H3947H8269H3967H3746H7323H935H1004H3068H3772H1285H7650H1004H3068H7200H4428H1121 5Jehoiada told them, "This is what you must do. A third of you who are on duty on the Sabbath are to guard the royal palace itself.H6680H559H1697H6213H7992H935H7676H8104H4931H4428H1004 6Another third of you are to stand guard at the Sur Gate. And the final third must stand guard behind the palace guard. These three groups will all guard the palace.H7992H8179H5495H7992H8179H310H7323H8104H4931H1004H4535 7The other two units who are off duty on the Sabbath must stand guard for the king at the LORD's Temple.H8147H3027H3318H7676H8104H4931H1004H3068H413H4428 8Form a bodyguard around the king and keep your weapons in hand. Kill anyone who tries to break through. Stay with the king wherever he goes."H5362H4428H5439H376H3627H3027H935H7713H4191H4428H3318H935 9So the commanders did everything as Jehoiada the priest ordered. The commanders took charge of the men reporting for duty that Sabbath, as well as those who were going off duty. They brought them all to Jehoiada the priest,H8269H3967H6213H3077H3548H6680H3947H376H582H935H7676H3318H7676H935H3077H3548 10and he supplied them with the spears and small shields that had once belonged to King David and were stored in the Temple of the LORD.H8269H3967H3548H5414H4428H1732H2595H7982H1004H3068 11The palace guards stationed themselves around the king, with their weapons ready. They formed a line from the south side of the Temple around to the north side and all around the altar.H7323H5975H376H3627H3027H5439H4428H3233H3802H1004H8042H3802H1004H4196H1004 12Then Jehoiada brought out Joash, the king's son, placed the crown on his head, and presented him with a copy of God's laws

. They anointed him and proclaimed him king, and everyone clapped their hands and shouted, "Long live the king!"H3318H4428H1121H5414H5145H5715H4427H4886H5221H3709H559H2421H4428

The Death of Athaliah

13When Athaliah heard all the noise made by the palace guards and the people, she hurried to the LORD's Temple to see what was happening.H6271H8085H6963H7323H5971H935H5971H1004H3068 14When she arrived, she saw the newly crowned king standing in his place of authority by the pillar, as was the custom at times of coronation. The commanders and trumpeters were surrounding him, and people from all over the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. When Athaliah saw all this, she tore her clothes in despair and shouted, "Treason! Treason!"H7200H4428H5975H5982H4941H8269H2689H4428H5971H776H8056H8628H2689H6271H7167H899H7121H7195H7195 15Then Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders who were in charge of the troops, "Take her to the soldiers in front of the Temple

, and kill anyone who tries to rescue her." For the priest had said, "She must not be killed in the Temple of the LORD."H3077H3548H6680H8269H3967H6485H2428H559H3318H1004H7713H935H310H4191H2719H3548H559H4191H1004H3068 16So they seized her and led her out to the gate where horses enter the palace grounds, and she was killed there.H7760H3027H935H1870H5483H3996H4428H1004H4191

Jehoiada’s Religious Reforms

17Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people that they would be the LORD's people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people.H3077H3772H1285H3068H4428H5971H3068H5971H4428H5971 18And all the people of the land went over to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They demolished the altars and smashed the idols to pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. Jehoiada the priest stationed guards at the Temple of the LORD.H5971H776H935H1004H1168H5422H4196H6754H7665H3190H2026H4977H3548H1168H6440H4196H3548H7760H6485H6486H1004H3068 19Then the commanders, the Carite mercenaries, the palace guards, and all the people of the land escorted the king from the Temple of the LORD. They went through the gate of the guards and into the palace, and the king took his seat on the royal throne.H3947H8269H3967H3746H7323H5971H776H3381H4428H1004H3068H935H1870H8179H7323H4428H1004H3427H3678H4428 20So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was peaceful because Athaliah had been killed at the king's palace.H5971H776H8055H5892H8252H4191H6271H2719H4428H1004 21

Joash was seven years old when he became king.H7651H8141H1121H3060H4427