2 Kings

Chapter 11

1 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead , she arose and destroyed all the royal offspring .

2 But Jehosheba , the daughter of King Joram , sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from amongst the king ’s sons who were slain , even him and his nurse , and put them in the bedroom ; and they hid him from Athaliah , so that he was not slain .

3 He was with her hidden in the LORD ’s house six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.

4 In the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the captains over hundreds of the Carites and of the guard , and brought them to him into the LORD ’s house ; and he made a covenant with them , and made a covenant with them in the LORD ’s house , and showed them the king ’s son .

5 He commanded them , saying , " This is what you must do : a third of you , who come in on the Sabbath , shall be keepers of the watch of the king ’s house ;

6 a third of you shall be at the gate Sur ; and a third of you at the gate behind the guard . So you shall keep the watch of the house , and be a barrier.

7 The two companies of you , even all who go out on the Sabbath , shall keep the watch of the LORD ’s house around the king .

8 You shall surround the king , every man with his weapons in his hand ; and he who comes within the ranks , let him be slain . Be with the king when he goes out , and when he comes in ."

9 The captains over hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded ; and they each took his men , those who were to come in on the Sabbath with those who were to go out on the Sabbath , and came to Jehoiada the priest .

10 The priest delivered to the captains over hundreds the spears and shields that had been King David ’s, which were in the LORD ’s house .

11 The guard stood , every man with his weapons in his hand , from the right side of the house to the left side of the house , along by the altar and the house , around the king .

12 Then he brought out the king ’s son , and put the crown on him , and gave him the covenant; and they made him king and anointed him ; and they clapped their hands , and said , " Long live the king !"

13 When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people , she came to the people into the LORD ’s house ;

14 and she looked , and behold , the king stood by the pillar , as the tradition was , with the captains and the trumpets by the king ; and all the people of the land rejoiced , and blew trumpets . Then Athaliah tore her clothes and cried , " Treason ! Treason !"

15 Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds who were set over the army , and said to them , " Bring her out between the ranks . Kill anyone who follows her with the sword ." For the priest said , "Don’t let her be slain in the LORD ’s house ."

16 So they seized her ; and she went by the way of the horses ’ entry to the king ’s house , and she was slain there .

17 Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people , that they should be the LORD ’s people ; also between the king and the people .

18 All the people of the land went to the house of Baal , and broke it down . They broke his altars and his images in pieces thoroughly , and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars . The priest appointed officers over the LORD ’s house .

19 He took the captains over hundreds , and the Carites , and the guard , and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from the LORD ’s house , and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king ’s house . He sat on the throne of the kings .

20 So all the people of the land rejoiced , and the city was quiet . They had slain Athaliah with the sword at the king ’s house .

21 Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.