Jehoiada Makes Joash King

1Now in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took commanders of hundreds: Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Johanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, and they entered into a covenant with him. 2And they went around Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the heads of the fathers’ households of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. 3Then all the assembly cut a covenant with the king in the house of God. And [†]Jehoiada said to them, “Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as Yahweh has spoken concerning the sons of David. 4This is the thing which you shall do: one-third of you, of the priests and Levites who come in on the sabbath, shall be gatekeepers at the thresholds, 5and one-third shall be at the king’s house, and a third at the Gate of the Foundation; and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of Yahweh. 6But let no one enter the house of Yahweh except the priests and the ministering Levites; they may enter, for they are holy. And let all the people keep the charge of Yahweh. 7And the Levites will surround the king, each man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever enters the house, let him be put to death. And be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.”

8So the Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each one of them took his men who were to come in on the sabbath, with those who were to go out on the sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest did not dismiss any of the divisions. 9Then Jehoiada the priest gave to the commanders of hundreds the spears and the shields and small shields which had been King David’s, which were in the house of God. 10And he caused all the people to stand, each man with his weapon in his hand, from the right [†]side of the house to the left [†]side of the house, by the altar and by the house, around the king. 11Then they brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him, and gave him the testimony and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and said, “Long live the king!”

Athaliah Put to Death

12Then Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, so she came into the house of Yahweh to the people. 13And she looked, and behold, the king was standing by his pillar at the entrance, and the commanders and the [†]trumpeters were beside the king. And all the people of the land were glad and blew trumpets, the singers with their musical instruments [†]leading the praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and said, “Treason! Treason!” 14Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the commanders of hundreds who were appointed over the military force and said to them, “Bring her out [†]between the ranks; and whoever follows her, let him be put to death with the sword.” For the priest said, “You shall not put her to death in the house of Yahweh.” 15So they laid hands on her, and when she arrived at the entrance of the Horse Gate of the king’s house, they put her to death there.

Jehoiada Cuts a Covenant

16Then Jehoiada cut a covenant between himself and all the people and the king, that they would be the people of Yahweh. 17And all the people came to the house of Baal and tore it down, and his altars and his images they broke in pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. 18And Jehoiada placed the assignments concerning the house of Yahweh in the hand of the Levitical priests, whom David had divided by lot to be over the house of Yahweh, to offer the burnt offerings of Yahweh, as it is written in the law of Moses—with gladness and singing according to the [†]order of David. 19And he caused the gatekeepers of the house of Yahweh to stand, so that no one would enter who was in any way unclean. 20And he took the commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the house of Yahweh, and they came through the upper gate to the king’s house. And they sat the king upon the royal throne. 21So all of the people of the land were glad, and the city was quiet. For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword.