| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1When Athaliah, the mother of King Ahaziah of Judah, learned that her son was dead, she began to destroy the rest of the royal family. | 1When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs. |
| 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, and they hid him from Athaliah, so the child was not murdered. | 2But Jehosheba daughter of King Joram, the sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the sons of the king who were being murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah, and he was not killed. |
| 3Joash remained hidden in the Temple of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled over the land. Revolt against Athaliah | 3And Joash remained hidden with his nurse in the house of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land. |
| 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. | 4Then in the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards, and had them brought into the house of the LORD. There he made a covenant with them and put them under oath. He showed them the king’s son |
| 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. | 5and commanded them, “This is what you are to do: A third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath shall guard the royal palace, |
| 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. | 6a third shall be at the gate of Sur, and a third at the gate behind the guards. You are to take turns guarding the temple— |
| 7The other two units who are off duty on the Sabbath must stand guard for the king at the LORD’s Temple. | 7the two divisions that would go off duty on the Sabbath are to guard the house of the LORD for the king. |
| 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.” | 8You must surround the king with weapons in hand, and anyone who approaches the ranks must be put to death. You must stay close to the king wherever he goes.” |
| 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, | 9So the commanders of hundreds did everything that Jehoiada the priest had ordered. Each of them took his men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—and came to Jehoiada the priest. |
| 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. | 10Then the priest gave to the commanders of hundreds the spears and shields of King David from the house of the LORD. |
| 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. | 11And the guards stood with weapons in hand surrounding the king by the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple. |
| 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!” The Death of Athaliah | 12Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, presented him with the Testimony, and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and declared, “Long live the king!” |
| 13When Athaliah heard the noise made by the palace guards and the people, she hurried to the LORD’s Temple to see what was happening. | 13When Athaliah heard the noise from the guards and the people, she went out to the people in the house of the LORD. |
| 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!” | 14And she looked out and saw the king standing by the pillar, according to the custom. The officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason! Treason!” |
| 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.” | 15And Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the house of the LORD.” |
| 16So they seized her and led her out to the gate where horses enter the palace grounds, and she was killed there. Jehoiada’s Religious Reforms | 16So they seized Athaliah as she reached the horses’ entrance to the palace grounds, and there she was put to death. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 18So all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. And Jehoiada the priest posted guards for the house of the LORD. |
| 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. | 19He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD and entered the royal palace by way of the Gate of the Guards. Then Joash took his seat on the royal throne, |
| 20So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was peaceful because Athaliah had been killed at the king’s palace. | 20and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been put to the sword at the royal palace. |
| 21 Joash was seven years old when he became king. | 21Joash was seven years old when he became king. |
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