2 Kings 11:1-8 ▼

1 When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to annihilate all the royal heirs.

2 But 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.

3 And Joash remained hidden with his nurse in the house of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

4 Then 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

5 and 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,

6 a 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—

7 the two divisions that would go off duty on the Sabbath are to guard the house of the LORD for the king.

8 You 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.”