2 Kings 11:1-9 ▼

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

2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the king's sons who were slain; and she hid him and his nurse in her bedchamber; thus she hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not slain.

3 And he was hidden with her in the house of the LORD six years. And Athaliah reigned over the land.

4 And in the seventh year Jehoiada the priest sent and brought the captains of hundreds and the guards and the runners, and had them come to him into the house of the LORD and stationed them there, and made a covenant with them and took an oath of them and showed them the king's son.

5 And he commanded them, saying, This is the thing that you shall do: a third part of you who enter in on the sabbath shall keep guard of the king's house;

6 And a third part shall be at the gate of Kersa; and a third part at the gate of the house of the guards; so shall you keep the watch of the house, that it be in perfect order.

7 And two parts of all you that go off duty on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD together with the king's house;

8 And you shall surround the king, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whosoever comes within range, let him be slain; and you be with the king as he goes out and as he comes in.

9 And the captains of the hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded them; and they took every man his then who were to be on duty on the sabbath, with those who were to be off duty on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.