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

2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons who were being slain; and hid both he and his nurse from Athaliah, in a storeroom, so that he was not killed.

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

4 ¶ In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the regimental commanders, of the bodyguard and escort, and had them come to him into the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them, and put them under oath in the house of the LORD, and showed them the king’s son.

5 And he commanded them, saying, This is what you must do; One third of you who come on duty on the sabbath are to guard the king’s palace;

6 Another third will be at the Sur gate; and a third at the gate behind the guard: and you will take turns guarding the palace, and be a barrier.

7 And the two divisions of you who go off duty on the sabbath, must keep a watch over the king at the house of the LORD.

8 And you will surround the king, every man with his weapons in hand: and let anyone who breaks through the ranks be slain: you are to be with the king when he goes out and when he comes in.

9 And the regimental commanders did everything that Jehoiada the priest commanded: everyone took his men who were to come on duty on the sabbath, as well as those who would go off duty on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.

10 And the priest gave the regimental commanders king David’s spears and shields, that were in the temple of the LORD.

11 And the guard stood around the king, every man having his weapons in his hand, from the right corner of the temple to the left corner of the temple, around the altar and the temple.

12 And Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, and put the crown on him, and gave him the law; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and shouted, Long live the king.

13 ¶ And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and the people, she went into the temple of the LORD, to the people.

14 And when she looked, the king was standing by a pillar, as was customary, and the commanders and the trumpeters beside the king, and everyone rejoiced, and blew trumpets: but Athaliah tore her clothes, and cried, Treason, Treason.

15 Then Jehoiada the priest gave the order to the commanders of the army, saying, Take her out under guard: and kill anyone who follows her with the sword. For the priest had said, Do not let her be executed in the house of the LORD.

16 And they grabbed hold of her; and took her through the horses’ entrance to the king’s palace: and there she was slain.

17 ¶ And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and his people, that they would be the LORD’S people; and another between the king and the people.

18 And all the people of the land went to the house of Baal, and tore it down; and smashed his altars and his images to pieces, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. Then the priest appointed officers over the house of the LORD.

19 And he took the regimental commanders, of the bodyguard and escort, and all the people of the land; and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD, and went by way of the guard’s gate to the king’s palace. And he sat on the royal throne.

20 And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet: after Athaliah had been slain with the sword beside the king’s palace.

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