﻿2 Kings.
Chapter 11.
When Athaliah, Ahaziah’s mother, saw that her son was dead, she rose up and destroyed all the royal offspring. 
But Jehosheba, daughter of King Joram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being killed. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom. They hid him from Athaliah, and he was not killed. 
He remained hidden with her in the house of the LORD for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land. 
In the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the commanders of hundreds of the Carians and the guards and brought them to him in the house of the LORD. He made a covenant with them, put them under oath in the house of the LORD, and showed them the king’s son. 
He commanded them, “This is what you are to do: A third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath are to keep watch over the king’s palace, 
a third at the Sur Gate, and a third at the gate behind the guards. Thus you will keep watch over the palace for its defense. 
The other two divisions of you, all who go off duty on the Sabbath, are to keep watch over the house of the LORD around the king. 
Surround the king on every side, each man with his weapons in his hand. Anyone who enters the ranks is to be put to death. Stay with the king when he goes out and when he comes in.” 
The commanders of hundreds did everything Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each took his men, those coming on duty on the Sabbath along with those going off duty, and came to Jehoiada the priest. 
The priest gave the commanders of hundreds the spear and shields that had belonged to King David and were in the house of the LORD. 
The guards stood, each man with his weapons in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side, by the altar and the house, all around the king. 
Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, and gave him the Testimony. They made him king and anointed him. They clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!” 
When Athaliah heard the noise of the guards and the people, she came to the people at the house of the LORD. 
She looked and saw the king standing by the pillar, as was the custom, with the commanders and trumpeters beside him. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, “Treason! Treason!” 
Jehoiada the priest commanded the commanders of hundreds who were in charge of the army, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put anyone who follows her to death with the sword.” For the priest had said, “Do not put her to death in the house of the LORD.” 
So they seized her, and she went by the horses’ entrance to the king’s palace. There she was put to death. 
Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they would be the LORD’s people, and also between the king and the people. 
Then all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They thoroughly smashed its altars and images and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. The priest appointed overseers for the house of the LORD. 
He took the commanders of hundreds, the Carians, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD. They entered the king’s palace through the Gate of the Guards, and he sat on the throne of the kings. 
All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet, for they had put Athaliah to death with the sword at the king’s palace. 
Jehoash was seven years old when he became king. 
