The Second Book of the Kings

⭑ Berean Study Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 11 -

(2 Chronicles 22:10–12)

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

But Jehosheba

(a)

daughter of King Joram,(b) 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.

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

Joash Anointed King of Judah

(2 Chronicles 23:1–11)

Then in the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the commanders of hundreds, the Carites,(c) 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

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,

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—

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

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.”

So 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.

Then the priest gave to the commanders of hundreds the spears and shields of King David from the house of the LORD.

And 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.

Then 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!”

The Death of Athaliah

(2 Chronicles 23:12–15)

When Athaliah heard the noise from the guards and the people, she went out to the people in the house of the LORD.

And 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!”

And Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, “Bring her out between the ranks,(d) 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.”

So they seized Athaliah as she reached the horses’ entrance to the palace grounds, and there she was put to death.

Jehoiada Restores the Worship of the LORD

(2 Chronicles 23:16–21)

Then 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.

So 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.

He 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,

and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been put to the sword at the royal palace.

Joash (e) was seven years old when he became king.

Footnotes

(a)11:2 Jehosheba is a variant of Jehoshabeath; see 2 Chronicles 22:11.

(b)11:2 Joram is a variant spelling of Jehoram.

(d)11:15 Or out from the precincts

(e)11:21 Hebrew Jehoash, a variant of Joash (son of Ahaziah) as in verse 2

(2 Chronicles 22:10–12)

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

But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were slain, even him and his nurse, and put them in the bedroom; and they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not slain.

He was with her hidden in the LORD’s house six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.

Joash Anointed King of Judah

(2 Chronicles 23:1–11)

In the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the captains over hundreds of the Carites and of the guard, and brought them to him into the LORD’s house; and he made a covenant with them, and made a covenant with them in the LORD’s house, and showed them the king’s son.

He commanded them, saying, “This is what you must do: a third of you, who come in on the Sabbath, shall be keepers of the watch of the king’s house;

a third of you shall be at the gate Sur; and a third of you at the gate behind the guard. So you shall keep the watch of the house, and be a barrier.

The two companies of you, even all who go out on the Sabbath, shall keep the watch of the LORD’s house around the king.

You shall surround the king, every man with his weapons in his hand; and he who comes within the ranks, let him be slain. Be with the king when he goes out, and when he comes in.”

The captains over hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded; and they each took his men, those who were to come in on the Sabbath with those who were to go out on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.

The priest delivered to the captains over hundreds the spears and shields that had been King David’s, which were in the LORD’s house.

The guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, along by the altar and the house, around the king.

Then he brought out the king’s son, and put the crown on him, and gave him the covenant; and they made him king and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, “Long live the king!”

The Death of Athaliah

(2 Chronicles 23:12–15)

When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people into the LORD’s house;

and she looked, and behold, the king stood by the pillar, as the tradition was, with the captains and the trumpets by the king; and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!”

Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds who were set over the army, and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks. Kill anyone who follows her with the sword.” For the priest said, “Don’t let her be slain in the LORD’s house.”

So they seized her; and she went by the way of the horses’ entry to the king’s house, and she was slain there.

Jehoiada Restores the Worship of the LORD

(2 Chronicles 23:16–21)

Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people, that they should be the LORD’s people; also between the king and the people.

All the people of the land went to the house of Baal, and broke it down. They broke his altars and his images in pieces thoroughly, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. The priest appointed officers over the LORD’s house.

He took the captains over hundreds, and the Carites, and the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from the LORD’s house, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king’s house. He sat on the throne of the kings.

So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. They had slain Athaliah with the sword at the king’s house.

Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.