1Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead , she arose and destroyed all the seed royal . 2But 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 that were slain , even him and his nurse , and put them in the bedchamber ; and they hid him from Athaliah , so that he was not slain ; 3And he was with her hid in the house of Jehovah six years . And Athaliah reigned over the land.
Joash's Preservation
4And 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 house of Jehovah ; and he made a covenant with them , and took an oath of them in the house of Jehovah , and showed them the king ’s son . 5And he commanded them , saying , This is the thing that ye shall do : a third part of you , that come in on the sabbath , shall be keepers of the watch of the king ’s house ; 6and a third part shall be at the gate Sur ; and a third part at the gate behind the guard : so shall ye keep the watch of the house , and be a barrier. 7And the two companies of you , even all that go forth on the sabbath , shall keep the watch of the house of Jehovah about the king . 8And ye shall compass the king round about , every man with his weapons in his hand ; and he that cometh within the ranks , let him be slain : and be ye with the king when he goeth out , and when he cometh in . 9And the captains over hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded ; and they took every man his men , those that were to come in on the sabbath , with those that were to go out on the sabbath , and came to Jehoiada the priest . 10And the priest delivered to the captains over hundreds the spears and shields that had been king David ’s, which were in the house of Jehovah . 11And 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 , by the king round about . 12Then he brought out the king ’s son , and put the crown upon him , and gave him the testimony ; and they made him king , and anointed him ; and they clapped their hands , and said , Long live the king .
The Coup Against Athaliah
13And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people , she came to the people into the house of Jehovah : 14and she looked , and , behold , the king stood by the pillar , as the manner was , and the captains and the trumpets by the king ; and all the people of the land rejoiced , and blew trumpets . Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried , Treason ! treason ! 15And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds that were set over the host , and said unto them , Have her forth between the ranks ; and him that followeth her slay with the sword . For the priest said , Let her not be slain in the house of Jehovah . 16So they made way for her ; and she went by the way of the horses ’ entry to the king ’s house : and there was she slain .
Athaliah's Downfall
17And Jehoiada made a covenant between Jehovah and the king and the people , that they should be Jehovah ’s people ; between the king also and the people . 18And all the people of the land went to the house of Baal , and brake it down ; his altars and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly , and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars . And the priest appointed officers over the house of Jehovah . 19And 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 house of Jehovah , and came by the way of the gate of the guard unto the king ’s house . And he sat on the throne of the kings . 20So all the people of the land rejoiced , and the city was quiet . And Athaliah they had slain with the sword at the king ’s house . 21Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.