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Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to kill all the royal heirs. 2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, secretly took Joash son of Ahaziah away from among the king’s sons, who were about to be murdered. He was hidden away with his nurse in a bedroom from Athaliah, so he was not killed. 3 Joash remained hidden with his nurse in the House of the Lord for six years while Athaliah reigned over the land.
4 In the seventh year Jehoiada summoned the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards, and had them come to him in the House of the Lord. He made a covenant with them and put them under oath in the House of the Lord. Then he showed them the king’s son. 5 He commanded them, “This is what you are to do: One third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath are to guard the king’s palace. 6 A third are to be at the Sur gate, and a third at the gate behind the guards. You are to maintain guard over the House. 7 Your two divisions that normally go off duty on the Sabbath are to keep guard over the House of the Lord for the king. 8 You must surround the king on every side, each man with his weapons at the ready. Anyone who approaches your ranks is to be put to death. You must stay with the king wherever he goes.”
9 So the commanders of the hundreds did everything that the priest Jehoiada ordered. Each one took his men—those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were going off duty—and they presented themselves to Jehoiada the priest. 10 The priest gave to the commanders of hundreds the spears and shields that had belonged to King David, that were in the Temple of the Lord. 11 The guards were stationed all around the king, each of them with his weapons at the ready, from the south side of the temple to the north side of the temple, by the altar, and across the temple.
12 Jehoida brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him. Then he presented him with a copy of the testimony, and made him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!”
13 When Athaliah heard the noise made by the guards and the crowd, she went to the people in the House of the Lord. 14 She looked about and saw the king standing by the pillar, as was the custom. The commanders and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason! Treason!”
15 Then Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of hundreds, who were in charge of the army: “Bring her out between the ranks, 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.” 16 So they seized her, and she was led away to the place where the horses enter the king’s palace, and there she was put to death.
17 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people that they would be the Lord’s people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people. 18 Then all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed its altars and images into pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.
Then the priest appointed guards for the House of the Lord. 19 He took 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 into the royal palace through the gate of the guards. Then Joash took his place on the royal throne. 20 All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet, for they had put to death Athaliah with the sword in the king’s palace.
21 Joash was seven years old when he became king.