Athaliah and Joash
1When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family. 2But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram11:2 Hebrew Joram, a variant of Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed. 3He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the Lord for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.
4In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of units of a hundred, the Carites and the guards and had them brought to him at the temple of the Lord. He made a covenant with them and put them under oath at the temple of the Lord. Then he showed them the king’s son. 5He commanded them, saying, “This is what you are to do: You who are in the three companies that are going on duty on the Sabbath—a third of you guarding the royal palace, 6a third at the Sur Gate, and a third at the gate behind the guard, who take turns guarding the temple— 7and you who are in the other two companies that normally go off Sabbath duty are all to guard the temple for the king. 8Station yourselves around the king, each of you with weapon in hand. Anyone who approaches your ranks11:8 Or approaches the precincts is to be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes.”
9The commanders of units of a hundred did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one took his men—those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were going off duty—and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10Then he gave the commanders the spears and shields that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of the Lord. 11The guards, each with weapon in hand, stationed themselves around the king—near the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.
12Jehoiada brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him; he presented him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!”
13When Athaliah heard the noise made by the guards and the people, she went to the people at the temple of the Lord. 14She looked and there was the king, standing by the pillar, as the custom was. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her robes and called out, “Treason! Treason!”
15Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of the troops: “Bring her out between the ranks11:15 Or out from the precincts and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the temple of the Lord.” 16So they seized her as she reached the place where the horses enter the palace grounds, and there she was put to death.
17Jehoiada then made a covenant between the Lord and the king and people that they would be the Lord’s people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people. 18All the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.
Then Jehoiada the priest posted guards at the temple of the Lord. 19He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards and all the people of the land, and together they brought the king down from the temple of the Lord and went into the palace, entering by way of the gate of the guards. The king then took his place on the royal throne. 20All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the palace.
21Joash11:21 Hebrew Jehoash, a variant of Joash was seven years old when he began to reign.11:21 In Hebrew texts this verse (11:21) is numbered 12:1.
耶何耶大立约阿施为王
1亚哈谢的母亲亚她利雅见儿子死了，便动手除掉整个王室。 2但约兰王的女儿、亚哈谢的妹妹约示巴把亚哈谢的儿子约阿施从将要被杀的王子中偷出来，把他和他的乳母藏在一间卧室里，才躲过亚她利雅的杀戮。 3约阿施和他的乳母在耶和华的殿里藏了六年，那时亚她利雅当政。
4第七年，耶何耶大派人召迦利人11:4 “迦利人”指雇来保护王的外族卫兵。和卫兵的百夫长们到耶和华的殿里，与他们立约，让他们在耶和华的殿里起誓，然后把约阿施王子带到他们面前。 5耶何耶大吩咐他们说：“你们在安息日值班的，三分之一的人要守卫王宫， 6三分之一的人要守卫苏珥门，三分之一的人要守住卫兵院后门。你们要轮流守卫。 7安息日不值班的两队要在耶和华的殿里保护王， 8各人要手持兵器护卫在王周围。凡擅自闯入者，一律处死。无论王去哪里，你们都要紧随左右。” 9众百夫长遵令而行，各自带着在安息日值班和休班的属下来见耶何耶大。 10耶何耶大祭司把耶和华殿中大卫王的矛枪和盾牌交给百夫长。 11卫兵都手持兵器，从殿右到殿左，在祭坛和殿周围护卫王。 12耶何耶大领王子出来，给他戴上王冠，把约书交给他，膏立他为王。众人都鼓掌高呼：“愿王万岁！”
13亚她利雅听见卫兵和众人的欢呼声，便走进耶和华的殿，众人都聚集在那里。 14她看见王照例站在柱旁，百夫长和吹号的人侍立在王左右，众人都欢呼吹号，便撕裂衣服喊道：“反了！反了！” 15耶何耶大祭司认为不可在耶和华的殿里处死亚她利雅，便命令带兵的百夫长：“把她带出去并用刀杀死所有跟随她的人。” 16他们抓住她，把她带到马匹进出王宫的入口，在那里杀了她。
17耶何耶大让王和民众与耶和华立约，做耶和华的子民，也让王与民众立约。 18于是，民众出去拆毁了巴力庙，砸碎祭坛和偶像，在坛前杀了巴力的祭司玛坦。耶何耶大派守卫保护耶和华的殿， 19然后率领百夫长、迦利人、卫兵和全体民众，护送王从耶和华的殿下来，经过卫兵院的门进入王宫。这样，约阿施坐上了王位。 20民众都欢喜快乐，城里安定，因为亚她利雅已在王宫那里被处死。 21约阿施七岁登基。
