2 Chronicles 23

Joash Anointed King of Judah

(2 Kings 11:4–12)

1Then in the seventhH7637 yearH8141, JehoiadaH3077 strengthened himselfH2388 and madeH3947 a covenantH1285 withH5973 the commandersH8269 of hundredsH3967—with AzariahH5838 sonH1121 of JerohamH3395, IshmaelH3458 sonH1121 of JehohananH3076, AzariahH5838 sonH1121 of ObedH5744, MaaseiahH4641 sonH1121 of AdaiahH5718, and ElishaphatH478 sonH1121 of ZichriH2147. 2So they went throughoutH5437 JudahH3063 and gatheredH6908 the LevitesH3881 from allH3605 the citiesH5892 of JudahH3063 and the headsH7218 of the familiesH1 of IsraelH3478. And when they cameH935 toH413 JerusalemH3389, 3the wholeH3605 assemblyH6951 madeH3772 a covenantH1285 withH5973 the kingH4428 in the houseH1004 of GodH430.

“BeholdH2009, the king’sH4428 sonH1121!” said JehoiadaH559. “He must reignH4427, just asH834 the LORDH3068 promisedH1696 concerningH5921 the descendantsH1121 of DavidH1732. 4ThisH2088H1697 is whatH834 you are to doH6213: A thirdH7992 of you priestsH3548 and LevitesH3881 who come on dutyH935 on the SabbathH7676 shall keep watchH7778 at the doorsH5592, 5a thirdH7992 shall be at the royalH4428 palaceH1004, and a thirdH7992 at the FoundationH3247 GateH8179, while allH3605 the othersH5971 are to be in the courtyardsH2691 of the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068. 6NoH408 one is to enterH935 the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068 exceptH3588H518 the priestsH3548 and those LevitesH3881 who serveH8334; theyH1992 may enterH935 becauseH3588 theyH1992 are consecratedH6944, but allH3605 the peopleH5971 are to obeyH8104 the requirementH4931 of the LORDH3068. 7The LevitesH3881 must surroundH5362 the kingH4428H5439H376 with weaponsH3627 in handH3027, and anyone who entersH935H413 the templeH1004 must be put to deathH4191. You must stayH1961 closeH854 to the kingH4428 wherever he goesH935H3318.”

8So the LevitesH3881 and allH3605 JudahH3063 didH6213 everythingH3605 thatH834 JehoiadaH3077 the priestH3548 had orderedH6680. Each of themH376 tookH3947 his menH582—those coming on dutyH935 on the SabbathH7676 andH5973 those going off dutyH3318—forH3588 JehoiadaH3077 the priestH3548 had notH3808 releasedH6362 any of the divisionsH4256. 9Then JehoiadaH3077 the priestH3548 gaveH5414 to the commandersH8269 of hundredsH3967 the spearsH2595 and the largeH4043 andH853 small shieldsH7982 of KingH4428 DavidH1732 thatH834 were in the houseH1004 of GodH430. 10He stationedH5975 allH3605 the troopsH5971H376, with their weaponsH7973 in handH3027, surroundingH5439 the kingH4428 by the altarH4196 and the templeH1004H5921, from the southH3233 sideH3802 toH5704 the northH8042 sideH3802 of the templeH1004.

11Then Jehoiada and his sons brought outH3318 the king’sH4428 sonH1121, putH5414 the crownH5145 on himH5921, presented him with the TestimonyH5715, and proclaimed him kingH4427. They anointed himH4886 and shoutedH559, “Long liveH2421 the kingH4428!”

The Death of Athaliah

(2 Kings 11:13–16)

12When AthaliahH6271 heardH8085 the noiseH6963 of the peopleH5971 runningH7323 and cheeringH1984 the kingH4428, she went outH935 toH413 them in the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068. 13And she lookedH7200 and sawH2009 the kingH4428 standingH5975 byH5921 his pillarH5982 at the entranceH3996. The officersH8269 and trumpetersH2689 were besideH5921 the kingH4428, and allH3605 the peopleH5971 of the landH776 were rejoicingH8056 and blowingH8628 trumpetsH2689, while the singersH7891 with musicalH7892 instrumentsH3627 were leadingH3045 the praisesH1984.

Then AthaliahH6271 toreH7167 her clothesH899 and screamedH559, “TreasonH7195, treasonH7195!”

14And JehoiadaH3077 the priestH3548 sent outH3318 the commandersH8269 of hundredsH3967 in charge ofH6485 the armyH2428, sayingH559H413, “Bring her outH3318H413 betweenH1004 the ranksH7713,1 and put toH4191 the swordH2719 anyone who followsH935 herH310.” ForH3588 the priestH3548 had saidH559, “She must notH3808 be put to deathH4191 in the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068.”

15So they seizedH7760 Athaliah as she reachedH935H413 the entranceH3996 of the HorseH5483 GateH8179 on the palace groundsH4428H1004, and thereH8033 they put her to deathH4191.

Jehoiada Restores the Worship of the LORD

(2 Kings 11:17–21)

16Then JehoiadaH3077 madeH3772 a covenantH1285 between himselfH996 andH996H3605 the kingH4428 and the peopleH5971H996 that they would beH1961 the LORD’sH3068 peopleH5971. 17So allH3605 the peopleH5971 wentH935 to the templeH1004 of BaalH1168 and tore it downH5422. They smashed the altarsH4196 and idolsH6754 to piecesH7665 and killedH2026 MattanH4977 the priestH3548 of BaalH1168 in front ofH6440 the altarsH4196.

18Moreover, JehoiadaH3077 putH7760 the oversightH6486 of the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068 into the handsH3027 of the LeviticalH3881 priestsH3548, whomH834 DavidH1732 had appointedH2505 overH5921 the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068, to offerH5927 burnt offeringsH5930 to the LORDH3068 as writtenH3789 in the LawH8451 of MosesH4872, with rejoicingH8057 and songH7892H5921, as ordainedH3027 by DavidH1732. 19He stationedH5975 gatekeepersH7778 atH5921 the gatesH8179 of the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068, so that no oneH3808 who was in anyH3605 wayH1697 uncleanH2931 could enterH935.

20And he took with himH3947 the commandersH8269 of hundredsH3967, the noblesH117, the rulersH4910 of the peopleH5971, and allH3605 the peopleH5971 of the landH776, and they brought the kingH4428 downH3381 from the houseH1004 of the LORDH3068 and enteredH935 the royalH4428 palaceH1004 throughH8432 the UpperH5945 GateH8179. They seatedH3427 KingH4428 Joash onH5921 the royalH4467 throneH3678, 21and allH3605 the peopleH5971 of the landH776 rejoicedH8055. And the cityH5892 was quietH8252, because AthaliahH6271 had been put toH4191 the swordH2719.