2 Kings 11:4-20

41Now in the seventh year Jehoiada sent and brought the captains of hundreds of 2the Carites and of the 3guard, and brought them to him in the house of the Lord. Then he made a covenant with them and put them under oath in the house of the Lord, and showed them the king’s son. 5He commanded them, saying, “This is the thing that you shall do: 4one third of you, who come in on the sabbath and keep watch over the king’s house 6(one third also shall be at the gate Sur, and one third at the gate behind the 5guards), 6shall keep watch over the house for defense. 7Two parts of you, even all who go out on the sabbath, shall also keep watch over the house of the Lord for the king. 8Then you shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes within the ranks shall be put to death. And 7be with the king when he goes out and when he comes in.”

9So the captains of hundreds 8did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each one of them took his men who were to come in on the sabbath, with those who were to go out on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest. 109The priest gave to the captains of hundreds the spears and shields that had been King David’s, which were in the house of the Lord. 11The 10guards stood each with his weapons in his hand, from the right 11side of the house to the left 12side of the house, by the altar and by the house, around the king. 12Then he brought the king’s son out and 13put the crown on him and gave him 14the testimony; and they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “15Long live the king!”

1316When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people in the house of the Lord. 14She looked and behold, the king was standing 17by the pillar, according to the custom, with the captains and the 18trumpeters beside the king; and 19all the people of the land rejoiced and blew trumpets. Then Athaliah 20tore her clothes and cried, “21Treason! Treason!” 15And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds who were appointed over the army and said to them, “Bring her out 22between the ranks, and whoever follows her put to death with the sword.” For the priest said, “Let her not be put to death in the house of the Lord.” 16So they 23seized her, and when she arrived at the horses’ entrance of the king’s house, she was 24put to death there.

17Then 25Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people, that they would be the Lord’s people, also 26between the king and the people. 18All the people of the land went to 27the house of Baal, and tore it down; 28his altars and his images they broke in pieces thoroughly, and 29killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed 30officers over the house of the Lord. 19He took the captains of hundreds and the 31Carites and the 32guards and all the people of the land; and they brought the king down from the house of the Lord, and came by the way of 33the gate of the 34guards to the king’s house. And he sat on the throne of the kings. 20So 35all the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet. For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword at the king’s house.