2 Chronicles 23

Jehoiada Sets Joash on the Throne of Judah

11Now in the seventhH7637 yearH8141 JehoiadaH3077 strengthenedH2388 himself, and tookH3947 captainsH8269 of hundredsH3967: AzariahH5838 the sonH1121 of JerohamH3395, IshmaelH3458 the sonH1121 of JohananH3076, AzariahH5838 the sonH1121 of ObedH5744, MaaseiahH4641 the sonH1121 of AdaiahH5718, and ElishaphatH478 the sonH1121 of ZichriH2147, and they entered into a covenantH1285 with him. 2They wentH5437 throughoutH5437 JudahH3063 and gatheredH6908 the LevitesH3881 from allH3605 the citiesH5892 of JudahH3063, and the headsH7218 of the fathers’H1 households of 2IsraelH3478, and they cameH935 to JerusalemH3389. 3Then allH3605 the assemblyH6951 madeH3772 a covenantH1285 with the kingH4428 in the houseH1004 of GodH430. And 3Jehoiada saidH559 to them, “BeholdH2009, the king’sH4428 sonH1121 shall reignH4427, 4as the LordH3068 has spokenH1696 concerningH5921 the sonsH1121 of DavidH1732. 4ThisH2088 is the thingH1697 whichH834 you shall doH6213: one thirdH7992 of you, of the priestsH3548 and LevitesH3881 5who comeH935 in on the sabbathH7676, shall be gatekeepersH7778H5592, 5and one thirdH7992 shall be at the king’sH4428 houseH1004, and a thirdH7992 at the GateH8179 of the FoundationH3247; and allH3605 the peopleH5971 shall be in the courtsH2691 of the houseH1004 of the LordH3068. 6But let noH408 one enterH935 the houseH1004 of the LordH3068 exceptH3588H518 the priestsH3548 and 6the ministeringH8334 LevitesH3881; they may enterH935, for they are holyH6944. And let allH3605 the peopleH5971 keepH8104 the chargeH4931 of the LordH3068. 7The LevitesH3881 will surroundH5362H5439 the kingH4428, eachH376 manH376 with his weaponsH3627 in his handH3027; and whoever entersH935 the houseH1004, let him be killedH4191. Thus be with the kingH4428 when he comesH935 in and when he goesH3318 out.”

8So the LevitesH3881 and allH3605 JudahH3063 didH6213 according to allH3605 that JehoiadaH3077 the priestH3548 commandedH6680. And eachH376 oneH376 of them tookH3947 his menH376 who were to comeH935 in on the sabbathH7676, with those who were to goH3318 out on the sabbathH7676, for JehoiadaH3077 the priestH3548 did not dismissH6362 any of 7the divisionsH4256. 9Then JehoiadaH3077 the priestH3548 gaveH5414 to the captainsH8269 of hundredsH3967 the spearsH2595 and the largeH4043 and smallH7982 shieldsH7982 whichH834 had been KingH4428 David’sH1732, whichH834 were in the houseH1004 of GodH430. 10He stationedH5975 allH3605 the peopleH5971, eachH376 manH376 with his weaponH7973 in his handH3027, from the rightH3233 8sideH3802 of the houseH1004 to the leftH8042 9sideH3802 of the houseH1004, by the altarH4196 and by the houseH1004, aroundH5439 the kingH4428. 11Then they broughtH3318 out the king’sH4428 sonH1121 and putH5414 the crownH5145 on him, and gave him 10the testimonyH5715 and madeH4427 him kingH4427. And JehoiadaH3077 and his sonsH1121 anointedH4886 him and saidH559, “11Long liveH2421 the kingH4428!”

Athaliah Murdered

12When AthaliahH6271 heardH8085 the noiseH6963 of the peopleH5971 runningH7323 and praisingH1984 the kingH4428, she cameH935 into the houseH1004 of the LordH3068 to the peopleH5971. 13She lookedH7200, and beholdH2009, the kingH4428 was standingH5975 by his pillarH5982 at the entranceH3996, and the captainsH8269 and the 12trumpetersH2689 were besideH5921 the kingH4428. And allH3605 the peopleH5971 of the landH776 rejoicedH8056 and blewH8628 trumpetsH2689, the singersH7891 with their musicalH7892 instrumentsH3627 13leadingH3045 the praiseH1984. Then AthaliahH6271 toreH7167 her clothesH899 and saidH559, “TreasonH7195! TreasonH7195!” 14JehoiadaH3077 the priestH3548 broughtH3318 out the captainsH8269 of hundredsH3967 who were appointedH6485 over the armyH2428 and saidH559 to them, “BringH3318 her out 14betweenH413H4480H1004 the ranksH7713; and whoever followsH935H310 her, putH4191 to deathH4191 with the swordH2719.” For the priestH3548 saidH559, “Let her not be putH4191 to deathH4191 in the houseH1004 of the LordH3068.” 15So they 15seizedH7760H3027 her, and when she arrivedH935 at the entranceH3996 of 16the HorseH5483 GateH8179 of the king’sH4428 houseH1004, they 17putH4191 her to deathH4191 thereH8033.

Reforms Carried Out

16Then 18JehoiadaH3077 madeH3772 a covenantH1285 betweenH996 himself and allH3605 the peopleH5971 and the kingH4428, that they would be the Lord’sH3068 peopleH5971. 17And allH3605 the peopleH5971 wentH935 to the houseH1004 of BaalH1168 and toreH5422 it downH5422, and they brokeH7665 in piecesH7665 his altarsH4196 and his imagesH6754, and 19killedH2026 MattanH4977 the priestH3548 of BaalH1168 beforeH6440 the altarsH4196. 18Moreover, JehoiadaH3077 placedH7760 the officesH6486 of the houseH1004 of the LordH3068 under the 20authorityH3027 of 21the LeviticalH3881 priestsH3548, 22whomH834 DavidH1732 had assignedH2505 overH5921 the houseH1004 of the LordH3068, to offerH5927 the burntH5930 offeringsH5930 of the LordH3068, as it is writtenH3789 in the lawH8451 of MosesH4872--23with rejoicingH8057 and singingH7892 accordingH5921 to the 24orderH3027 of DavidH1732. 19He stationedH5975 25the gatekeepersH7778 of the houseH1004 of the LordH3068, so that noH3808 one would enterH935 who was in anyH3605 wayH1697 uncleanH2931. 2026He tookH3947 the captainsH8269 of hundredsH3967, the noblesH117, the rulersH4910 of the peopleH5971 and allH3605 the peopleH5971 of the landH776, and broughtH3381 the kingH4428 downH3381 from the houseH1004 of the LordH3068, and cameH935 throughH8432 the upperH5945 gateH8179 to the king’sH4428 houseH1004. And they placedH3427 the kingH4428 upon the royalH4467 throneH3678. 21So 27allH3605 of the peopleH5971 of the landH776 rejoicedH8055 and the cityH5892 was quietH8252. For they had putH4191 AthaliahH6271 to deathH4191 with the swordH2719.