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Because Joram was wounded, King Ahaziah* of
Judah went to Jezreel to visit him.
7 But God had decided that this visit would be
Ahaziah’s downfall. While he was there, Ahaziah went out with Joram to meet Jehu grandson
of Nimshi,* whom the Lord had appointed to
destroy the dynasty of Ahab.
8 While Jehu was executing judgment against
the family of Ahab, he happened to meet some
of Judah’s officials and Ahaziah’s relatives*
who were traveling with Ahaziah. So Jehu killed
them all. 9 Then Jehu’s men searched for Ahaziah, and they found him hiding in the city of
Samaria. They brought him to Jehu, who killed
him. Ahaziah was given a decent burial because
the people said, “He was the grandson of Jehoshaphat—a man who sought the Lord with
all his heart.” But none of the surviving members of Ahaziah’s family was capable of ruling
the kingdom.
Queen Athaliah Rules in Judah
10 When Athaliah, the mother of King Ahaziah
of Judah, learned that her son was dead, she
began to destroy the rest of Judah’s royal family.
11 But Ahaziah’s sister Jehosheba,* the daughter
of King Jehoram, took Ahaziah’s infant son,
Joash, and stole him away from among the rest
of the king’s children, who were about to be
killed. She put Joash and his nurse in a bedroom. In this way, Jehosheba, wife of Jehoiada
the priest and sister of Ahaziah, hid the child
so that Athaliah could not murder him. 12 Joash
remained hidden in the Temple of God for six
years while Athaliah ruled over the land.
Revolt against Athaliah
In the seventh year of Athaliah’s reign,
Jehoiada the priest decided to act. He
summoned his courage and made a pact with
five army commanders: Azariah son of Jeroham,
Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed,
Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of
Zicri. 2 These men traveled secretly throughout
Judah and summoned the Levites and clan leaders in all the towns to come to Jerusalem. 3 They
all gathered at the Temple of God, where they
made a solemn pact with Joash, the young king.
Jehoiada said to them, “Here is the king’s
son! The time has come for him to reign! The
Lord has promised that a descendant of David will be our king. 4 This is what you must do.
When you priests and Levites come on duty
on the Sabbath, a third of you will serve as
23
22:6b As in some Hebrew manuscripts, Greek and Syriac
versions, and Latin Vulgate (see also 2 Kgs 8:29); most Hebrew
manuscripts read Azariah. 22:7 Hebrew descendant of
Nimshi; compare 2 Kgs 9:2, 14. 22:8 As in Greek version (see
also 2 Kgs 10:13); Hebrew reads and sons of the brothers of
Ahaziah. 22:11 As in parallel text at 2 Kgs 11:2; Hebrew lacks
Ahaziah’s sister and reads Jehoshabeath [a variant spelling of
Jehosheba]. 23:11 Or a copy of the covenant. 23:14 Or Bring
her out from between the ranks; or Take her out of the Temple
precincts. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
2 CHR ONICL ES 23
gatekeepers. 5 Another third will go over to the
royal palace, and the final third will be at the
Foundation Gate. Everyone else should stay in
the courtyards of the Lord’s Temple. 6 Remember, only the priests and Levites on duty may
enter the Temple of the Lord, for they are set
apart as holy. The rest of the people must obey
the Lord’s instructions and stay outside. 7 You
Levites, form a bodyguard around the king and
keep your weapons in hand. Kill anyone who
tries to enter the Temple. Stay with the king
wherever he goes.”
8 So the Levites and all the people of Judah
did everything as Jehoiada the priest ordered.
The commanders took charge of the men reporting for duty that Sabbath, as well as those
who were going off duty. Jehoiada the priest did
not let anyone go home after their shift ended.
9 Then Jehoiada supplied the commanders with
the spears and the large and small shields that
had once belonged to King David and were
stored in the Temple of God. 10 He stationed all
the people around the king, with their weapons
ready. They formed a line from the south side
of the Temple around to the north side and all
around the altar.
11 Then Jehoiada and his sons brought out Joash, the king’s son, placed the crown on his head,
and presented him with a copy of God’s laws.*
They anointed him and proclaimed him king, and
everyone shouted, “Long live the king!”
The Death of Athaliah
12 When Athaliah heard the noise of the people
running and the shouts of praise to the king,
she hurried to the Lord’s Temple to see what
was happening. 13 When she arrived, she saw
the newly crowned king standing in his place
of authority by the pillar at the Temple entrance. The commanders and trumpeters were
surrounding him, and people from all over the
land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Singers with musical instruments were leading the
people in a great celebration. When Athaliah
saw all this, she tore her clothes in despair and
shouted, “Treason! Treason!”
14 Then Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders who were in charge of the troops,
“Take her to the soldiers in front of the Temple,*
and kill anyone who tries to rescue her.” For the
priest had said, “She must not be killed in the
Temple of the Lord.” 15 So they seized her and
led her out to the entrance of the Horse Gate on
the palace grounds, and they killed her there.
Jehoiada’s Religious Reforms
16 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and the king and the people that they would
be the Lord’s people. 17 And all the people went
over to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They
demolished the altars and smashed the idols,