1After waiting six years Jehoiada the priest decided to take action. He sent for the commanders of hundreds: Azariah son of Jehoram, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah and Elishaphat son of Zichri, and made a pact with them. 2They went through Judah, gathering the Levites from all the towns of Judah, and the heads of the Israelite families. They came to Jerusalem, 3and this whole assembly made a pact with the king in the house of God. Jehoiada told them, “Here is the son of the king, let him rule as king as Yahweh has promised regarding the descendants of David! 4This is what you must do: one third of you, priests, Levites and keepers of the gate, must come in for the sabbath, 5one third must be at the royal palace, one third at the Gate of Foundation, and all the people will be in the court of Yahweh’s House. 6No one is to enter Yahweh’s House except the priests and the Levites on duty, since they are consecrated and may enter. The people must all obey Yahweh’s instructions and stay outside. 7The Levites must surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand; anyone who tries to enter the Temple is to be put to death. Stay with the king wherever he goes.”
8The Levites and all Judah carried out all the orders of Jehoiada the priest. Every commander summoned both those who went off duty on the Sabbath, and those coming on duty, because Jehoiada did not except anyone. 9Then Jehoiada the priest provided the commanders of hundreds with King David’s spears and large and small shields, which were in the house of God. 10He stationed the men from the west wing to the east wing, between the House and the altar, each with spear in hand, to protect the king. 11Then they brought out the king’s son, crowned him and put on him the ornaments, and they proclaimed him king. Jehoiada and his sons then anointed him and shouted, “Long live the king!”
12Athaliah, on hearing the shouts of the people who were rushing to the king and acclaiming him, went to Yahweh’s House where the people were. 13When she saw the king standing there at the entrance beside the pillar, with the captains and trumpeters at his side, and all the people from the countryside rejoicing and sounding trumpets, and the cantors with their musical instruments leading the hymns, Athaliah tore her clothes in distress and shouted, “Treason, treason!” 14Then Jehoiada the priest called out the military officers and ordered them, “Take her outside the Temple, and kill anyone who follows her.” And he also said, “You must not put her to death in Yahweh’s House.” 15They seized her, and when she had reached the palace at the entry to the Gate of the Horses, they put her to death there.
16Jehoiada made a covenant between the king and all the people, by which they would be the people of Yahweh. 17All the people then went to the house of Baal and tore it down; they smashed his altars and his images and killed Mattan, priest of Baal, in front of the altars.
18Jehoiada posted sentries to guard Yahweh’s House under the authority of the levitical priests. David had appointed them in Yahweh’s House to offer the burnt offerings of Yahweh according to the Law of Moses, and to sing joyfully the songs of David. 19He stationed gatekeepers at the gates of the Temple of Yahweh so that no one who was in any way unclean might enter. 20Then taking the commanders of hundreds, the notables, the ranking officials, and all the people from the countryside, he brought the king in procession from the House to the palace. They entered the royal palace through the main gate and seated the king on the royal throne. 21All the people from the countryside were delighted, and the city was quiet. Athaliah was put to death.
