1 And Athaliah{Atalyah: royal usurper}, the mother of Ahaziah, saw—she saw—that her son was dead; and she arose and destroyed all the seed{zera: dynastic heirs} of the kingdom.
2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and secretly removed him from among the royal sons who were being executed{mūmattîm: princes facing execution}, and hid him with his nurse{meniktô: palace caregiver} in the bedchamber so that Athaliah would not discover him, and he was not put to death.
3 He remained hidden with her in the house of the LORD {YHWH, Sanctuary Guardian} for six years, while Athaliah was ruling over the land {erets: territory}.
4 In the seventh year, Jehoiada sent and took the commanders of the hundreds, the Carites, and the runners {haratzim: royal guards}, and he brought them to him in the house of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Protector}. He made a covenant with them and made them swear in the house of the LORD, and he showed them the king’s son.
5 He commanded them, saying, “This is what you must do: one third of you who come in on the Sabbath {shabbat: weekly rest observance} shall keep the watch {mishmeret: guard duty} over the king’s house.”
6 Another third shall be at the Sur Gate, and another third at the gate behind the runners {haratzim: swift couriers}; so you shall keep the watch of the house as a barricade {masakh: protective barrier}.
7 And the two companies among you who go out on the Sabbath shall keep the charge of the house of the LORD {YHWH, Temple Protector} around the king {melech: royal authority}.
8 You shall encircle the king {ha-melekh: reigning monarch} on every side, each man with his weapons in his hand. Whoever enters the ranks {ha-shedot: military formation} must be put to death. Remain with the king as he goes out and as he comes in.
9 The commanders of the hundreds {me’ôt: units of one hundred men} did all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each one brought his men—those coming in on the Sabbath {Shabbat: day of rest} and those going out on the Sabbath—and they came to Jehoiada the priest.
10 Then the priest {kohen: spiritual mediator} gave to the commanders of the hundreds the spears and shields that had belonged to King David and were kept in the house of the LORD {YHWH, Sacred Dwelling}.
11 And the guards {ratsim: swift protectors} stood, each man with his weapon in hand around the king, from the right side to the left side by the altar and by the house {bayit: temple sanctuary}, encircling him.
12 He brought out the king’s son and set upon him the crown {nezer: symbol of royal office} and the testimony {edut: covenant document}. Then they made him king and anointed him; they clapped their hands and said, “Let the king live!”
13 Athaliah heard the sound of the runners {haratzin: royal guards} and of the people, and she came to the people at the house of the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Sanctuary}.
14 She looked, and there the king was standing by the pillar {amud: ceremonial platform}, as was the custom. The officials and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her garments {bigdeha: royal garments} and cried, “Treason! Treason!”
15 And Jehoiada the priest commanded the commanders of the hundreds and the officers of the army, saying, “Bring her out between the ranks {lashur: battle lines}, and let whoever follows her be put to death by the sword.” For the priest had said, “She must not be killed in the house of the LORD {YHWH, Sanctuary Protector}.”
16 So they laid hands {yadim: physical seizure} on her, and she entered by the way of the entrance {mevo: guarded gateway} through which the horses enter the king’s house; and there she was put to death.
17 Jehoiada made a covenant {brit: binding agreement} between the LORD {YHWH, Covenant Upholder} and the king and the people, that they would be the people of the LORD; and he also made a covenant between the king and the people.
18 The land’s inhabitants went to the house of Baal and tore it down. They shattered its altars {mizbechotav: cultic platforms} and the images completely and killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars. Then the priest appointed guards over the house of the LORD {YHWH, Sanctuary Restorer}.
19 He took the commanders {sarei: chief military officers} of hundreds, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD {YHWH, Temple Sovereign}. They proceeded through the guards’ gate to the king’s house, and he sat on the throne of the kings.
20 And all the people of the land rejoiced {wayyismakh: shared joy}, and the city was quiet; and they put Athaliah to death with the sword at the king’s house {bet hammelekh: royal complex}.
21 Joash was seven {sheva: counted years} years old when he commenced his reign {malkho: ascended the throne}.