New King James Version

New Living Translation

Athaliah Reigns in Judah

When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs.

1

Queen Athaliah Rules in Judah

When Athaliah, the mother of King Ahaziah of Judah, learned that her son was dead, she began to destroy the rest of the royal family.

2

But [a]Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took [b]Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being murdered; and they hid him and his nurse in the bedroom, from Athaliah, so that he was not killed.

2

But Ahaziah’s sister Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram,a 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, and they hid him from Athaliah, so the child was not murdered.

3

So he was hidden with her in the house of the Lord for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land.

3

Joash remained hidden in the Temple of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled over the land.

4

Joash Crowned King of Judah

In the seventh year Jehoiada sent and brought the captains of hundreds — of the bodyguards and the [c]escorts — and brought them into the house of the Lord to him. And he made a covenant with them and took an oath from them in the house of the Lord, and showed them the king’s son.

4

Revolt against Athaliah

In the seventh year of Athaliah’s reign, Jehoiada the priest summoned the commanders, the Carite mercenaries, and the palace guards to come to the Temple of the LORD. He made a solemn pact with them and made them swear an oath of loyalty there in the LORD’s Temple; then he showed them the king’s son.

5

Then he commanded them, saying, “This is what you shall do: One-third of you who [d]come on duty on the Sabbath shall be keeping watch over the king’s house,

5

Jehoiada told them, “This is what you must do. A third of you who are on duty on the Sabbath are to guard the royal palace itself.

6

one-third shall be at the gate of Sur, and one-third at the gate behind the escorts. You shall keep the watch of the house, lest it be broken down.

6

Another third of you are to stand guard at the Sur Gate. And the final third must stand guard behind the palace guard. These three groups will all guard the palace.

7

The two [e]contingents of you who go off duty on the Sabbath shall keep the watch of the house of the Lord for the king.

7

The other two units who are off duty on the Sabbath must stand guard for the king at the LORD’s Temple.

8

But you shall surround the king on all sides, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes within range, let him be put to death. You are to be with the king as he goes out and as he comes in.”

8

Form a bodyguard around the king and keep your weapons in hand. Kill anyone who tries to break through. Stay with the king wherever he goes.”

9

So the captains of the hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each of them took his men who were to be on duty on the Sabbath, with those who were going off duty on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.

9

So the commanders 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. They brought them all to Jehoiada the priest,

10

And the priest gave the captains of hundreds the spears and shields which had belonged to King David, that were in the temple of the Lord.

10

and he supplied them with the spears and small shields that had once belonged to King David and were stored in the Temple of the LORD.

11

Then the escorts stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, all around the king, from the right [f]side of the temple to the left side of the temple, by the altar and the house.

11

The palace guards stationed themselves 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.

12

And he brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, and gave him the Testimony;[g] they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!”

12

Then Jehoiada brought out Joash, the king’s son, placed the crown on his head, and presented him with a copy of God’s laws.b They anointed him and proclaimed him king, and everyone clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!”

13

Death of Athaliah

Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the escorts and the people, she came to the people in the temple of the Lord.

13

The Death of Athaliah

When Athaliah heard the noise made by the palace guards and the people, she hurried to the LORD’s Temple to see what was happening.

14

When she looked, there was the king standing by a pillar according to custom; and the leaders and the trumpeters were by the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. So Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, “Treason! Treason!”

14

When she arrived, she saw the newly crowned king standing in his place of authority by the pillar, as was the custom at times of coronation. The commanders and trumpeters were surrounding him, and people from all over the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. When Athaliah saw all this, she tore her clothes in despair and shouted, “Treason! Treason!”

15

And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the army, and said to them, “Take her outside [h]under guard, and slay with the sword whoever follows her.” For the priest had said, “Do not let her be killed in the house of the Lord.”

15

Then Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders who were in charge of the troops, “Take her to the soldiers in front of the Temple,c and kill anyone who tries to rescue her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be killed in the Temple of the LORD.”

16

So they seized her; and she went by way of the horses’ entrance into the king’s house, and there she was killed.

16

So they seized her and led her out to the gate where horses enter the palace grounds, and she was killed there.

17

Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people, that they should be the Lord’s people, and also between the king and the people.

17

Jehoiada’s Religious Reforms

Then Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people that they would be the LORD’s people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people.

18

And all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal, and tore it down. They thoroughly broke in pieces its altars and [i]images, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed [j]officers over the house of the Lord.

18

And all the people of the land went over to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They demolished the altars and smashed the idols to pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.
Jehoiada the priest stationed guards at the Temple of the LORD.

19

Then he took the captains of hundreds, the bodyguards, the escorts, and all the people of the land; and they brought the king down from the house of the Lord, and went by way of the gate of the escorts to the king’s house. Then he sat on the throne of the kings.

19

Then the commanders, the Carite mercenaries, the palace guards, and all the people of the land escorted the king from the Temple of the LORD. They went through the gate of the guards and into the palace, and the king took his seat on the royal throne.

20

So all the people of the land rejoiced; and the city was quiet, for they had slain Athaliah with the sword in the king’s house.

20

So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was peaceful because Athaliah had been killed at the king’s palace.

21

Jehoash was seven years old when he became king.

21

dJoashe was seven years old when he became king.

Parallel

New King James Version

New Living Translation

2 Kings 11

2 Kings 11