2 Kings 11 :: New Living Translation (NLT)

Queen Athaliah Rules in Judah

(2Ch 22:10–12 )

2Ki 11:1When Athaliah, the mother of King Ahaziah of Judah, learned that her son was dead, she began to destroy the rest of the royal family.

2Ki 11:2

2Ki 11:2But Ahaziah’s sister Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram,[fn] 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 to hide him from Athaliah, so the child was not murdered.

2Ki 11:3

2Ki 11:3Joash remained hidden in the Temple of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled over the land.

Revolt against Athaliah

(2Ch 23:1–11 )

2Ki 11:4

2Ki 11:4In 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.

2Ki 11:5

2Ki 11:5Jehoiada 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.

2Ki 11:6

2Ki 11:6Another 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.

2Ki 11:7

2Ki 11:7The other two units who are off duty on the Sabbath must stand guard for the king at the LORD’s Temple.

2Ki 11:8

2Ki 11:8Form 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.”

2Ki 11:9

2Ki 11:9So 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,

2Ki 11:10

2Ki 11:10and 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.

2Ki 11:11

2Ki 11:11The 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.

2Ki 11:12

2Ki 11:12Then Jehoiada brought out Joash, the king’s son, placed the crown on his head, and presented him with a copy of God’s laws.[fn] They anointed him and proclaimed him king, and everyone clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!”

The Death of Athaliah

(2Ch 23:12—24:1 )

2Ki 11:13

2Ki 11:13When Athaliah heard all the noise made by the palace guards and the people, she hurried to the LORD’s Temple to see what was happening.

2Ki 11:14

2Ki 11:14When 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!”

2Ki 11:15

2Ki 11:15Then Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders who were in charge of the troops, “Take her to the soldiers in front of the Temple,[fn] and kill anyone who tries to rescue her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be killed in the Temple of the LORD.”

2Ki 11:16

2Ki 11:16So they seized her and led her out to the gate where horses enter the palace grounds, and she was killed there.

Jehoiada’s Religious Reforms

2Ki 11:17

2Ki 11:17Then 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.

2Ki 11:18

2Ki 11:18And 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.

2Ki 11:19

2Ki 11:19Then 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.

2Ki 11:20

2Ki 11:20So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was peaceful because Athaliah had been killed at the king’s palace.

2Ki 11:21

2Ki 11:21 [fn]Joash[fn] was seven years old when he became king.