Jehoiada's Plan
Study note
In the seventh year, Jehoiada the priest decided it was time to act. He made a secret agreement with five military commanders and sent them throughout Judah to gather the Levites and family leaders. They came to Jerusalem and made a covenant with young King Joash in the temple. Jehoiada divided them into three groups and stationed them at the temple gates and the royal palace, armed with King David's own spears and shields that were stored in the temple.
1 In the seventh year, Jehoiada the priest made a bold choice. He made a secret deal with five army leaders: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zichri. And in the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, and Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, and Azariah the son of Obed, and Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, into covenant with him.
2 They traveled throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from every city, along with the heads of Israel's leading families. They all came to Jerusalem. And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.
3 The whole group made a solemn agreement with the young king in God's temple. Jehoiada told them, "The king's son will rule, just as the Lord promised about David's descendants." And all the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And he said unto them, Behold, the king's son shall reign, as the LORD hath said of the sons of David.
4 "Here is the plan: One third of you priests and Levites who are on duty this Sabbath will guard the doors." This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doors;
5 "Another third will be stationed at the royal palace, and the last third will be at the Foundation Gate. Everyone else will stand in the courtyards of the Lord's temple." And a third part shall be at the king's house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD.
6 "No one should go into the Lord's temple except the priests and the Levites who are on duty. They may enter because they are set apart as holy. But all the other people must follow the Lord's command and stay outside." But let none come into the house of the LORD, save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall go in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD.
7 "The Levites must form a circle around the king, each man holding his weapon. If anyone else tries to enter the temple, kill them. Stay close to the king wherever he goes." And the Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whosoever else cometh into the house, he shall be put to death: but be ye with the king when he cometh in, and when he goeth out.
Joash Is Crowned King
Study note
The Levites and all Judah followed Jehoiada's instructions exactly. He stationed armed guards throughout the temple area. Then they brought out the young prince, placed the crown on his head, gave him a copy of the covenant, and anointed him king. Jehoiada and his sons performed the anointing, and everyone shouted, 'Long live the king!'
8 The Levites and all the people of Judah did exactly what Jehoiada the priest told them. Each commander brought his men, both those starting their shift and those finishing, because Jehoiada did not let any group leave. So the Levites and all Judah did according to all things that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath: for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.
9 Jehoiada the priest handed out spears and shields that had once belonged to King David. These weapons had been kept in God's temple. Moreover Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David's, which were in the house of God.
10 He lined up all the guards. Each one held his weapon. They stood from the south side to the north side of the temple, near the altar and the building, all around the king. And he set all the people, every man having his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king round about.
11 Then they brought out the king's son, placed the crown on his head, and gave him a copy of the covenant. They announced him as king. Jehoiada and his sons poured oil on his head, and everyone shouted, "Long live the king!" Then they brought out the king's son, and put upon him the crown, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and said, God save the king.
Athaliah Is Overthrown
Study note
When Athaliah heard the commotion, she rushed to the temple. She saw the young king standing by his pillar at the entrance, with officers and trumpeters around him and all the people celebrating. She tore her robes and screamed, 'Treason! Treason!' But Jehoiada ordered the military commanders to take her out of the temple and execute her. She was killed at the Horse Gate entrance near the palace.
12 Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and cheering for the king. She hurried to the Lord's temple to see what was going on. Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people into the house of the LORD:
13 She looked and saw the king standing by his pillar near the entrance. The officers and trumpet players stood beside the king, and all the people of the land were celebrating and blowing trumpets. Singers with instruments were leading the music. Athaliah ripped her robes and screamed, "Treason! Treason!" And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of musick, and such as taught to sing praise. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and said, Treason, Treason.
14 Jehoiada the priest called the military commanders and told them, "Bring her out through the rows of soldiers. Kill anyone who follows her." The priest had made clear, "Do not kill her inside the Lord's temple." Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth of the ranges: and whoso followeth her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said, Slay her not in the house of the LORD.
15 So they grabbed her, and when she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate near the palace, they put her to death there. So they laid hands on her; and when she was come to the entering of the horse gate by the king's house, they slew her there.
The Covenant Renewed
Study note
Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, the people, and the king that they would be the Lord's people. The people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down, smashing the altars and idols and killing Mattan the priest of Baal. Jehoiada restored proper worship at the Lord's temple. Then they brought the young king down from the temple to the palace and seated him on the royal throne. Everyone rejoiced, and the city was peaceful.
16 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, all the people, and the king. They promised they would be the Lord's people. And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the people, and between the king, that they should be the LORD's people.
17 All the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it to the ground. They smashed the altars and the idols to pieces. They also killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, before the altars. Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in pieces, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.
18 Jehoiada put the Levite priests in charge of the Lord's temple, just as David had set up. Their job was to offer burnt offerings as the Law of Moses required. They did this with joy and singing, as David had told them. Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the LORD by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was ordained by David.
19 He also put guards at every gate of the Lord's temple. That way, no one who was unclean for any reason could get in. And he set the porters at the gates of the house of the LORD, that none which was unclean in any thing should enter in.
20 He gathered the commanders, the nobles, the rulers, and all the people. Together they brought the king down from the Lord's temple, through the Upper Gate, and into the royal palace. They seated the king on the royal throne. And he took the captains of hundreds, and the nobles, and the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought down the king from the house of the LORD: and they came through the high gate into the king's house, and set the king upon the throne of the kingdom.
21 All the people of the land celebrated, and the city was calm and peaceful. Athaliah had been put to death. And all the people of the land rejoiced: and the city was quiet, after that they had slain Athaliah with the sword.