1And when Athaliah saw that her son, Ahaziah, was dead, she proceeded to destroy the entire royal family. 2But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash (aka Jehoash), son of Ahaziah, from among the king's sons who were about to be slain; and hid him and his nurse from Athaliah in a bedroom, so that he was not slain. 3He and his nurse remained hidden in the Temple of the LORD for six years, while Athaliah reigned over Judah.

4And in the seventh year, Jehoiada (the priest, and husband of Jehosheba) sent for the captains over army units of hundreds, with the Carite mercenaries of the palace guard, and brought them to him in the Temple of the LORD, and made a covenant with them, and after taking an oath of loyalty from them in the Temple of the LORD, he revealed the king's son to them. 5And he told them, “This is what you must do: A third of you who are on duty on the Sabbath are to guard the king's palace; 6And a third of you shall be at the gate of Sur; and a third at the gate behind the palace guard: you shall take turns guarding the Temple. 7And those of the two units who normally go off duty on the Sabbath, are all to guard the Temple of the LORD for the king. 8And you shall station yourselves around the king, each man with his weapon in hand; and anyone who breaks through your ranks is to be slain. You must stay close to the king wherever he comes and goes.”

9And the captains over the units of hundreds did all that Jehoiada the priest commanded; and each man took his men who were to be on duty on the Sabbath, with those who normally go off duty on the Sabbath, and reported to Jehoiada, the priest. 10And the priest gave King David's spears and shields, that were in the Temple of the LORD, to the captains of hundreds. 11And each man stood guard with his weapon in his hand, around the king, from the south to the north side of the Temple, near the altar (in the courtyard) and in the Temple. 12And Jehoiada brought Joash (aka Jehoash), the king's son, out and put the crown upon him, and gave him the testimony; and they anointed Joash king; and they clapped their hands, and proclaimed, “God save the king.”

13And when Athaliah heard the noise made by the guard and the people, she hurried into the Temple of the LORD, to see what was happening. 14And when she entered, there was the young king standing by a pillar, as was the custom; and there were trumpeters by the king, and people from all over the land rejoiced, and blew the trumpets. And Athaliah tore her clothes, and shouted, “Treason! Treason!” 15But Jehoiada, the priest, ordered the captains of the army units of hundreds: “Take her out between the ranks; and kill with the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “Do not put her to death in the Temple of the LORD.” 16And so they seized her when she reached the gate by which the horses came into the king's house; and there she was slain.

17And Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD, the king, and the people, that they should be the LORD's people; he also made a covenant between the king and the people. 18And all the people of the land went into the temple of Baal, and tore it down. They completely smashed the altars and idols to pieces, and killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars. And Jehoiada posted officers to guard the Temple of the LORD. 19And he took the captains over hundreds, the guards and all the people of the land with him; and they brought the king down from the Temple of the LORD, and entered the palace through the gate of the guards. And then Joash was seated upon the royal throne. 20And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was calm, because they had killed Athaliah with the sword at the king's palace. 21Joash (aka Jehoash) was seven years old when he began to reign in Judah.