1 Quando Atalia, mãe do rei Acazias de Judá, soube que seu filho tinha morrido, matou os filhos dele.
2 Houve contudo um - Joás - que devia ter com um ano de idade , que escapou, porque sua tia Jeoseba (irmã do rei Acazias, filha do rei Jeorão, que era o pai de ambos) o salvou. Ela escondeu o menino, mais a sua ama, numa câmara do templo .
3 Aí viveram durante seis anos, enquanto Atalia foi rainha.
4 No sétimo ano do reinado de Atalia, o sacerdote Jeoiada convocou os oficiais da guarda, e a guarda pessoal da rainha, para um encontro no próprio templo; fê-los jurarem segredo absoluto e mostrou-lhes o filho do rei. Depois deu-lhes instruções: Um terço dos que estiverem de serviço no sábado deverão fazer a guarda do palácio. Os outros dois terços ficarão de guarda ao templo; rodeiem o rei, com as armas na mão, e matem seja quem for que tente forçar a passagem até ele. Mantenham-se sempre ao lado do rei.
9 Os oficiais seguiram estas indicações. Trouxeram a Jeoiada os homens que iam sair de serviço no sábado, e também os que iam entrar; armaram-nos com as lanças e os escudos do próprio templo, que tinham pertencido ao rei David.
11 Os guardas, armados, puseram-se diante do santuário e rodearam o altar, que se encontrava perto do esconderijo de Joás.
12 Jeoiada trouxe fora o príncipe, pôs-lhe uma coroa na cabeça, entregou-lhe uma cópia da aliança e ungiu-o rei. Toda a gente bateu as palmas e gritou. Viva o rei!
13 Atalia, ao ouvir as aclamações, correu para o templo e viu o novo rei em pé junto à coluna, como era costume fazer aquando das coroações, e rodeado pela sua guarda pessoal e por muitos trombeteiros; toda a gente manifestava a sua alegria, ao mesmo tempo que se ouviam os toques das trombetas. Traição! Traição!, gritou ela; e rasgou o seu vestido.
15 Tirem-na daqui, exclamou Jeoiada aos oficiais da guarda. Não a matem aqui no templo. Matem quem quer que seja que tente livrá-la.
16 Levaram-na então para as cavalariças do palácio e ali a mataram.
17 Jeoiada proclamou um compromisso entre o Senhor, o rei e o povo, em como seriam o povo do Senhor. Fez também um contrato entre o rei e o povo. Toda a gente se dirigiu ao templo de Baal e derrubou-o, destruindo os altares e as imagens e matando Matã, o sacerdote de Baal, diante do próprio altar. Jeoiada pôs guardas no templo do Senhor.
19 Então ele, os oficiais, o corpo da guarda e todo o povo levaram o rei desde o templo, pelo caminho do quartel da guarda, até ao palácio. Aí sentaram-no no trono real.
20 Dessa forma toda a gente ficou feliz e a cidade se pacificou, após a morte de Atalia.
21 Joás tinha sete anos quando foi feito rei.
1 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal seed.
2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king's sons who were slain, even him and his nurse [and put them] in the bedchamber; and they hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not slain;
3 And he was hid with her in the house of Yahweh six years. And Athaliah reigned over the land.
4 And in the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the captains over hundreds of the Carites and of the guard, and brought them to him into the house of Yahweh; and he made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of Yahweh, and showed them the king's son.
5 And he commanded them, saying, This is the thing that you{+} will do: a third part of you{+}, that come in on the Sabbath, will be keepers of the watch of the king's house;
6 And a third part will be at the gate Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so you{+} will keep the watch of the house, and be a barrier.
7 And the two companies of you{+}, even all who go forth on the Sabbath, will keep the watch of the house of Yahweh about the king.
8 And you{+} will circle the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and he who comes inside the ranks, let him be slain: and be{+} with the king when he goes out, and when he comes in.
9 And the captains over hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded; and they took every man his men, those who were to come in on the Sabbath, with those who were to go out on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest.
10 And the priest delivered to the captains over hundreds the spears and shields that had been king David's, which were in the house of Yahweh.
11 And the guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, along by the altar and the house, by the king round about.
12 Then he brought out the king's son, and put the crown on him, and [gave him] the testimony; and they made him king, and anointed him; and they clapped their hands, and said, [Long] live the king.
13 And when Athaliah heard the noise of the guard [and of] the people, she came to the people into the house of Yahweh:
14 and she looked and saw that the king stood by the pillar, as the manner was, and the captains and the trumpets by the king; and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew trumpets. Then Athaliah rent her clothes, and cried, Treason! Treason!
15 And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds who were set over the host, and said to them, Bring her forth between the ranks; and slay him who follows her with the sword. For the priest said, Don't let her be slain in the house of Yahweh.
16 So they made way for her; and she went by the way of the horses' entry to the king's house: and there she was slain.
17 And Jehoiada made a covenant between Yahweh and the king and the people, that they should be Yahweh's people; between the king also and the people.
18 And all the people of the land went to the house of Baal, and broke it down; his altars and his images they broke in pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of Yahweh.
19 And he took the captains over hundreds, and the Carites, and the guard, and all the people of the land; and they brought down the king from the house of Yahweh, and came by the way of the gate of the guard to the king's house. And he sat on the throne of the kings.
20 So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. And they had slain Athaliah with the sword at the king's house.
21 Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.