1 Vendo Atalia, mãe de Acazias, que seu filho era morto, levantou-se e destruiu toda a descendência real.

2 Mas Jeoseba, filha do rei Jorão, irmã de Acazias, tomou a Joás, filho de Acazias, e do meio dos filhos do rei que foram mortos furtou-o com sua ama, e pô-los na câmara; esconderam-no de Atalia, de maneira que não foi morto.

3 Esteve com ela escondido seis anos na casa de Jeová; e Atalia reinou sobre a terra.

4 No sétimo ano enviou Joiada e mandou vir os centuriões dos caritas e da guarda, e fê-los entrar à sua presença na casa de Jeová; fez com eles aliança e, ajuramentando-os na casa de Jeová, mostrou-lhes o filho do rei.

5 Ordenou-lhes, dizendo: Esta é a coisa que haveis de fazer: uma terça parte de vós, os que entrais no sábado, fará a guarda da casa do rei;

6 outra terça parte ficará à porta de Sur; e a outra terça parte à porta detrás do quartel da guarda. Assim fareis a guarda da casa, e servireis de barreira.

7 As duas companhias, a saber, todos os que saem no sábado, farão a guarda da casa de Jeová junto ao rei.

8 Rodeareis o rei, cada um com as suas armas na mão; e aquele que entrar dentro das fileiras, seja morto. Estai com o rei quando sair e quando entrar.

9 Fizeram os centuriões conforme tudo o que ordenara o sacerdote Joiada. Tomando cada um os seus homens, os que haviam de entrar no sábado juntamente com os que haviam de sair no sábado, vieram ter com o sacerdote Joiada.

10 O sacerdote entregou aos centuriões as lanças e os escudos que haviam sido do rei Davi, os quais estavam na casa de Jeová.

11 Os da guarda puseram-se à roda do rei, cada um com as armas na mão, desde o lado direito até o lado esquerdo da casa, ao longo do altar e da casa.

12 Então Joiada lhes apresentou o filho do rei, pôs-lhe a coroa e deu-lhe o testemunho. Eles o constituíram rei e o ungiram; bateram as mãos e disseram: Viva o rei.

13 Ouvindo Atalia o clamor da guarda e do povo, entrou ao povo na casa de Jeová;

14 olhou, e eis que o rei estava junto à coluna, como era o costume, e os capitães e as trombetas perto do rei; todo o povo da terra estava alegre e tocava as trombetas. Atalia rasgou os seus vestidos, e gritou: Traição, traição.

15 Joiada, o sacerdote, ordenou aos centuriões que comandavam as tropas e disse-lhes: Levai-a para fora das fileiras; aquele que a seguir, matai-o à espada, porque o sacerdote disse: Não seja ela morta na casa de Jeová.

16 Abriram caminho para ela; ela foi pelo caminho da entrada dos cavalos à casa do rei; e ali foi morta.

17 Joiada fez aliança entre Jeová e o rei e o povo, para serem eles o povo de Jeová; também fez aliança entre o rei e o povo.

18 Todo o povo da terra foi à casa de Baal, e a derrubaram; fizeram em pedaços os altares e as imagens de Baal, e mataram a Matã, sacerdote de Baal, diante dos altares. O sacerdote pôs oficiais sobre a casa de Jeová.

19 Tomou os centuriões, os caritas, os da guarda e todo o povo da terra; conduziram da casa de Jeová o rei e foram à casa do rei pelo caminho da porta dos da guarda. O rei sentou-se sobre o trono dos reis.

20 E todo o povo da terra se alegrou, e a cidade ficou em paz; e mataram a Atalia à espada na casa do rei.

21 Tinha Jeoás sete anos quando começou a reinar.

1 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the seed royal. 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 that 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 with her hid in the house of Jehovah 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 Jehovah; and he made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of Jehovah, and showed them the king’s son. 5 And he commanded them, saying, This is the thing that ye shall do: a third part of you, that come in on the sabbath, shall be keepers of the watch of the king’s house; 6 And a third part shall be at the gate Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of the house, and be a barrier. 7 And the two companies of you, even all that go forth on the sabbath, shall keep the watch of the house of Jehovah about the king. 8 And ye shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and he that cometh within the ranks, let him be slain: and be ye with the king when he goeth out, and when he cometh in.

9 And the captains over hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded; and they took every man his men, those that were to come in on the sabbath, with those that 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 Jehovah. 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 upon 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 Jehovah: 14 and she looked, and, behold, 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 that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth between the ranks; and him that followeth her slay with the sword. For the priest said, Let her not be slain in the house of Jehovah. 16 So they made way for her; and she went by the way of the horses’ entry to the king’s house: and there was she slain.

17 And Jehoiada made a covenant between Jehovah and the king and the people, that they should be Jehovah’s people; between the king also and the people. 18 And all the people of the land went to the house of Baal, and brake it down; his altars and his images brake they in pieces thoroughly, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of Jehovah. 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 Jehovah, and came by the way of the gate of the guard unto 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 Athaliah they had slain with the sword at the king’s house.

21 Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign.