1 No sétimo ano Joiada encorajou-se e fez um acordo com os líderes dos batalhões de cem: Azarias, filho de Jeroão, Ismael, filho de Joanã, Azarias, filho de Obede, Maaséias, filho de Adaías, e Elisafate, filho de Zicri.2 Eles percorreram todo o Judá e reuniram de todas as cidades, os levitas e os chefes das famílias israelitas. Quando chegaram a Jerusalém,3 toda a assembléia fez um acordo com o rei no templo de Deus. Joiada lhes disse: "Reinará o filho do rei, conforme o Senhor prometeu acerca dos descendentes de Davi.4 Vocês vão fazer o seguinte: Um terço de vocês, sacerdotes e levitas que entrarão de serviço no sábado, deverá ficar vigiando nas portas do templo;5 um terço, no palácio real; e um terço, na porta do Alicerce; e todo o povo estará nos pátios do templo do Senhor.6 Ninguém deverá entrar no templo do Senhor, exceto os sacerdotes e os levitas de serviço; esses podem entrar porque são consagrados, mas o povo deverá observar o que o Senhor lhes determinou.7 Os levitas deverão posicionar-se em torno do rei, todos de armas na mão. Matem todo aquele que entrar no templo. Acompanhem o rei aonde quer que ele for".8 Os levitas e todos os homens de Judá fizeram como o sacerdote Joiada havia ordenado. Cada um levou seus soldados, tanto os que estavam entrando de serviço no sábado como os que estavam saindo, pois o sacerdote Joiada não havia dispensado nenhuma das divisões.9 Então ele deu aos líderes dos batalhões de cem, as lanças e os escudos grandes e pequenos que haviam pertencido ao rei Davi, e que estavam no templo de Deus.10 Posicionou todos os homens, todos de arma na mão, em volta do rei, perto do altar e do templo, desde o lado sul até o lado norte do templo.11 Joiada e seus filhos trouxeram o filho do rei e o coroaram; entregaram-lhe uma cópia da aliança e o proclamaram rei, ungindo-o e gritando: "Viva o rei! "12 Quando Atalia ouviu o barulho do povo correndo e aclamando o rei, foi ao templo do Senhor, onde estava o povo.13 Lá ela viu o rei à entrada, de pé junto à coluna. Os oficiais e tocadores de cornetas estavam ao lado do rei, e todo o povo se alegrava ao som das cornetas; os músicos com seus instrumentos musicais dirigiam os louvores. Então Atalia rasgou suas vestes e gritou: "Traição! Traição! "14 O sacerdote Joiada ordenou aos líderes dos batalhões de cem que estavam no comando das tropas: "Levem-na para fora por entre as fileiras, e matem à espada todo que a seguir". Pois o sacerdote dissera: "Não a matem no templo do Senhor".15 Então eles a prenderam e levaram à porta dos Cavalos, no terreno do palácio, e lá a mataram.16 E Joiada fez um acordo pelo qual ele, o povo e o rei seriam o povo do Senhor.17 Então todo o povo foi ao templo de Baal e o derrubou. Despedaçaram os altares e os ídolos, e mataram Matã, sacerdote de Baal, em frente dos altares.18 E Joiada confiou a supervisão do templo do Senhor aos sacerdotes levitas, aos quais Davi tinha atribuído tarefas no templo, para apresentarem os holocaustos ao Senhor, conforme está escrito na lei de Moisés, com júbilo e cânticos, segundo as instruções de Davi.19 Também pôs guardas nas portas do templo do Senhor para que não entrasse ninguém que de alguma forma estivesse impuro.20 Levou consigo os líderes dos batalhões de cem, os nobres, os governantes do povo e todo o povo e, juntos, conduziram o rei do templo do Senhor ao palácio, passando pela porta superior, e instalaram o rei no trono;21 e todo o povo se alegrou. A cidade acalmou-se depois que Atalia foi morta à espada.

1 After a six-year wait Jehoiada the priest decided that it was time to take action. He made a pact with five army officers: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zichri.2 They went around Judah, gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah and the leaders of the families of Israel, and came to Jerusalem.3 The entire assembly made an agreement with the king in God’s Temple. Then Jehoiada said to them: Here is the king’s son. He should be king, as Jehovah said about David’s descendants.4 You must do this: One third of you, the priests and Levites who are on duty on the day of worship, must guard the gates.5 Another third must be at the royal palace. And another third must be at Foundation Gate. All the people must be in the courtyards of Jehovah’s Temple.6 Only the priests and Levites who are on duty should come into Jehovah’s Temple. They may enter because they are holy. The other people should follow Jehovah’s regulations.7 The Levites should surround the king. Each man should have his weapon in his hand. Kill anyone who tries to come into the Temple. Stay with the king wherever he goes.8 The Levites and all the Judeans did what the priest Jehoiada had ordered them. Each took his men who were coming on duty on the day of worship as well as those who were about to go off duty. Jehoiada did not dismiss the priestly divisions.9 Jehoiada gave the commanders the spears and the small and large shields. They once belonged to King David but were now in God’s Temple.10 The troops stood with their weapons drawn. They were stationed around the king, the altar and the Temple. They were located from the south side to the north side of the Temple.11 Then they brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him. They gave him the testimony and made him king. Jehoiada and his sons anointed him. They said: »Long live the king!«12 Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king. She entered into the house of Jehovah to the people.13 She saw the king was standing by his pillar at the entrance. The captains and the trumpeters were beside the king. All the people of the land rejoiced and blew trumpets. The singers with their musical instruments lead the praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and said: »This is treason! Treason!«14 Jehoiada did not want Athaliah killed in the Temple area. He called out the army officers and said: »Take her out between the rows of guards. Kill anyone who tries to rescue her.«15 They seized her and took her to the palace. There at the Horse Gate they killed her.16 The priest Jehoiada had King Joash and the people join him. They made a covenant that they would be Jehovah’s people.17 Then they all went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols. Then they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars.18 Jehoiada put the priests and Levites in charge of the work of the Temple. They were to carry out the duties assigned to them by King David. This included burning the sacrifices offered to Jehovah in accordance with the Law of Moses. They were also in charge of the music and the celebrations.19 Jehoiada appointed gatekeepers for the gates of Jehovah’s temple. That way no one who was unclean for any reason could enter.20 He took the company commanders, the nobles, the people’s governors, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king from Jehovah’s Temple. They went through Upper Gate to the royal palace and seated the king on the royal throne. The nobles, the governors of the people, and21 all the people of the land celebrated. The city was quiet because they had killed Athaliah with a sword.