1 Quando Atalia, mãe de Acazias, soube que seu filho estava morto, mandou matar toda a família real.2 Mas Jeoseba, filha do rei Jeorão e irmã de Acazias, pegou Joás, um dos filhos do rei que iam ser assassinados, e o colocou num quarto, junto com a sua ama, para escondê-lo de Atalia; assim ele não foi morto.3 Seis anos ele ficou escondido com ela no templo do Senhor, enquanto Atalia governava o país.4 No sétimo ano, o sacerdote Joiada mandou chamar à sua presença no templo do Senhor os líderes dos batalhões de cem dos cários e dos guardas. E fez um acordo com eles, fazendo-os jurar no templo do Senhor. Então lhes mostrou o filho do rei5 e lhes ordenou: "Vocês vão fazer o seguinte: Quando entrarem de serviço no sábado, uma companhia ficará de guarda no palácio real,6 outra, na porta de Sur e a terceira, na porta atrás das outras companhias. Elas montarão guarda no templo por turnos.7 As outras duas companhias que normalmente não estão de serviço no sábado ficarão de guarda no templo, para proteger o rei.8 Posicionem-se ao redor do rei, de armas na mão. Matem todo o que se aproximar de suas fileiras. Acompanhem o rei aonde quer que ele for".9 Os líderes dos batalhões de cem 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, ao sacerdote Joiada.10 Então ele deu aos líderes dos batalhões de cem, as lanças e os escudos que haviam pertencido ao rei Davi, e que estavam no templo do Senhor.11 Os guardas, todos de arma na mão, posicionaram-se em volta do rei, perto do altar e do templo, desde o lado sul até o lado norte do templo.12 Depois Joiada trouxe para fora o filho do rei, colocou nele a coroa e entregou-lhe uma cópia da aliança. Então o proclamaram rei ungindo-o, e o povo aplaudia e gritava: "Viva o rei! "13 Quando Atalia ouviu o barulho dos guardas e do povo, foi ao templo do Senhor, onde estava o povo.14 Lá ela viu o rei, conforme o costume, de pé junto à coluna. Os oficiais e os tocadores de corneta estavam ao lado do rei, e todo o povo se alegrava ao som das cornetas. Então, Atalia rasgou suas vestes e gritou: "Traição! Traição! "15 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: "Ela não será morta no templo do Senhor".16 Então eles a prenderam e a levaram ao lugar onde os cavalos entram no terreno do palácio, e lá a mataram.17 E Joiada fez uma aliança entre o Senhor, o rei e o povo, para que fossem o povo do Senhor. Também fez um acordo entre o rei e o povo.18 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. E o sacerdote Joiada colocou guardas no templo do Senhor.19 Levou consigo os líderes dos batalhões de cem dos cários, os guardas e todo o povo e, juntos, conduziram o rei do templo ao palácio, passando pela porta da guarda. O rei então ocupou seu lugar no trono real,20 e todo o povo se alegrou. E a cidade acalmou-se depois que Atalia foi morta à espada no palácio.21 Joás tinha sete anos de idade quando começou a reinar.

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.