1 No sétimo ano animou-se Joiada, e entrou em aliança com os centuriões, Azarias, filho de Jorão, Ismael, filho de Joanã, Azarias, filho de Obede, Maaséias, filho de Adaías, e Elisafate, filho de Sicri.2 Estes percorreram a Judá e congregaram os levitas de todas as cidades de Judá e os cabeças das famílias de Israel, e vieram para Jerusalém.3 Toda a congregação fez uma aliança com o rei na casa de Deus. Joiada disse-lhes: Eis que o filho do rei reinará, como falou Jeová a respeito dos filhos de Davi.4 Isto é o que haveis de fazer: uma terça parte de vós que entrardes no sábado, a saber, dos sacerdotes e dos levitas, servirá de guardas das portas;5 outra terça parte estará junto à casa do rei; e a outra terça parte à porta do Fundamento; e todo o povo estará nos átrios da casa de Jeová.6 Não entre, porém, nenhum outro na casa de Jeová, senão os sacerdotes e os levitas que estão de serviço; estes entrarão, porque são santos. Mas todo o povo formará a guarda de Jeová.7 Os levitas cercarão o rei de todos os lados, tendo cada um na mão as suas armas; e todo o que entrar na casa, seja morto: acompanhai o rei quando entrar e quando sair.8 Fizeram os levitas e todo o Judá conforme tudo o que o sacerdote Joiada ordenou. Tomou cada um os seus homens, tanto os que haviam de entrar no sábado como os que haviam de sair no sábado; pois o sacerdote Joiada não despediu as turmas.9 Também o sacerdote Joiada entregou aos centuriões as lanças, os paveses e os escudos que tinham pertencido ao rei Davi, os quais estavam na casa de Deus.10 Dispôs todo o povo, cada um com as suas armas na mão, desde o lado direito da casa até o lado esquerdo da casa, perto do altar e da casa, ao redor do rei.11 Então tiraram para fora o filho do rei, puseram-lhe na cabeça a coroa, deram-lhe o testemunho e constituíram-no o rei. Joiada e seus filhos ungiram-no, e disseram: Viva o rei.12 Ouvindo Atália a voz do povo, da guarda e dos que louvavam o rei, veio ter com o povo na casa de Deus.13 Olhou, e eis que o rei estava junto à sua coluna, à entrada, e os capitães e as trombetas perto do rei; todo o povo da terra se regozijava e tocava as trombetas. Também os cantores tocavam instrumentos de música, e guiavam nos cânticos de louvor. Então Atália rasgou os seus vestidos e disse: Traição! traição!14 O sacerdote Joiada tirou para fora os centuriões que estavam sobre o exército e disse-lhes: Tirai-a para fora por entre as fileiras: quem a seguir, seja morto a espada, pois disse o sacerdote: Não a mateis na casa de Jeová.15 Abriram-lhe passagem; e ela se foi à entrada da porta dos cavalos que dá para a casa do rei, onde a mataram.16 Joiada fez uma aliança entre si e o povo todo e o rei para serem o povo de Jeová.17 Todo o povo foi à casa de Baal, derrubaram-na, despedaçaram os altares e as imagens e mataram a Matã, sacerdote de Baal, diante dos altares.18 Joiada pôs os ofícios da casa de Jeová sob a direção dos levitas sacerdotes, a quem Davi tinha distribuído na casa de Jeová, para oferecerem com regozijo e com cânticos os holocaustos de Jeová, como está escrito na lei de Moisés, segundo a ordem de Davi.19 Colocou porteiros às portas da casa de Jeová, para que nela não entrasse ninguém que de qualquer forma fosse imundo.20 Tomou os centuriões, os nobres, os governadores do povo, e todo o povo da terra, e conduziu ao rei da casa de Jeová; passaram pela porta superior para a casa do rei, e fizeram sentar o rei no trono do reino.21 Assim se regozijou todo o povo da terra, e estava em paz a cidade. Mataram a Atália 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.