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 King Ahaziah's mother Athaliah learned of her son's murder. She gave orders for all the members of the royal family to be killed.2 Only Ahaziah's son Jehoash escaped. He was about to be killed with the others, but was rescued by his aunt Jehosheba, who was King Jehoram's daughter and Ahaziah's half sister. She hid him and his nurse in a bedroom in the Temple.3 Jehosheba took care of the boy and kept him hidden in the Temple for six years. During this time Athaliah ruled as queen.4 In the seventh year Jehoiada the priest sent for the officers in charge of the royal bodyguard and of the palace guards, and told them to come to the Temple. He made them agree under oath to what he planned to do. He showed them King Ahaziah's son Joash5 and gave them the following orders: »When you come on duty on the Sabbath, one third of you are to guard the palace.6 »One third are to stand guard at the Sur Gate. The other third are to stand guard at the gate behind the other guards.7 »The two groups that go off duty on the Sabbath are to stand guard at the Temple to protect the king.8 »You are to guard King Jehoash with drawn swords and stay with him wherever he goes. Anyone who comes near you is to be killed.«9 The officers obeyed Jehoiada's instructions and brought their men to him, those going off duty on the Sabbath and those going on duty.10 He gave the officers the spears and shields that had belonged to King David and had been kept in the Temple.11 He stationed the men with drawn swords all around the front of the Temple, to protect the king.12 Then Jehoiada led Joash out and placed the crown on his head. He gave him a copy of the laws governing kingship. Then Jehoash was anointed and proclaimed king. The people clapped their hands and shouted: »Long live the king!«13 Queen Athaliah heard the noise being made by the guards and the people. She hurried to the Temple, where the crowd had gathered.14 There she saw the new king standing by the column at the entrance of the Temple, as was the custom. The officers and the trumpeters surrounded him, and the people were all shouting joyfully and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes in distress and shouted: »Treason! Treason!«15 Jehoiada the priest did not want Athaliah killed in the Temple area. He ordered the army officers: »Take her out between the rows of guards, and kill anyone who tries to rescue her.«16 They seized her and took her to the palace. There at the Horse Gate they killed her.17 The priest Jehoiada had King Jehoash and the people make a covenant with Jehovah that they would be Jehovahs people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people.18 The people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and the idols, and killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars. Jehoiada put guards on duty at the Temple,19 Jehoiada the priest, the officers, the royal bodyguard, and the palace guards escorted the king from the Temple to the palace. All the people followed them. Jehoash entered by the Guard Gate and took his place on the royal throne.20 All the people were happy. The city was quiet, now that Athaliah had been killed in the palace.21 Jehoash was seven years old when he became king.