1 Quando Atalia, mãe de Ocozias, viu morto o seu filho, decidiu exterminar toda a descendência real.

2 Josebá, porém, filha do rei Jorão e irmã de Ocozias, tomou Joás, filho de Ocozias, e fê-lo escapar do massacre dos filhos do rei, escondendo-o com sua ama de leite no quarto de dormir. Esconderam-no assim, de Atalia, de maneira que pôde escapar à morte.

3 Ele esteve seis anos oculto com Josebá no templo do Senhor, enquanto Atalia reinava sobre a terra.

4 No sétimo ano, Jojada convocou junto de si, no templo do Senhor, os centuriões dos cários e dos cursores. Fez com eles um pacto, e, depois de tê-los feito jurar no templo do Senhor, mostrou-lhes o filho do rei.

5 Eis o que haveis de fazer, ordenou-lhes ele: um terço dentre vós fará o serviço do sábado, montando guarda ao palácio real; um terço guardará a porta de Sur;

6 e um terço a porta que está por detrás dos guardas. Vigiai o palácio, de modo que ninguém possa entrar.

7 As duas companhias que terminarem sua semana, farão a guarda do templo do Senhor, junto do rei.

8 Estareis, de mãos armadas, à volta do rei, de maneira que, se alguém entrar em vossas fileiras, seja morto. Estareis sempre com o rei, onde quer que ele for.

9 Os centuriões executaram fielmente as ordens do sacerdote Jojada. Tomando cada um os seus homens, tanto os que começavam o serviço no sábado, como os que o terminavam, foram ter com o sacerdote Jojada.

10 Jojada deu-lhes as lanças e os escudos do rei Davi, que se encontravam no templo do Senhor.

11 Os guardas postaram-se, de mãos armadas, ao longo do altar e do templo, desde a extremidade sul até a extremidade norte do templo, à volta do rei.

12 Então Jojada fez sair o menino-rei, pôs-lhe a coroa na cabeça e entregou-lhe a Lei. Proclamaram-no rei, ungiram-no e todos o aplaudiram, gritando: Viva o rei!

13 Ouvindo Atalia o clamor que faziam os guardas e o povo, entrou no templo do Senhor, pelo meio da multidão.

14 E eis que espetáculo se ofereceu aos seus olhos: lá estava o rei, de pé no estrado, segundo o costume, tendo ao seu lado os chefes e as trombetas, enquanto o povo se alegrava, tocando as trombetas. Então ela rasgou as suas vestes, gritando: Traição, traição!

15 Mas o sacerdote Jojada ordenou aos centuriões que comandavam as tropas: Levai-a para fora, entre vossas fileiras, e se alguém quiser segui-la, feri-o com a espada. Porque o pontífice proibira que a matassem no templo do Senhor.

16 Lançaram-lhe as mãos e, ao chegarem ao palácio real pelo caminho da entrada dos cavalos, mataram-na ali.

17 Jojada fez entre o Senhor, o rei e o povo, uma aliança, segundo a qual o povo devia pertencer ao Senhor. Fez também uma aliança entre o rei e o povo.

18 Todo o povo entrou então no templo de Baal e o devastou; destruíram os altares, as imagens, e mataram o sacerdote de Baal, Matã, diante dos altares. O pontífice Jojada pôs guardas no templo do Senhor.

19 Tomou consigo os centuriões, os caritas, os guardas e todo o povo, e, levando o rei do templo do Senhor, entraram no palácio real pela porta das guardas, e Joás sentou-se no trono dos reis.

20 Todo o povo da terra se alegrou, e a cidade ficou em paz. No palácio real, porém, Atalia era passada ao fio da espada.

21 Joás tinha sete anos quando subiu ao trono.

1 When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family.

2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram "and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed.

3 He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the LORD for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

4 In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of units of a hundred, the Carites and the guards and had them brought to him at the temple of the LORD. He made a covenant with them and put them under oath at the temple of the LORD. Then he showed them the king's son.

5 He commanded them, saying, "This is what you are to do: You who are in the three companies that are going on duty on the Sabbath —a third of you guarding the royal palace,

6 a third at the Sur Gate, and a third at the gate behind the guard, who take turns guarding the temple —

7 and you who are in the other two companies that normally go off Sabbath duty are all to guard the temple for the king.

8 Station yourselves around the king, each of you with weapon in hand. Anyone who approaches your ranks "is to be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes."

9 The commanders of units of a hundred did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one took his men —those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were going off duty —and came to Jehoiada the priest.

10 Then he gave the commanders the spears and shields that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of the LORD.

11 The guards, each with weapon in hand, stationed themselves around the king —near the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.

12 Jehoiada brought out the king's son and put the crown on him; he presented him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and shouted, "Long live the king!"

13 When Athaliah heard the noise made by the guards and the people, she went to the people at the temple of the LORD.

14 She looked and there was the king, standing by the pillar, as the custom was. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her robes and called out, "Treason! Treason!"

15 Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of the troops: "Bring her out between the ranks "and put to the sword anyone who follows her." For the priest had said, "She must not be put to death in the temple of the LORD."

16 So they seized her as she reached the place where the horses enter the palace grounds, and there she was put to death.

17 Jehoiada then made a covenant between the LORD and the king and people that they would be the LORD's people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people.

18 All the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars. Then Jehoiada the priest posted guards at the temple of the LORD.

19 He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards and all the people of the land, and together they brought the king down from the temple of the LORD and went into the palace, entering by way of the gate of the guards. The king then took his place on the royal throne.

20 All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the palace.

21 Joash "was seven years old when he began to reign. [^5]