2 Chronicles 23

1In the seventh year Jehoiada strengthened himself and took the commanders of hundreds into covenant with him: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zichri.

2And they went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.

3And all the assembly made a covenant in the house of God with the king, and he said to them, “Look, the king’s son will reign, just as the LORD spoke concerning the sons of David.”

4This is what you shall do: one third of you who come in on the Sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be gatekeepers of the thresholds.

5one third shall be at the king’s house, one third at the Foundation Gate, and all the people in the courts of the house of Yahweh.

6And let no one enter the house of Yahweh except the priests and the ministering Levites; they may enter, because they are holy. And let all the people keep the charge of Yahweh.

7The Levites shall surround the king on every side, each man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever enters the house shall be put to death. Be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.

8So the Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest had commanded, and each man took his men, those coming in on the Sabbath together with those going out on the Sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest had not dismissed the divisions.

9Then Jehoiada the priest gave to the commanders of hundreds the spears, the shields, and the large shields that belonged to King David, which were in the house of God.

10And he stationed all the people, each man with his weapon in his hand, from the south side of the house to the north side of the house, by the altar and by the house, around the king.

11Then they brought out the king’s son, put the crown and the testimony on him, made him king, and anointed him; and Jehoiada and his sons said, “Long live the king!”

12When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people at the house of the LORD.

13And she looked, and behold, the king was standing by his pillar at the entrance, and the officials and the trumpets were beside the king; and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and the singers with the instruments of song were leading the praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and said, “Conspiracy! Conspiracy!”

14Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the commanders of hundreds who were appointed over the army, and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks, and whoever follows after her, let him be put to death with the sword.” For the priest had said, “Do not put her to death in the house of Yahweh.”

15So they laid hands on her, and she went to the entrance of the Horse Gate at the king’s house, and they put her to death there.

16Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, all the people, and the king, that they should be Yahweh's people.

17Then all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down, and they smashed his altars and his images, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.

18And Jehoiada appointed the oversight of the house of Yahweh into the hand of the priests, the Levites, whom David had assigned over the house of Yahweh, to offer up burnt offerings to Yahweh, as it is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with song, according to the direction of David.

19He stationed the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of Yahweh, so that no one unclean in any respect might enter.

20Then he took the commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the house of Yahweh. They entered through the upper gate of the king’s house and seated the king on the throne of the kingdom.

21And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. And they put Athaliah to death with the sword.