2 Kings 11:4–12

ATHALIAH OVERTHROWN

⁴In^w the seventh year, Jehoiada^x sent for the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards.^y He had them come to him in the Lord’s temple, where he made a covenant with them and put them under oath. He showed them the king’s son ⁵and commanded them, “This is what you are to do: A third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath^z are to provide protection for the king’s palace. ⁶A third are to be at the Foundation Gate and a third at the gate behind the guards. You are to take turns providing protection for the palace.^Caa

⁷“Your two divisions that go off duty on the Sabbath are to provide the king protection at the Lord’s temple. ⁸Completely surround the king with weapons in hand. Anyone who approaches the ranks is to be put to death. Be with the king in all his daily tasks.”^Dab

⁹So the commanders of hundreds did everything the priest Jehoiada commanded. They each brought their men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—and came to the priest Jehoiada.^{a 10}The priest gave to the commanders of hundreds King David’s spears and shields^b that were in the Lord’s temple. ¹¹Then the guards stood with their weapons in hand surrounding the king—from the right side of the temple to the left side, by the altar and by the temple.

¹²Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, put the crown^c on him, gave him the testimony,^Ed and made him king. They anointed^e him and clapped their hands and cried, “Long live the king!”^f