¹²Jehoiada brought Ahaziah’s son out. He put the crown on him. He gave him a copy of the covenant. And he announced that Joash was king. Jehoiada and his sons anointed him. The people clapped their hands. Then they shouted, “May the king live a long time!”

¹³Athaliah heard the noise the guards and the people were making. So she went to the people at the Lord’s temple. ¹⁴She looked. And there was the king! He was standing next to the pillar. That was the usual practice. The officers and trumpet players were standing beside the king. All of the people of the land were filled with joy. They were blowing trumpets.

Then Athaliah tore her royal robes. She called out, “Treason! It’s treason!”

¹⁵The priest Jehoiada gave an order to the commanders of the companies. They were in charge of the troops. He said to them, “Bring her away from the temple between the line of guards. Use your swords to kill anyone who follows her.” The priest had said, “She must not be put to death at the Lord’s temple.”

¹⁶So they grabbed hold of her as she reached the place where the horses enter the palace grounds. There she was put to death.

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