King Joash succeeds Athaliah of Judah

King Joash succeeds Athaliah of Judah

835 – 796 BC reign starts good ends evil during time of Prophet Joel

3So he was hidden with her in the house of YHVH six years, while Athaliah was reigning over the land.

      4Now in the seventh year Jehoiada sent and brought the captains of hundreds of the Carites and of the guard, and brought them to him in the house of YHVH. Then he made a covenant with them and put them under oath in the house of YHVH, and showed them the king’s son. 5He commanded them, saying, “This is the thing that you shall do: one third of you, who come in on the sabbath and keep watch over the king’s house 6(one third also shall be at the gate Sur, and one third at the gate behind the guards), shall keep watch over the house for defense. 7“Two parts of you, even all who go out on the sabbath, shall also keep watch over the house of YHVH for the king. 8“Then you shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes within the ranks shall be put to death. And be with the king when he goes out and when he comes in.”

9So the captains of hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each one of them took his men who were to come in on the sabbath, with those who were to go out on the sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10The priest gave to the captains of hundreds the spears and shields that had been King David’s, which were in the house of the LORD. 11The guards stood each with his weapons in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, by the altar and by the house, around the king. 12Then he brought the king’s son out and put the crown on him and gave him the testimony; and they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, “Long live the king!”

13When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people in the house of YHVH. 14She looked and behold, the king was standing by the pillar, according to the custom, with the captains and the trumpeters beside the king; and all the people of the land rejoiced and blew trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!” 15And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds who were appointed over the army and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks, and whoever follows her put to death with the sword.” For the priest said, “Let her not be put to death in the house of YHVH.” 16So they seized her, and when she arrived at the horses’ entrance of the king’s house, she was put to death there.

17Then Jehoiada made a covenant between YHVH and the king and the people, that they would be YHVH’s people, also between the king and the people. 18All the people of the land went to the house of Baal, and tore it down; his altars and his images they broke in pieces thoroughly, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest appointed officers over the house of YHVH. 19He took the captains of hundreds and the Carites and the guards and all the people of the land; and they brought the king down from the house of YHVH, and came by the way of the gate of the guards to the king’s house. And he sat on the throne of the kings. 20So all the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet. For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword at the king’s house.

21Jehoash was seven years old when he became king.

2 Kings 11

   1In the seventh year of Jehu, Jehoash became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Zibiah of Beersheba. 2Jehoash did right in the sight of YHVH all his days in which Jehoiada the priest instructed him. 3Only the high places were not taken away; the people still sacrificed and burned incense on the high places.

2 Kings 12:1-3

1Now in the seventh year [of Athaliah] Jehoiada strengthened himself, and took captains of hundreds: Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Johanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, and they entered into a covenant with him. 2They went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the heads of the fathers’ households of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. 3Then all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And Jehoiada said to them, “Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as YHVH has spoken concerning the sons of David. 4“This is the thing which you shall do: one third of you, of the priests and Levites who come in on the sabbath, shall be gatekeepers, 5and one third shall be at the king’s house, and a third at the Gate of the Foundation; and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of YHVH. 6“But let no one enter the house of YHVH except the priests and the ministering Levites; they may enter, for they are holy. And let all the people keep the charge of YHVH. 7“The Levites will surround the king, each man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever enters the house, let him be killed. Thus 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 commanded. And each one of them took his men who were to come in on the sabbath, with those who were to go out on the sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest did not dismiss any of the divisions. 9Then Jehoiada the priest gave to the captains of hundreds the spears and the large and small shields which had been King David’s, which were in the house of God. 10He stationed all the people, each man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, by the altar and by the house, around the king. 11Then they brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him, and gave him the testimony and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and said, “Long live the king!”

Athaliah Murdered

12When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came into the house of YHVH to the people. 13She looked, and behold, the king was standing by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the trumpeters were beside the king. And all the people of the land rejoiced and blew trumpets, the singers with their musical instruments leading the praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and said, “Treason! Treason!” 14Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who were appointed over the army and said to them, “Bring her out between the ranks; and whoever follows her, put to death with the sword.” For the priest said, “Let her not be put to death in the house of YHVH.” 15So they seized her, and when she arrived at the entrance of the Horse Gate of the king’s house, they put her to death there.

Reforms Carried Out

16Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king, that they would be YHVH’s people. 17And all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down, and they broke in pieces his altars and his images, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. 18Moreover, Jehoiada placed the offices of the house of YHVH under the authority of the Levitical priests, whom David had assigned over the house of YHVH, to offer the burnt offerings of YHVH, as it is written in the law of Moses—with rejoicing and singing according to the order of David. 19He stationed the gatekeepers of the house of YHVH, so that no one would enter who was in any way unclean. 20He took the captains 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 YHVH, and came through the upper gate to the king’s house. And they placed the king upon the royal throne. 21So all of the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet. For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword.

2 Chronicles 23

 1Joash was seven years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years in Jerusalem; and his mother’s name was Zibiah from Beersheba. 2Joash did what was right in the sight of YHVH all the days of Jehoiada the priest. 3Jehoiada took two wives for him, and he became the father of sons and daughters.

2 Chronicles 24:1-3

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