1 Now when Athaliah the mother of
Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she
arose and destroyed allthe royal offspring.

2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King
Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the
son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from
among the king’s sons who were slain,
even him and his nurse, and put them
in the bedroom; and they hid him from
Athaliah, so that he was not slain.

3 He was with her hidden in Yahweh’s
house six years while Athaliah reigned
over the land.

4 In the seventh year Jehoiada sent and
fetched the captains over hundreds of the
Carites and ofthe guard, and broughtthem
to him into Yahweh’s house; and he made a
covenant with them, and made a covenant
with them in Yahweh’s house, and showed
them the king’s son.

5 He commanded them, saying, “This is
what you must do: a third of you, who
come in on the Sabbath, shall be keepers of
the watch of the king’s house;

6 a third of you shall be at the gate Sur;
and a third of you at the gate behind the
guard. So you shall keep the watch of the
house, and be a barrier.

7 The two companies of you, evenall who
go out on the Sabbath, shall keep the watch
of Yahweh’s house around the king.

8 You shall surround the king, every man
with his weapons in his hand; and he who
comes within the ranks, let him be slain.
Be with the king when he goes out, and
when he comes in.”

9 The captains over hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest
commanded; andthey eachtookhismen,those
who were to come in on the Sabbath with
those who were to go out on the Sabbath,
and came to Jehoiada the priest.

10 The priest delivered to the captains
over hundreds the spears and shields that
had been King David’s, which were in Yahweh’s house.

11 The guard stood, every man with his
weapons in his hand, from the right side
of the house to the left side of the house,
along by the altar and the house, around
the king.