Chronicles of the Past Dynasties_Chapter 23

In the seventh year, Jehoiada bravely strengthened himself and summoned Azariah son of Jeroham, son of Jehohanan, son of Johanan, son of Obed, son of Azariah, son of Adaiah, and son of Zichri, and made a treaty with them.

They traveled throughout Judah and gathered the Levites and the heads of Israel’s families from all the cities to Jerusalem.

The congregation made a covenant with the king in the temple. Jehoiada said to them, “See, the king’s son will be king, just as the Lord promised of the descendants of David.”.

And he said, This is what you shall do: a third of all the priests and Levites who enter on the Sabbath shall guard every door,

One third must be in the palace, and one third must be at the foundation gate. All the people shall be in the courtyard of the house of the Lord.

Except for priests and Levites who serve, no one is allowed to enter the temple of the Lord. Only they can enter because they are holy. All the people shall keep the commandments of the Lord.

The Levites are to hold weapons in their hands and guard the king around them. Anyone who enters a temple without permission shall be put to death. When the king comes in and out, follow him.

The Levites and all the Jews followed all the orders of the priest Jehoiada, and each brought with them the people who were in charge of entering and leaving the Sabbath shift, because the priest Jehoiada did not allow them to leave work.

The priest Jehoiada then handed over the spear, shield, and shield of King David, which were hidden in the temple, to the centurion,

And he assigned all the people to hold weapons in their hands, and to stand around the prince from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, from the altar and the temple.

So he brought out the prince, put a crown on him, gave him the Book of the Law, and made him king. Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and they said, May the king live forever.

When Athaliah heard the people running and praising the king, he went to the people and entered the temple of the Lord,

I saw the king standing by the pillar of the temple gate, with the centurion and trumpeters standing on his left and right. The people were all joyful and blowing their trumpets, and there were singers who led them to sing and praise with various instruments. Athaliah tore his clothes and shouted, “I have turned against you.”. It’s the opposite.

The priest Jehoiada brought out the centurion who was in charge of the army and commanded them, ‘Drive her out of the camp, and anyone who follows her will be killed with the sword.’. Because the priest said, Do not kill her in the temple of the Lord.

The soldiers dodged and let her go. She walked to the horse gate of the palace and killed her there.

Jehoiada made a covenant with all the people and the king to be the people of the Lord.

So all the people went to the temple of Baal, demolished it, smashed the altar and the image, and killed Maatan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altar.

Jehoiada appointed officials to guard the temple of the Lord under the hands of the priests and Levites. This Levite priest was appointed by David in the house of the Lord to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, as written in the law of Moses, and to sing joyfully according to the regulations set by David.

And set up gatekeepers to guard the doors of the temple of the Lord, and no unclean person shall enter in any matter.

He also led the centurion and nobles, along with the officials of the people and all the people of the land, to invite the king to come down from the temple of the Lord, enter the palace through the door, and enthrone the king on the throne.

The people are all happy, and the whole city is quiet. The people have killed Athaliah with the sword.