Joash Anointed King of Judah

(2 Chronicles 23:1–11)

4 Then in the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the commanders of hundreds, the Carites,[fn] and the guards, and had them brought into the house of the LORD. [There] he made a covenant with them and put them under oath.

He showed them the king’s son 5 and commanded them, “This is what you are to do: A third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath shall guard the royal palace, 6 a third [shall be] at the gate of Sur, and a third at the gate behind the guards. You are to take turns guarding the temple—7 the two divisions that would go off duty on the Sabbath are to guard the house of the LORD for the king. 8 You must surround the king with weapons in hand, and anyone who approaches the ranks must be put to death. You must stay close to the king wherever he goes.”

9 So the commanders of hundreds did everything that Jehoiada the priest had ordered. Each of them took his men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 Then the priest gave to the commanders of hundreds the spears and shields of King David from the house of the LORD. 11 And the guards stood with weapons in hand surrounding the king by the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.

12 Then [Jehoiada] brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, presented him with the Testimony, and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and [the people] clapped their hands and declared, “Long live the king!”