Open English Translation 2 CHR Chapter 23

23 The following year, the priest Yehoyada took courage and made an agreement with the commanders of units of one hundred soldiers: Azaryah (Yehoram’s son), Yishmael (Yehohanan’s son), another Azaryah (Oved’s son), Maaseyah (Adayah’s son), and Elishafat (Zikri’s son). 2 They went throughout Yehudah and gathered all the Levites and the clan leaders from all the cities. When they came to Yerushalem, 3 all the assembly made an agreement with the young king in the temple, and Yehoyada told them, “Listen, the late king’s son will reign, just as Yahweh said concerning David’s descendants.[ref] 4 Now this is what all of you need to do: one third of you priests and Levites who are on duty on the Rest Day, must guard the temple entrances. 5 Another third of you must guard the king’s palace, and the final third guard the Foundation Gate and all the people in the temple courtyard. 6 Don’t let anyone enter Yahweh’s temple other than the priests and the Levites who are on duty, because they’re consecrated. Every one else must respect Yahweh’s instructions not to enter. 7 You Levites must be armed and surround the young king. You must kill anyone else who tries to enter the temple, but stay close to the king wherever he goes.

8 So the Levites and the other people did everything that Yehoyada the priest had instructed. Each leader took his men, both those starting duty on the Rest Day, as well as the others finishing their duties that day, because Yehoyada didn’t dismiss any of the groups. 9 Then Yehoyada the priest gave each of those commanders the spears, and the large and small shields which had been put in the temple by King David. 10 He stationed all the people, each one holding his weapon, right across the end of the temple around the altar and the temple, and all around the king. 11 Then they brought out young Yoash and put a crown on his head and gave him a scroll with the agreement on it, and proclaimed him as king. Then Yehoyada and his sons anointed him with olive oil and shouted, “Long live the king!”

12 When Atalyah heard the sound of people running, and people praising the king, she went to the temple 13 to look, and wow, the young king was standing where previous kings had stood by the pillar at the temple entrance, with the commanders and trumpeters beside him. The people were all cheering and blowing trumpets, and singers with instruments were leading the praising. Then Atalyah tore her robe and shouted out, “Treason! Treason!”

14 The Yehoyada the priest instructed the commanders, “Kill her, but not here at Yahweh’s temple. March her outside and kill anyone who sticks up for her.”

15 They seized her as she reached the Horse Gate in front of the palace and killed her there.

16 Then Yehoyada the priest got the people to formally agree that they and the king would be loyal to Yahweh, 17 so all the people went to Baal’s temple and tore it down. They smashed its altars and idols, and killed Baal’s priest Mattan in front of the altars. 18 Then Yehoyada created the roster for the temple duties of the priests and Levites that King David had previously assigned, including offering burnt offerings to Yahweh with happiness and singing, following Mosheh’s written instructions. 19 He also stationed guards at the temple gates so that no one could enter if they were ceremonially ‘unclean’.

20 Then Yehoyada took those commanders and the nobles and leaders and all the people, and they brought the king out of the temple and down into the palace through the Upper Gate, and sat him on the royal throne. 21 Then all of Yehudah’s people celebrated and then the city was peaceful and quiet as Atalyah had been put to death with the sword.