2 Kings 11

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

When King Ahaziah’s mother Athaliah saw that her son had been killed, she commanded that all the members of Ahaziah’s family [who might become king] must be executed.

2 But Jehosheba daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah, and stole him from among the king’s sons that were being slain—him and his nurse, into the bedchamber, —so she hid him from the face of Athaliah, that he was not slain.

So Ahaziah’s sons were all about to be murdered. But Jehosheba, who was King Jehoram’s daughter and Ahaziah’s half-sister, took Ahaziah’s [very young] son Joash and hid him and (his nursemaid/the woman who took care of him) in a bedroom [in the temple]. So he was not killed.

3 And he was with her, in the house of Yahweh, hiding himself, six years, —while, Athaliah, was reigning over the land.

He stayed with Jehosheba for six years. All during that time, he remained hidden in the temple, while Athaliah ruled [Judah].

4 But, in the seventh year, Jehoiada sent and took the captains over hundreds, of the Carian body-guard, and of the runners, and brought them unto him, in the house of Yahweh, —and, when he had solemnised a Covenant with them, and put them on oath, in the house of Yahweh, then shewed he them the king’s son;

But during the next year, Jehoiada the Supreme Priest summoned the officers who supervised the royal bodyguards and the palace guards. He told them to come to the temple. There he required them to solemnly promise that they would do what he told them to do. And he showed King Ahaziah’s son Joash to them.

5 and commanded them, saying—This, is the thing which ye must do, —A third part of you, will be coming in on the sabbath, and keeping the watch of the house of the king;

He gave them these instructions: “There are three groups of you guards. When one group finishes their work on the Sabbath day, [divide yourselves into] three smaller groups. One group must guard the palace.

6 and, a third, in the side-gate; and, a third, in the gate behind the runners, —so shall ye keep the watch of the house, by turns.

Another group must guard at the Sur Gate. The other group must guard at the gate behind the other groups.

7 And, two parts of you, are all that are going out on the sabbath, —so shall ye keep the watch of the house of Yahweh, as touching the king.

The two groups that are not working on the Sabbath day must guard the temple [to protect little King Joash].

8 Thus shall ye encompass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand, and, he that cometh within the ranks, let him be slain, —so be ye with the king, when he cometh out and when he goeth in.

You must stand around the king wherever he goes, with your weapons in your hands. You must kill anyone who comes near you.”

9 And the captains of hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded, and they took every man his men who were coming in on the sabbath, with them who were going out on the sabbath, —and came unto Jehoiada the priest.

The officers [who supervised the guards] did what Jehoiada told them to do. Each one brought to Jehoiada the guards that he supervised—the guards who were just finishing their work and those who were about to start their work on the Sabbath day.

10 And the priest gave unto the captains of hundreds the spears and the shields which belonged to King David, —which were in the house of Yahweh.

The priest distributed to the commanders of the guards the spears and shields that had belonged to King David, that were kept/stored in the temple.

11 And the runners stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the right corner of the house, as far as the left corner of the house, by the altar and the house, —near the king, round about.

Then he commanded all the guards to stand in their positions, each one with his sword in his hand, all around the young king.

12 Then brought he forth the king’s son, and set upon him the crown, and the testimony, and they made him king, and anointed him, —and clapped their hands, and said—May the king live!

Then he brought Joash out. He put the crown on his head and gave him a scroll on which were written the rules [that the kings needed to obey]. Then he poured some olive oil on Joash’s head and proclaimed that he was now the king. The people all clapped their hands and shouted, “We desire/hope that the king will live for many years!”

13 And, when Athaliah heard the noise of the runners, the people, then came she in unto the people, in the house of Yahweh,

When Athaliah heard the noise that was being made by the guards and the other people, she ran to the temple, where the people were gathered.

14 and looked, and lo! the king, standing by the pillar, as the custom was, and the captains and the trumpeters, by the king, and, all the people of the land, rejoicing, and blowing with trumpets, —so Athaliah rent her garments, and cried out—Conspiracy! conspiracy!

She saw the new king standing there alongside one of the big pillars, which was the place at the temple where the kings usually stood. She saw that he was surrounded by the temple officers and men blowing trumpets, and that the people were shouting joyfully, and [some of] them were also blowing trumpets. She tore her clothes [to show her distress] and shouted, “You are traitors! You have tricked/deceived me!”

15 And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of hundreds—officers of the force, and said unto them—Take her forth into the inside of the ranks, and, he that cometh in after her, [ye are] to slay with the sword. For the priest said, Let her not be slain, in the house of Yahweh.

Jehoiada [immediately] said, “Kill her, but do not kill her here at the temple of Yahweh! Take her away between two rows of guards. And kill anyone who tries to rescue her!”

16 So they made way for her, and she entered the road by which the horses approached the house of the king, and was slain there.

[She tried to flee, but] the guards seized her and took her to the palace, to the place where horses enter the courtyard. They killed her there.

17 And Jehoiada solemnised a covenant between Yahweh, and the king, and the people, that they should become a people unto Yahweh, —also between the king and the people.

Then Jehoiada made a solemn agreement between the king and the people, that they would always (obey/be faithful to) Yahweh. He also made an agreement requiring the people to be loyal to Joash their king.

18 And all the people of the land entered the house of Baal, and brake it down, his altars and his images, brake they in pieces, utterly, and, Mattan the priest of Baal, they slew before the altars, —and the priest appointed officers over the house of Yahweh.

Then all the people of Israel who were there went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and the statues of Baal. They also killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars. Jehoiada stationed/put guards at the temple of Yahweh.

19 And he took the captains of hundreds and the Carian bodyguard, and the runners, and all the people of the land, and they brought down the king out of the house of Yahweh, and they came, by way of the gate of the runners, into the house of the king, —and he took his seat on the throne of the kings;

Then he and the officers of the temple, the officers who supervised the royal bodyguards, and the king’s bodyguards brought the king from the temple to the palace. All the people [followed them]. Joash entered the palace at the Guard Gate and sat down on the throne, [which showed that he was the new king].

20 and all the people of the land rejoiced, and, the city, had rest, —when they had put, Athaliah, to death with the sword, in the house of the king.

All the people of Judah rejoiced. And because Athaliah had been killed, the city was quiet/calm.

21 Seven years old, was Jehoash, when he began to reign.

Joash was seven years old when he became the king [of Judah].