2 דִּבְרֵי הַיָּמִים 23

1 וּבַשָּׁנָ֨ה הַשְּׁבִעִ֜ית הִתְחַזַּ֣ק יְהֹויָדָ֗ע וַיִּקַּ֣ח אֶת־שָׂרֵ֣י הַמֵּאֹ֡ות לַעֲזַרְיָ֣הוּ בֶן־יְרֹחָ֡ם וּלְיִשְׁמָעֵ֣אל בֶּן־יְ֠הֹוחָנָן וְלַֽעֲזַרְיָ֨הוּ בֶן־עֹובֵ֜ד וְאֶת־מַעֲשֵׂיָ֧הוּ בֶן־עֲדָיָ֛הוּ וְאֶת־אֱלִישָׁפָ֥ט בֶּן־זִכְרִ֖י עִמֹּ֥ו בַבְּרִֽית׃

But in the seventh year, Jehoiada had the courage to act. He made a pledge with the commanders of hundreds: Azariah, son of Jeroham, Ishmael, son of Jehohanan, Azariah, son of Obed, Maaseiah, son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat, son of Zichri.

2 וַיָּסֹ֙בּוּ֙ בִּֽיהוּדָ֔ה וַיִּקְבְּצ֤וּ אֶת־הַלְוִיִּם֙ מִכָּל־עָרֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֔ה וְרָאשֵׁ֥י הָאָבֹ֖ות לְיִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ אֶל־יְרוּשָׁלָֽ͏ִם׃

They traveled all over Judah and brought together the Levites from all the cities of Judah and the family leaders of Israel. When they came to Jerusalem,

3 וַיִּכְרֹ֨ת כָּל־הַקָּהָ֥ל בְּרִ֛ית בְּבֵ֥ית הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים עִם־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר לָהֶ֗ם הִנֵּ֤ה בֶן־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ יִמְלֹ֔ךְ כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר דִּבֶּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה עַל־בְּנֵ֥י דָוִֽיד׃

they all assembled at God's Temple and made a solemn agreement with the king. Jehoiada announced to them, “Look, here is the king's son and he must reign, just as the Lord promised the descendants of David would.

4 זֶ֥ה הַדָּבָ֖ר אֲשֶׁ֣ר תַּעֲשׂ֑וּ הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֨ית מִכֶּ֜ם בָּאֵ֣י הַשַּׁבָּ֗ת לַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ וְלַלְוִיִּ֔ם לְשֹֽׁעֲרֵ֖י הַסִּפִּֽים׃

Here's what you have to do. One third of you priests and Levites who enter on the Sabbath shall guard the entrances.

5 וְהַשְּׁלִשִׁית֙ בְּבֵ֣ית הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְהַשְּׁלִשִׁ֖ית בְּשַׁ֣עַר הַיְסֹ֑וד וְכָל־הָעָ֔ם בְּחַצְרֹ֖ות בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃

Another third shall go over to the king's palace, while the last third shall be at the Foundation Gate. Everyone else stay in the courtyards of the Lord's Temple.

6 וְאַל־יָבֹ֣וא בֵית־יְהוָ֗ה כִּ֤י אִם־הַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙ וְהַמְשָׁרְתִ֣ים לַלְוִיִּ֔ם הֵ֥מָּה יָבֹ֖אוּ כִּי־קֹ֣דֶשׁ הֵ֑מָּה וְכָל־הָעָ֔ם יִשְׁמְר֖וּ מִשְׁמֶ֥רֶת יְהוָֽה׃

No one should enter the Lord's Temple except the priests and those Levites are serving. They can enter because they have been made holy, but everyone else must follow the Lord's commands.

7 וְהִקִּיפוּ֩ הַלְוִיִּ֨ם אֶת־הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ סָבִ֗יב אִ֚ישׁ וְכֵלָ֣יו בְּיָדֹ֔ו וְהַבָּ֥א אֶל־הַבַּ֖יִת יוּמָ֑ת וִֽהְי֥וּ אֶת־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בְּבֹאֹ֥ו וּבְצֵאתֹֽו׃

The Levites shall surround the king, weapons in hand. Kill anyone who enters the Temple. Stay close to the king wherever he goes.”

8 וַיַּעֲשׂ֨וּ הַלְוִיִּ֜ם וְכָל־יְהוּדָ֗ה כְּכֹ֣ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּה֮ יְהֹויָדָ֣ע הַכֹּהֵן֒ וַיִּקְחוּ֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶת־אֲנָשָׁ֔יו בָּאֵ֣י הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת עִ֖ם יֹוצְאֵ֣י הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת כִּ֣י לֹ֥א פָטַ֛ר יְהֹויָדָ֥ע הַכֹּהֵ֖ן אֶת־הַֽמַּחְלְקֹֽות׃

The Levites and all the people of Judah did everything that Jehoiada the priest told them. The commanders each brought his men, both those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty, for Jehoiada the priest had not dismissed any of the divisions.

9 וַיִּתֵּן֩ יְהֹויָדָ֨ע הַכֹּהֵ֜ן לְשָׂרֵ֣י הַמֵּאֹ֗ות אֶת־הַֽחֲנִיתִים֙ וְאֶת־הַמָּגִנֹּות֙ וְאֶת־הַשְּׁלָטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר לַמֶּ֣לֶךְ דָּוִ֑יד אֲשֶׁ֖ר בֵּ֥ית הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃

Jehoiada the priest provided the commanders with the spears and the large and small shields of King David that were in God's Temple.

10 וַיַּעֲמֵ֨ד אֶת־כָּל־הָעָ֜ם וְאִ֣ישׁ ׀ שִׁלְחֹ֣ו בְיָדֹ֗ו מִכֶּ֨תֶף הַבַּ֤יִת הַיְמָנִית֙ עַד־כֶּ֤תֶף הַבַּ֙יִת֙ הַשְּׂמָאלִ֔ית לַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ וְלַבָּ֑יִת עַל־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ סָבִֽיב׃

He placed them all, with their weapons in hand, to surround the king from the south side of the Temple to the north side, and near the altar and the Temple.

11 וַיֹּוצִ֣יאוּ אֶת־בֶּן־הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ עָלָיו֙ אֶת־הַנֵּ֙זֶר֙ וְאֶת־הָ֣עֵד֔וּת וַיַּמְלִ֖יכוּ אֹתֹ֑ו וַיִּמְשָׁחֻ֙הוּ֙ יְהֹויָדָ֣ע וּבָנָ֔יו וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ יְחִ֥י הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ ס

Jehoiada and his sons then brought out the king's son, placed the crown on him, presented him with a copy of God's law, and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and shouted out, “Long live the king!”

12 וַתִּשְׁמַ֣ע עֲתַלְיָ֗הוּ אֶת־קֹ֤ול הָעָם֙ הָֽרָצִ֔ים וְהַֽמְהַֽלְלִ֖ים אֶת־הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַתָּבֹ֥וא אֶל־הָעָ֖ם בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃

When Athaliah heard the noise of people running and shouting praise to the king, she rushed to the crowds at the Lord's Temple.

13 וַתֵּ֡רֶא וְהִנֵּ֣ה הַמֶּלֶךְ֩ עֹומֵ֨ד עַֽל־עַמּוּדֹ֜ו בַּמָּבֹ֗וא וְהַשָּׂרִ֣ים וְהַחֲצֹצְרֹות֮ עַל־הַמֶּלֶךְ֒ וְכָל־עַ֨ם הָאָ֜רֶץ שָׂמֵ֗חַ וְתֹוקֵ֙עַ֙ בַּחֲצֹ֣צְרֹ֔ות וְהַמְשֹֽׁורֲרִים֙ בִּכְלֵ֣י הַשִּׁ֔יר וּמֹודִיעִ֖ים לְהַלֵּ֑ל וַתִּקְרַ֤ע עֲתַלְיָ֙הוּ֙ אֶת־בְּגָדֶ֔יהָ וַתֹּ֖אמֶר קֶ֥שֶׁר קָֽשֶׁר׃ ס

She saw the king standing by his pillar at the entrance. The commanders and trumpeters were with the king, and everyone was celebrating and blowing trumpets as the singers with musical instruments led the praise. Athaliah ripped her clothes and screamed out, “Treason! Treason!”

14 וַיֹּוצֵא֩ יְהֹויָדָ֨ע הַכֹּהֵ֜ן אֶת־שָׂרֵ֥י הַמֵּאֹ֣ות ׀ פְּקוּדֵ֣י הַחַ֗יִל וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ הֹֽוצִיא֙וּהָ֙ אֶל־מִבֵּ֣ית הַשְּׂדֵרֹ֔ות וְהַבָּ֥א אַחֲרֶ֖יהָ יוּמַ֣ת בֶּחָ֑רֶב כִּ֚י אָמַ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֔ן לֹ֥א תְמִית֖וּהָ בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃

Jehoiada ordered the army commanders, “Bring her to the men standing in front of the Temple, and kill anyone who follows her.” Earlier the priest had made it clear, “She must not be killed in the Lord's Temple.”

15 וַיָּשִׂ֤ימוּ לָהּ֙ יָדַ֔יִם וַתָּבֹ֛וא אֶל־מְבֹ֥וא שַֽׁעַר־הַסּוּסִ֖ים בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיְמִית֖וּהָ שָֽׁם׃ פ

They grabbed hold of her and took her to the entrance of the Horse Gate of the king's palace, and killed her there.

16 וַיִּכְרֹ֤ת יְהֹויָדָע֙ בְּרִ֔ית בֵּינֹ֕ו וּבֵ֥ין כָּל־הָעָ֖ם וּבֵ֣ין הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ לִהְיֹ֥ות לְעָ֖ם לַיהוָֽה׃

Then Jehoiada made a solemn agreement between himself and all the people and the king that they would be the Lord's people.

17 וַיָּבֹ֨אוּ כָל־הָעָ֤ם בֵּית־הַבַּ֙עַל֙ וַֽיִּתְּצֻ֔הוּ וְאֶת־מִזְבְּחֹתָ֥יו וְאֶת־צְלָמָ֖יו שִׁבֵּ֑רוּ וְאֵ֗ת מַתָּן֙ כֹּהֵ֣ן הַבַּ֔עַל הָרְג֖וּ לִפְנֵ֥י הַֽמִּזְבְּחֹֽות׃

Everyone went to the Temple of Baal and tore down its altars and smashed the idols. They killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, right in front of the altar.

18 וַיָּשֶׂם֩ יְהֹויָדָ֨ע פְּקֻדֹּ֜ת בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֗ה בְּיַ֨ד הַכֹּהֲנִ֣ים הַלְוִיִּם֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָלַ֣ק דָּוִיד֮ עַל־בֵּ֣ית יְהוָה֒ לְֽהַעֲלֹ֞ות עֹלֹ֣ות יְהוָ֗ה כַּכָּת֛וּב בְּתֹורַ֥ת מֹשֶׁ֖ה בְּשִׂמְחָ֣ה וּבְשִׁ֑יר עַ֖ל יְדֵ֥י דָוִֽיד׃

Jehoiada placed the responsibility for the Lord's Temple in the hands of the Levitical priests. They were the ones whom David had appointed over the Lord's Temple to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, as is required by the Law of Moses, with celebration and singing, as David instructed.

19 וַֽיַּעֲמֵד֙ הַשֹּׁ֣ועֲרִ֔ים עַֽל־שַׁעֲרֵ֖י בֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֑ה וְלֹֽא־יָבֹ֥א טָמֵ֖א לְכָל־דָּבָֽר׃

He placed gatekeepers at the entrances to the Lord's Temple, so that no one unclean for any reason could enter.

20 וַיִּקַּ֣ח אֶת־שָׂרֵ֣י הַמֵּאֹ֡ות וְאֶת־הָֽאַדִּירִים֩ וְאֶת־הַמֹּֽושְׁלִ֨ים בָּעָ֜ם וְאֵ֣ת ׀ כָּל־עַ֣ם הָאָ֗רֶץ וַיֹּ֤ורֶד אֶת־הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ מִבֵּ֣ית יְהוָ֔ה וַיָּבֹ֛אוּ בְּתֹֽוךְ־שַׁ֥עַר הָֽעֶלְיֹ֖ון בֵּ֣ית הַמֶּ֑לֶךְ וַיֹּושִׁ֙יבוּ֙ אֶת־הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ עַ֖ל כִּסֵּ֥א הַמַּמְלָכָֽה׃

Along with the commanders, the nobles, the governors of the people, and all the people, he led the king in a procession down from the Lord's Temple through the upper gate to the royal palace. There they set the king on the royal throne.

21 וַיִּשְׂמְח֥וּ כָל־עַם־הָאָ֖רֶץ וְהָעִ֣יר שָׁקָ֑טָה וְאֶת־עֲתַלְיָ֖הוּ הֵמִ֥יתוּ בֶחָֽרֶב׃ ס

All throughout the land people celebrated, and Jerusalem was at peace, because Athaliah had been killed by the sword.