2 Kings 11 - GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

The Priest Jehoiada Opposes Queen Athaliah(A)

11 When Ahaziah’s mother, Athaliah, saw that her son was dead, she began to destroy the entire royal family. 2 But Jehosheba, daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Ahaziah’s son Joash. She saved him from being killed with the king’s other sons, and in a bedroom she hid him and his nurse from Athaliah. So Joash wasn’t killed 3 but was hidden with her in the Lord’s temple for six years while Athaliah ruled the country.

4 In the seventh year of Athaliah’s reign, Jehoiada sent for the company commanders of the Carites and the guards and had them come to him in the Lord’s temple. He made an agreement with them, put them under oath in the Lord’s temple, and showed them the king’s son. 5 He ordered them, “This is what you must do: One third of you, those who are on duty on the day of rest—a holy day, must guard the royal palace. 6 Another third must be at Sur Gate. And another third must be at the gate behind the guards. You will guard the king’s residence. 7 Then your two groups who ⌞normally⌟ go off duty on the day of rest—a holy day, must guard the king at the Lord’s temple. 8 Surround the king. Each man should have his weapons in his hand. Kill anyone who tries to break through your ranks. Stay with the king wherever he goes.”

9 The company commanders did as the priest Jehoiada had ordered them. Each commander took his men who were coming on duty on the day of rest—a holy day, as well as those who were about to go off duty and came to the priest Jehoiada. 10 He gave the commanders the spears and the shields that had belonged to King David but were now in the Lord’s temple. 11 The guards stood with their weapons in their hands. They were stationed around the king and around 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, gave him the crown and the religious instructions, and made him king by anointing him. As the guards clapped their hands, they said, “Long live the king!”

13 When Athaliah heard the noise made by the guards and the other people, she went into the Lord’s temple, where the people were. 14 She looked, and the king was standing by the pillar according to custom. The commanders and the trumpeters were by his side. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. As Athaliah tore her clothes ⌞in distress⌟, she cried, “Treason, treason!”

15 Then the priest Jehoiada ordered the company commanders who were in charge of the army, “Take her out of the temple. Use your sword to kill anyone who follows her.” (The priest had said, “She must not be killed in the Lord’s temple.”) 16 So they arrested her as she came to the street where the horses enter the royal palace, and there she was killed.

17 Jehoiada made a promise to the Lord on behalf of the king and his people that they would be the Lord’s people. He made other promises between the king and the people. 18 Then all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed Baal’s altars and his statues and killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars.

Next, the priest appointed officials to be in charge of the Lord’s temple. 19 He took the company commanders of the Carites and the guards and all the people of the land, and they brought the king from the Lord’s temple. They went down the street that goes through Guards’ Gate to the royal palace. Then Joash sat on the royal throne. 20 All the people of the land were celebrating. But the city was quiet because they had killed Athaliah with a sword at the royal palace.[a]

King Joash of Judah(B)

21 Joash [b] was seven years old when he began to rule.

Footnotes

  1. 11:20 2 Kings 11:21 in English Bibles is 2 Kings 12:1 in the Hebrew Bible.
  2. 11:21 In the Masoretic Text this king of Judah is also called Jehoash, a longer form of Joash.

Cross references

  1. 2 Kings 11:1 : 2 Chronicles 22:10–23:21
  2. 2 Kings 11:21 : 2 Chronicles 24:1–23

You Might Also Like:

2 Kings 11 - Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

11 And Athaliah [is] mother of Ahaziah, and she hath seen that her son [is] dead, and she riseth, and destroyeth all the seed of the kingdom; 2 and Jehosheba daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, taketh Joash son of Ahaziah, and stealeth him out of the midst of the sons of the king who are put ...
Read More

2 Kings 11 - Wycliffe Bible (WYC)

11 Forsooth Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw (that) her son (was) dead, and she rose up, and killed all the seed of the king (and killed all of the king’s descendants). 2 And Jehosheba, the daughter of king Jehoram[a], (and) the sister of Ahaziah, took Joash[b], the son of Ahaziah, and stole him...
Read More

2 Kings 11 - World English Bible (WEB)

11 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal offspring. 2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of king Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were slain, even him and his nurse,...
Read More

2 Kings 11 - The Voice (VOICE)

11 When Ahaziah’s mother, Athaliah, found out that Ahaziah had been killed, she saw to it that the rest of the royal offspring were killed. Athaliah acts as many of the other monarchs and kills potential rivals so no one can challenge her ascension to the throne. But one of the royal offspring survi...
Read More

2 Kings 11 - Tree of Life Version (TLV)

Wicked Queen Athaliah Overthrown11 Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal offspring. 2 But Jehosheba, daughter of King Joram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were bein...
Read More

2 Kings 11 - Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)

Athaliah Reigns over Judah11 Now when Athali′ah the mother of Ahazi′ah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family. 2 But Jehosh′eba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahazi′ah, took Jo′ash the son of Ahazi′ah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were a...
Read More

2 Kings 11 - Revised Standard Version (RSV)

Athaliah Reigns over Judah11 Now when Athali′ah the mother of Ahazi′ah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family. 2 But Jehosh′eba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahazi′ah, took Jo′ash the son of Ahazi′ah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were a...
Read More

2 Kings 11 - New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)

Athaliah Reigns over Judah11 Now when Athaliah, Ahaziah’s mother, saw that her son was dead, she set about to destroy all the royal family. 2 But Jehosheba, King Joram’s daughter, Ahaziah’s sister, took Joash son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s children who were about to be kil...
Read More

2 Kings 11 - New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised (NRSVA)

Athaliah Reigns over Judah11 Now when Athaliah, Ahaziah’s mother, saw that her son was dead, she set about to destroy all the royal family. 2 But Jehosheba, King Joram’s daughter, Ahaziah’s sister, took Joash son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s children who were about to be kil...
Read More

2 Kings 11 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Athaliah Reigns over Judah11 Now when Athaliah, Ahaziah’s mother, saw that her son was dead, she set about to destroy all the royal family.(A)2 But Jehosheba, King Joram’s daughter, Ahaziah’s sister, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king’s children who were about to be kil...
Read More

2 Kings 11 - New Living Translation (NLT)

Queen Athaliah Rules in Judah11 When Athaliah, the mother of King Ahaziah of Judah, learned that her son was dead, she began to destroy the rest of the royal family. 2 But Ahaziah’s sister Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram,[a] took Ahaziah’s infant son, Joash, and stole him away from among the...
Read More

2 Kings 11 - New Life Version (NLV)

Athaliah Rules Judah11 When Ahaziah’s mother Athaliah saw that her son was dead, she got up and killed all the king’s children. 2 But King Joram’s daughter Jehosheba, Ahaziah’s sister, took Joash the son of Ahaziah. She stole him away from the king’s sons who were being killed, and put him and his ...
Read More

2 Kings 11 - New King James Version (NKJV)

Athaliah Reigns in Judah(A)11 When (B)Athaliah (C)the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was (D)dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs. 2 But [a]Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of (E)Ahaziah, took [b]Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons wh...
Read More

2 Kings 11 - New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

Athaliah and Joash11 When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family. 2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram[a] and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to b...
Read More

2 Kings 11 - New International Version (NIV)

Athaliah and Joash(A)11 When Athaliah(B) the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family. 2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram[a] and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash(C) son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were ab...
Read More

2 Kings 11 - New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

Athaliah and Joash11 Athaliah was Ahaziah’s mother. She saw that her son was dead. So she began to destroy the whole royal house of Judah. 2 But Jehosheba went and got Joash, the son of Ahaziah. Jehosheba was the daughter of King Jehoram and the sister of Ahaziah. She stole Joash away from among th...
Read More

2 Kings 11 - New English Translation (NET)

Athaliah is Eliminated11 When Athaliah, the mother of Ahaziah, saw that her son was dead, she was determined to destroy the entire royal line.[a] 2 So Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram[b] and sister of Ahaziah, took Ahaziah’s son Joash and stole him away from the rest of the royal descendants...
Read More