2 Chronicles 23
23
1But in the seventh year Jehoiada boldly formed a conspiracy with the following unit commanders: Jeroham’s son Azariah, Jehohanan’s son Ishmael, Obed’s son Azariah, Adaiah’s son Maaseiah, and Zichri’s son Elishaphat. 2They went throughout Judah recruiting the Levites from all the cities of Judah, as well as the family heads of Israel, who then came to Jerusalem. 3The entire assembly made a covenant with the king in God’s temple. Jehoiada said, “Look! Here is the king’s son. He must be king, just as the LORD promised about David’s descendants. 4This is what you must do: A third of you priests and Levites coming on sabbath duty will guard the gates, 5another third will be at the royal palace, and another third will be at the Foundation Gate. Meanwhile, all the people will be in the courtyards of the LORD’s temple. 6Don’t enter the LORD’s temple, because only the priests or Levites on duty can do that. They are allowed to enter because they are holy, but the rest of the people must follow the LORD’s requirements. 7The Levites must surround the king, each with his weapons drawn. Whoever comes near your ranks must be killed; stay near the king wherever he goes.”
8The Levites and all Judah did everything that the priest Jehoiada ordered. They each took charge of those men reporting for duty on the Sabbath, as well as those going off duty, since Jehoiada hadn’t released any divisions from duty. 9Then the priest Jehoiada gave the unit commanders King David’s spears and large and small shields that were kept in God’s temple. 10He positioned all the people, each with their weapons drawn, near the altar and the temple, stretching from the south side of the temple to the north side, so as to protect the king. 11Then they brought out the king’s son, crowned him, gave him the royal law,#23.11 Or testimony; MT lacks royal. and made him king. Jehoiada and his sons anointed him as everyone cried out, “Long live the king!”
12When Athaliah heard the noise made by the people running and cheering the king, she went to the people at the LORD’s temple 13and saw the king standing by the royal pillar at the entrance, with the commanders and trumpeters beside the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and singers accompanied by musical instruments were leading the praise. Athaliah ripped her clothes and screamed, “Treason! Treason!”
14Then the priest Jehoiada brought out the unit commanders who were in charge of the army. “Take her out under guard,”#23.14 Heb uncertain he told them, “and kill anyone who follows her.” This was because the priest had said, “She must not be executed in the LORD’s temple.” 15They arrested her when she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate at the royal palace. She was executed there.
16Jehoiada then made a covenant between himself, all the people, and the king, that they would be the LORD’s people. 17Then all the people went to Baal’s temple and tore it down, smashing its altars and images into pieces. They executed Baal’s priest Mattan in front of the altars. 18Jehoiada appointed the priests and#23.18 LXX; MT levitical priests Levites in charge of the LORD’s temple, and then appointed the divisions of the priests and Levites#23.18 LXX; MT lacks and then appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites. that David had assigned to the LORD’s temple to offer entirely burned sacrifices to the LORD, as written in the Instruction from Moses, with rejoicing and singing, just as David had ordered. 19He posted guards at the gates of the LORD’s temple so that no one who was unclean in any way could enter. 20Then he took the unit commanders, the officials, the rulers of the people, and all the people of the land, and they led the king down from the LORD’s temple, processing through the Upper Gate to the palace, where the king sat upon the royal throne. 21All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was at peace now that Athaliah had been executed at the palace.
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2 Chronicles 23: CEB
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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
2 Chronicles 23
23
Joash Made King
1 # For ver. 1-21, see 2 Kgs. 11:4-20 But in the seventh year Jehoiada took courage and entered into a covenant with the commanders of hundreds, Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Jehohanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri. 2And they went about through #See ch. 21:2Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the heads of fathers’ houses of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem. 3And all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And Jehoiada#23:3 Hebrew he said to them, “Behold, the king’s son! Let him reign, #See ch. 6:16as the Lord spoke concerning the sons of David. 4This is the thing that you shall do: #[1 Chr. 9:25; 24:4]of you priests and Levites who come off duty on the Sabbath, one third shall be gatekeepers, 5and one third shall be at the king’s house and one third at the Gate of the Foundation. And all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord. 6Let no one enter the house of the Lord except the priests #See 1 Chr. 23:27-29and ministering Levites. They may enter, for they are holy, but all the people shall keep the charge of the Lord. 7The Levites shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand. And whoever enters the house shall be put to death. Be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.”
8The Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded, and they each brought his men, who were to go off duty on the Sabbath, with those who were to come on duty on the Sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest did not dismiss #See 1 Chr. 24the divisions. 9And Jehoiada the priest gave to the captains the spears and the large and small shields that had been King David’s, which were in the house of God. 10And he set all the people as a guard for the king, every man with his weapon in his hand, from the south side of the house to the north side of the house, around the altar and the house. 11Then they brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him and gave him #Deut. 17:18, 19 the testimony. And they proclaimed him king, and Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and they said, #See 1 Sam. 10:24“Long live the king.”
Athaliah Executed
12When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she went into the house of the Lord to the people. 13And when she looked, there was the king standing by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the trumpeters beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and the singers with their musical instruments leading in the celebration. And Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!” 14Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains who were set over the army, saying to them, “Bring her out between the ranks, and anyone who follows her is to be put to death with the sword.” For the priest said, “Do not put her to death in the house of the Lord.” 15So they laid hands on her,#23:15 Or they made a passage for her and she went into the entrance of #Neh. 3:28; Jer. 31:40; [2 Kgs. 11:16]the horse gate of the king’s house, and they put her to death there.
Jehoiada’s Reforms
16And Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king that they should be the Lord’s people. 17Then all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down; his altars and his images they broke in pieces, #Deut. 13:9and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. 18And Jehoiada posted watchmen for the house of the Lord under the direction of #ch. 5:5; 30:27 the Levitical priests and the Levites #1 Chr. 23:6, 30, 31; 24:1 whom David had organized to be in charge of the house of the Lord, to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, #Num. 28:2 as it is written in the Law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, #[1 Chr. 25:2]according to the order of David. 19He stationed #See 1 Chr. 26:1-19the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of the Lord so that no one should enter who was in any way unclean. 20And he took the captains, the nobles, the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the Lord, marching #[2 Kgs. 11:19; 15:35]through the upper gate to the king’s house. And they set the king on the royal throne. 21So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been put to death with the sword.
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