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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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