1
When Ahaziah's mother, Athaliah, saw that her son was dead, she killed all the royal family.
2
But Jehosheba, King Jehoram's daughter and Ahaziah's sister, took Joash, Ahaziah's son. She stole him from among the other sons of the king who were about to be murdered. She put Joash and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah, so he was not killed.
3
He hid with her in the Temple of the Lord for six years. During that time Athaliah ruled the land.
4
In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of groups of a hundred men, as well as the Carites. He brought them together in the Temple of the Lord and made an agreement with them. There, in the Temple of the Lord, he made them promise loyalty, and then he showed them the king's son.
5
He commanded them, "This is what you must do. A third of you who go on duty on the Sabbath will guard the king's palace.
6
A third of you will be at the Sur Gate, and another third will be at the gate behind the guard. This way you will guard the Temple.
7
The two groups who go off duty on the Sabbath must protect the Temple of the Lord for the king.
8
All of you must stand around the king, each man with his weapons in his hand. If anyone comes near, kill him. Stay close to the king when he goes out and when he comes in."
9
The commanders over a hundred men obeyed everything Jehoiada the priest had commanded. Each one took his men who came on duty on the Sabbath and those who went off duty on the Sabbath, and they came to Jehoiada the priest.
10
He gave the commanders the spears and shields that had belonged to King David and that were kept in the Temple of the Lord.