Joash Is Hidden and Crowned

When Athaliah saw that her son was dead, she set out to destroy the royal offspring. But Jehosheba rescued Joash, the son of Ahaziah. She took him and his nurse away from among the king’s sons, put them in a bedroom, and hid him so Athaliah could not kill him.

Joash was hidden in the house of the Lord for six years while Athaliah ruled the land. In the seventh year, Jehoiada the priest made a plan. He made a covenant with captains, and Chronicles says he also gathered Levites and family leaders from Judah to Jerusalem. Then he showed them the king’s son.

Jehoiada assigned guards to the gates and told them to protect the young king. The leaders obeyed. He gave them spears, shields, and bucklers that had belonged to King David and were kept in God’s house. They stood with weapons in hand around the king, near the altar and the house.

Then they brought out the king’s son. They put the crown on him, gave him the covenant, and anointed him king. The people clapped and cried for the king to live. When Athaliah heard the noise and came into the Lord’s house, she saw the king standing by the pillar and shouted, 'Treason!'

Jehoiada ordered that Athaliah be taken out and not killed in the Lord’s house. She was killed at the entrance by the king’s house. Then Jehoiada made a covenant so the people would be the Lord’s people. They broke down the house of Baal, killed Mattan the priest of Baal, and Jehoiada appointed officers and gatekeepers for the Lord’s house. Joash was brought to the palace and set on the throne. The city became quiet, and Joash was seven years old when he began to reign.