Jehoiada Makes Joash King of Judah
(2 Kings 11.4-21)1 After Ahaziah's son Joash had hidden in the temple for six years, Jehoiada the priest knew that something had to be done. So he made sure he had the support of several army officers. They were Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zichri. 2 These five men went to the towns in Judah and called together the Levites and the clan leaders. They all came to Jerusalem 3 and gathered at the temple, where they agreed to help Joash.
Jehoiada said to them:
Joash will be our next king, because long ago the Lord promised that one of David's descendants would always be king. 4 Here is what we will do. Three groups of priests and Levites will be on guard duty on the Sabbath—one group will guard the gates of the temple, 5 one will guard the palace, and the other will guard Foundation Gate. The rest of you will stand guard in the temple courtyards. 6 Only the priests and Levites who are on duty will be able to enter the temple, because they will be the only ones who have gone through the ceremony to make themselves clean and acceptable. The others must stay outside in the courtyards, just as the Lord has commanded. 7 You Levites must protect King Joash. Don't let him out of your sight! And keep your swords ready to kill anyone who comes into the temple.
8 The Levites and the people of Judah followed Jehoiada's orders. The guards going off duty were not allowed to go home, and so each commander had all his guards available—those going off duty as well as those coming on duty. 9 Jehoiada went into the temple and brought out the swords and shields that had belonged to King David, and he gave them to the commanders. 10 They gave the weapons to the guards, and Jehoiada then made sure that the guards took their positions around the temple and the altar to protect the king on every side.
11 Jehoiada and his sons brought Joash outside, where they placed the crown on his head and gave him a copy of the instructions for ruling the nation. Olive oil was poured on his head to show that he was now king, and the crowd cheered and shouted, “Long live the king!”
12 As soon as Queen Athaliah heard the crowd cheering for Joash, she went to the temple. 13 There she saw Joash standing by one of the columns near the entrance, which was the usual place for the king. The commanders and the trumpet players were standing next to him, and the musicians were playing instruments and leading the people as they celebrated and blew trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes in anger and shouted, “You betrayed me, you traitors!”
14 At once, Jehoiada said to the army commanders, “Don't kill her near the Lord's temple. Take her out in front of the troops, and be sure to kill all of her followers!” 15 She tried to escape, but the commanders caught and killed her near the gate where horses are led into the palace.
16 Jehoiada asked King Joash and the people to join with him in being faithful to the Lord. They agreed, 17 then rushed to the temple of the god Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and the idols and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.
18 Jehoiada assigned the priests and Levites their duties at the temple, just as David had done. They were in charge of offering sacrifices to the Lord according to the Law of Moses, and they were responsible for leading the celebrations with singing. 19 Jehoiada ordered the guards at the temple gates to keep out anyone who was unclean.
20 Finally, Jehoiada called together the army commanders, the most important citizens of Judah, and the government officials. The crowd of people followed them as they led Joash from the temple, through the Upper Gate, and into the palace, where he took his place as king of Judah. 21 Everyone celebrated because Athaliah had been killed and Jerusalem was peaceful again.
Jehojāda svaida Joāšu par ķēniņu
(2Ķēn 11:4–12)1 Septītajā gadā Jehojāda sadūšojās un savāca virsniekus pār simtiem: Azarju, Jerohāma dēlu, Ismaēlu, Jehohānāna dēlu, Azarju, Obēda dēlu, Maasejāhu, Adājāhu dēlu, un Elīšāfatu, Zihrī dēlu, – un slēdza ar tiem derību. 2 Visapkārt Jūdā, no visām Jūdas pilsētām viņi pulcināja levītus, Israēla tēvu namu galvenos, un tie nāca uz Jeruzālemi. 3 Visa sapulce Dieva namā noslēdza derību ar ķēniņu, un Jehojāda tiem sacīja: “Redzi, ķēniņa dēls, lai viņš valda, kā Kungs ir teicis par Dāvida dēliem! 4 Jums ir jārīkojas šādi – sabatā viena trešdaļa no jums kopā ar priesteriem un levītiem lai iet pie vārtiem, 5 otra trešdaļa pie ķēniņa nama, bet trešā trešdaļa – pie Pamatu vārtiem. Pārējie ļaudis lai ir Kunga nama pagalmā, 6 bet neiet Kunga namā – tur lai iet tikai priesteri un levīti, kam jākalpo, jo tie ir svētīti. Visi ļaudis lai dara, kā Kungs teicis! 7 Levīti lai stājas visapkārt ķēniņam katrs ar savu ieroci – kas ielaužas namā, tam jāmirst! Esiet pie ķēniņa, vai viņš nāk vai iet!” 8 Levīti un visi Jūdas ļaudis darīja, kā priesteris Jehojāda bija pavēlējis. Ikviens bija ar saviem vīriem – gan tie, kas sabatā brīvi, gan tie, kam sabatā jāiet sardzē, – jo priesteris Jehojāda neatlaida nevienu vienību. 9 Priesteris Jehojāda virsniekiem pār simtiem deva šķēpus, mazos vairogus un vairogus – visu, ko ķēniņš Dāvids bija noglabājis Dieva namā. 10 Viņš nostādīja visus ļaudis ap altāri un namu, katru ar savu ieroci, no nama dienvidu puses līdz nama ziemeļu pusei visapkārt ķēniņam. 11 Tad tie izveda ārā ķēniņa dēlu, uzlika viņam kroni un liecības zīmi, iecēla par ķēniņu, un Jehojāda ar saviem dēliem viņu svaidīja un teica: “Lai dzīvo ķēniņš!”
Ataljas nāve
(2Ķēn 11:13–20)12 Kad Atalja dzirdēja, ka ļaudis skrien, slavēdami ķēniņu, viņa devās uz Kunga namu pie ļaudīm. 13 Un viņa skatījās, un redzi – ķēniņš stāv pie ieejas uz paaugstinājuma! Ķēniņam blakus virsnieki un taurētāji! Visi ļaudis priecājas un pūš taures, dziedātāji ar mūzikas instrumentiem pavada slavas dziesmas! Tad Atalja saplēsa savas drānas un kliedza: “Nodevība, nodevība!”
14 Priesteris Jehojāda izgāja pie virsniekiem pār simtiem, pie karaspēka pavēlniekiem, un sacīja: “Vediet viņu ārā cauri rindām, un, ja kāds tai seko, tad nonāvējiet to ar zobenu!” Jo priesteris bija teicis: “Nenonāvējiet viņu Kunga namā!” 15 Viņi to satvēra, pa Zirgu vārtiem aizveda uz ķēniņa namu un tur nonāvēja.
16 Jehojāda noslēdza derību starp sevi, tautu un ķēniņu – ka tie ir Kunga tauta. 17 Tad visi ļaudis iegāja Baala namā, nogāza altārus un sadauzīja gabalos tēlus. Baala priesteri Matānu tie nokāva altāra priekšā. 18 Jehojāda iecēla sargus Kunga namam. Tos pārvaldīja priesteri levīti, kurus Dāvids bija nošķīris kalpošanai Kunga namā, lai tie pienes upurus Kungam, kā rakstīts Mozus bauslībā, – ar prieku un dziesmām, kā darīja Dāvids. 19 Viņš nolika sargu Kunga nama vārtos, lai tur neieiet nekas nešķīsts! 20 Viņš ņēma virsniekus pār simtiem, dižciltīgos, tautas pārvaldniekus un visus ļaudis, un kopā ar ķēniņu tie izgāja no Kunga nama un pa Augstajiem vārtiem devās uz ķēniņa namu. Tur tie sēdināja ķēniņu valsts tronī. 21 Tad visi ļaudis līksmoja, un pilsēta norima. Atalja tika nonāvēta ar zobenu.
