II Chronicles Chapter 23

II Chronicles 23 — English translation

Translation: THE JPS TANAKH: Gender-Sensitive Edition. Verse numbers match the Hebrew text below.

1. 1In the seventh year, Jehoiada took courage and brought the chiefs of the hundreds, Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zichri, into a compact with him.
2. 2They went through Judah and assembled the Levites from all the towns of Judah, and the chiefs of the clans of Israel. They came to Jerusalem
3. 3and the entire assembly made a covenant with the king in the House of God. [Jehoiada] said to them, “The son of the king shall be king according to the promise G OD made concerning the sons of David.
4. 4This is what you must do: One third of you, priests and Levites, who are on duty for the week, shall be gatekeepers at the thresholds;
5. 5another third shall be stationed in the royal palace, and the other third at the Foundation Gate. All the people shall be in the courts of the House of G OD .
6. 6Let no one enter the House of G OD except the priests and the ministering Levites. They may enter because they are sanctified, but all the people shall obey G OD ’s proscription.
7. 7The Levites shall surround the king on every side, each with his arms at the ready; and whoever enters the House shall be killed. Stay close to the king in his comings and goings.”
8. 8The Levites and all Judah did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered: each took his men—those who were on duty that week and those who were off duty that week, for Jehoiada the priest had not dismissed the divisions.
9. 9Jehoiada the priest gave the chiefs of the hundreds King David’s spears and shields and quivers that were kept in the House of God.
10. 10He stationed the entire force, each with his weapon at the ready, from the south end of the House to the north end of the House, at the altar and the House, to guard the king on every side.
11. 11Then they brought out the king’s son, and placed upon him the crown and the insignia. They proclaimed him king, and Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and shouted, “Long live the king!”
12. 12When Athaliah heard the shouting of the people and the guards and the acclamation of the king, she came out to the people, to the House of G OD .
13. 13She looked about and saw the king standing by his pillar at the entrance, the chiefs with their trumpets beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets, and the singers with musical instruments leading the hymns. Athaliah rent her garments and cried out, “Treason, treason!”
14. 14Then the priest Jehoiada ordered out the army officers, the chiefs of hundreds, and said to them, “Take her out between the ranks, and if anyone follows her, put him to the sword.” For the priest thought, “Let her not be put to death in the House of G OD .”
15. 15They cleared a passage for her and she came to the entrance of the Horse Gate to the royal palace; there she was put to death.
16. 16Then Jehoiada solemnized a covenant between himself and the people and the king that they should be G OD ’s people.
17. 17All the people then went to the temple of Baal; they tore it down and smashed its altars and images to bits, and they slew Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars.
18. 18Jehoiada put the officers of the House of G OD in the charge of Levite priests whom David had assigned over the House of G OD to offer up burnt offerings, as is prescribed in the Teaching of Moses, accompanied by joyful song as ordained by David.
19. 19He stationed the gatekeepers at the gates of the House of G OD to prevent the entry of anyone impure for any reason.
20. 20He took the chiefs of hundreds, the nobles, and the rulers of the people and all the people of the land, and they escorted the king down from the House of G OD into the royal palace by the upper gate, and seated the king on the royal throne.
21. 21All the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet. As for Athaliah, she had been put to the sword.

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