2 Kings 11
Names of God Bible
The Priest Jehoiada Opposes Queen Athaliah(A)
11 When Ahaziah’s mother, Athaliah, saw that her son was dead, she began to destroy the entire royal family. 2 But Jehosheba, daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Ahaziah’s son Joash. She saved him from being killed with the king’s other sons, and in a bedroom she hid him and his nurse from Athaliah. So Joash wasn’t killed 3 but was hidden with her in Yahweh’s temple for six years while Athaliah ruled the country.
4 In the seventh year of Athaliah’s reign, Jehoiada sent for the company commanders of the Carites and the guards and had them come to him in Yahweh’s temple. He made an agreement with them, put them under oath in Yahweh’s temple, and showed them the king’s son. 5 He ordered them, “This is what you must do: One third of you, those who are on duty on the day of worship, must guard the royal palace. 6 Another third must be at Sur Gate. And another third must be at the gate behind the guards. You will guard the king’s residence.[a] 7 Then your two groups who normally go off duty on the day of worship must guard the king at Yahweh’s temple. 8 Surround the king. Each man should have his weapons in his hand. Kill anyone who tries to break through your ranks. Stay with the king wherever he goes.”
9 The company commanders did as the priest Jehoiada had ordered them. Each commander took his men who were coming on duty on the day of worship as well as those who were about to go off duty and came to the priest Jehoiada. 10 He gave the commanders the spears and the shields that had belonged to King David but were now in Yahweh’s temple. 11 The guards stood with their weapons in their hands. They were stationed around the king and around the altar and the temple (from the south side to the north side of the temple). 12 Then Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, gave him the crown and the religious instructions, and made him king by anointing him. As the guards clapped their hands, they said, “Long live the king!”
13 When Athaliah heard the noise made by the guards and the other people, she went into Yahweh’s temple, where the people were. 14 She looked, and the king was standing by the pillar according to custom. The commanders and the trumpeters were by his side. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. As Athaliah tore her clothes in distress, she cried, “Treason, treason!”
15 Then the priest Jehoiada ordered the company commanders who were in charge of the army, “Take her out of the temple. Use your sword to kill anyone who follows her.” (The priest had said, “She must not be killed in Yahweh’s temple.”) 16 So they arrested her as she came to the street where the horses enter the royal palace, and there she was killed.
17 Jehoiada made a promise to Yahweh on behalf of the king and his people that they would be Yahweh’s people. He made other promises between the king and the people. 18 Then all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed Baal’s altars and his statues and killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars.
Next, the priest appointed officials to be in charge of Yahweh’s temple. 19 He took the company commanders of the Carites and the guards and all the people of the land, and they brought the king from Yahweh’s temple. They went down the street that goes through Guards’ Gate to the royal palace. Then Joash sat on the royal throne. 20 All the people of the land were celebrating. But the city was quiet because they had killed Athaliah with a sword at the royal palace.[b]
King Joash of Judah(B)
21 Joash[c] was seven years old when he began to rule.
Footnotes
- 2 Kings 11:6 Hebrew meaning uncertain.
- 2 Kings 11:20 2 Kings 11:21 in English Bibles is 2 Kings 12:1 in the Hebrew Bible.
- 2 Kings 11:21 In the Masoretic Text this king of Judah is also called Jehoash, a longer form of Joash.
2 Kings 11
New King James Version
Athaliah Reigns in Judah(A)
11 When (B)Athaliah (C)the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was (D)dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal heirs. 2 But [a]Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of (E)Ahaziah, took [b]Joash the son of Ahaziah, and stole him away from among the king’s sons who were being murdered; and they hid him and his nurse in the bedroom, from Athaliah, so that he was not killed. 3 So he was hidden with her in the house of the Lord for six years, while Athaliah reigned over the land.
Joash Crowned King of Judah(F)
4 In (G)the seventh year Jehoiada sent and brought the captains of hundreds—of the bodyguards and the [c]escorts—and brought them into the house of the Lord to him. And he made a covenant with them and took an oath from them in the house of the Lord, and showed them the king’s son. 5 Then he commanded them, saying, “This is what you shall do: One-third of you who [d]come on duty (H)on the Sabbath shall be keeping watch over the king’s house, 6 one-third shall be at the gate of Sur, and one-third at the gate behind the escorts. You shall keep the watch of the house, lest it be broken down. 7 The two [e]contingents of you who go off duty on the Sabbath shall keep the watch of the house of the Lord for the king. 8 But you shall surround the king on all sides, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes within range, let him be put to death. You are to be with the king as he goes out and as he comes in.”
9 (I)So the captains of the hundreds did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each of them took his men who were to be on duty on the Sabbath, with those who were going off duty on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 And the priest gave the captains of hundreds the spears and shields which had belonged to King David, (J)that were in the temple of the Lord. 11 Then the escorts stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, all around the king, from the right [f]side of the temple to the left side of the temple, by the altar and the house. 12 And he brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, and gave him the (K)Testimony;[g] they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, (L)“Long live the king!”
Death of Athaliah(M)
13 (N)Now when Athaliah heard the noise of the escorts and the people, she came to the people in the temple of the Lord. 14 When she looked, there was the king standing by (O)a pillar according to custom; and the leaders and the trumpeters were by the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. So Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out, “Treason! Treason!”
15 And Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains of the hundreds, the officers of the army, and said to them, “Take her outside [h]under guard, and slay with the sword whoever follows her.” For the priest had said, “Do not let her be killed in the house of the Lord.” 16 So they seized her; and she went by way of the horses’ entrance into the king’s house, and there she was killed.
17 (P)Then Jehoiada (Q)made a covenant between the Lord, the king, and the people, that they should be the Lord’s people, and also (R)between the king and the people. 18 And all the people of the land went to the (S)temple of Baal, and tore it down. They thoroughly (T)broke in pieces its altars and [i]images, and (U)killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And (V)the priest appointed [j]officers over the house of the Lord. 19 Then he took the captains of hundreds, the bodyguards, the escorts, and all the people of the land; and they brought the king down from the house of the Lord, and went by way of the gate of the escorts to the king’s house. Then he sat on the throne of the kings. 20 So all the people of the land rejoiced; and the city was quiet, for they had slain Athaliah with the sword in the king’s house. 21 Jehoash was (W)seven years old when he became king.
Footnotes
- 2 Kings 11:2 Jehoshabeath, 2 Chr. 22:11
- 2 Kings 11:2 Or Jehoash
- 2 Kings 11:4 guards
- 2 Kings 11:5 Lit. enter in
- 2 Kings 11:7 companies
- 2 Kings 11:11 Lit. shoulder
- 2 Kings 11:12 Law, Ex. 25:16, 21; Deut. 31:9
- 2 Kings 11:15 Lit. between ranks
- 2 Kings 11:18 Idols
- 2 Kings 11:18 Lit. offices
2 Kings 11
English Standard Version
Athaliah Reigns in Judah
11 (A)Now when (B)Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal family. 2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took (C)Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the king's sons who were being put to death, and she put[a] him and his nurse in a bedroom. Thus they[b] hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not put to death. 3 And he remained with her six years, hidden in the house of the Lord, while Athaliah reigned over the land.
Joash Anointed King in Judah
4 (D)But in the seventh year (E)Jehoiada sent and brought the captains of (F)the Carites and of the guards, and had them come to him in the house of the Lord. And he made a covenant with them and put them under oath in the house of the Lord, and he showed them the king's son. 5 And he commanded them, “This is the thing that you shall do: one third of you, (G)those who come off duty on the Sabbath and guard the king's house 6 ((H)another third being at the gate Sur and a third at the gate behind the guards) shall guard the palace.[c] 7 And the two divisions of you, which come on duty in force on the Sabbath and guard the house of the Lord on behalf of the king, 8 shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand. And whoever approaches the ranks is to be put to death. Be with the king (I)when he goes out and when he comes in.”
9 The captains did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded, and they each brought his men who were to go off duty on the Sabbath, with those who were to come on duty on the Sabbath, and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 And the priest gave to the captains the spears and (J)shields that had been King David's, which were in the house of the Lord. 11 And the guards stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the south side of the house to the north side of the house, around the altar and the house on behalf of the king. 12 Then he brought out the king's son and put (K)the crown on him and gave him (L)the testimony. And they proclaimed him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and said, (M)“Long live the king!”
13 When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she went into the house of the Lord to the people. 14 And when she looked, there was the king standing (N)by the pillar, according to the custom, and the captains and the trumpeters beside the king, and all the people of the land rejoicing and (O)blowing trumpets. And Athaliah (P)tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!” 15 Then Jehoiada the priest commanded the captains who were set over the army, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to death with the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest said, “Let her not be put to death in the house of the Lord.” 16 So they laid hands on her; and she went through the horses' entrance to the king's house, and there she was put to death.
17 And Jehoiada (Q)made a covenant between the Lord and the king and people, that they should be the Lord's people, and also (R)between the king and the people. 18 Then all the people of the land went to (S)the house of Baal and tore it down; (T)his altars and his images they broke in pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest posted watchmen over the house of the Lord. 19 And he took the captains, (U)the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the Lord, marching through (V)the gate of the guards to the king's house. And he took his seat on the throne of the kings. 20 So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was quiet after Athaliah had been put to death with the sword at the king's house.
Jehoash Reigns in Judah
21 [d] (W)Jehoash[e] was seven years old when he began to reign.
Footnotes
- 2 Kings 11:2 Compare 2 Chronicles 22:11; Hebrew lacks and she put
- 2 Kings 11:2 Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate (compare 2 Chronicles 22:11) she
- 2 Kings 11:6 The meaning of the Hebrew word is uncertain
- 2 Kings 11:21 Ch 12:1 in Hebrew
- 2 Kings 11:21 Jehoash is an alternate spelling of Joash (son of Ahaziah) as in verse 2
The Names of God Bible (without notes) © 2011 by Baker Publishing Group.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
