2nd Dabar-Hayamym (2 Chronicles) — 23

Yuash Crowned King of Yahudah

1 In the seventh year Yahuiada strengthened himself, and made a covenant with the captains of hundreds: Azaryahu the son of Yaruham, Ishmaal the son of Yahuhanan, Azaryahu the son of Ubad, Maasayahu the son of Adayahu, and Alishaphat the son of Zichri. 

2 And they went throughout Yahudah and gathered the Lauym from all the cities of Yahudah, and the chief fathers of Yashar'AL, and they came to Yahushalam.

3 Then all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH. And he said to them, “Behold, the king’s son shall reign, as 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH has Dabar of the sons of Daud. 

4 This is what you shall do: One-third of you entering on the Shabbat, of the Kuhanym and the Lauym, shall be keeping watch over the doors; 

5 one-third shall be at the king’s house; and one-third at the Gate of the Foundation. All the people shall be in the courts of the house of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH. 

6 But let no one come into the house of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH except the Kuhanym and those of the Lauym who serve. They may go in, for they are Qadash; but all the people shall keep the watch of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH. 

7 And the Lauym shall surround the king on all sides, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes into the house, let him be put to death. You are to be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.”

8 So the Lauym and all Yahudah did according to all that Yahuiada the Kuhan commanded. And each man took his men who were to be on duty on the Shabbat, with those who were going off duty on the Shabbat; for Yahuiada the Kuhan had not dismissed the divisions. 

9 And Yahuiada the Kuhan gave to the captains of hundreds the spears and the large and small shields which had belonged to King Daud, that were in the temple of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH. 

10 Then he set all the people, every man with his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and by the temple, all around the king. 

11 And they brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him, gave him the Testimony, and made him king. Then Yahuiada and his sons anointed him, and said, “Long live the king!”

Death of Athalyahu 

12 Now when Athalyahu heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she came to the people in the temple of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH. 

13 When she looked, there was the king standing by his pillar at the entrance; and the leaders and the trumpeters were by the king. All the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, also the singers with musical instruments, and those who led in praise. So Athalyahu tore her clothes and said, “Treason! Treason!”

14 And Yahuiada the Kuhan brought out the captains of hundreds who were set over the army, and said to them, “Take her outside under guard, and slay with the sword whoever follows her.” For the Kuhan had said, “Do not kill her in the house of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH.”

15 So they seized her; and she went by way of the entrance of the Horse Gate into the king’s house, and they killed her there.

16 Then Yahuiada made a covenant between himself, the people, and the king, that they should be 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH’s people. 

17 And all the people went to the temple of Baal, and tore it down. They broke in pieces its altars and images, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. 

18 Also Yahuiada appointed the oversight of the house of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH to the hand of the Kuhanym, the Lauym, whom Daud had assigned in the house of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, to offer the burnt offerings of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, as it is written in the Law of Musha, with rejoicing and with singing, as it was established by Daud. 

19 And he set the gatekeepers at the gates of the house of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH, so that no one who was in any way unclean should enter.

20 Then he took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the house of 𐤉𐤄𐤅𐤄_YAHUAH; and they went through the Upper Gate to the king’s house, and set the king on the throne of the kingdom. 

21 So all the people of the land rejoiced; and the city was quiet, for they had slain Athalyahu with the sword.