Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

In the seventh year, Jehoiada took a bold step to secure his position. He gathered a group of trusted captains – Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zichri – into a covenant with him, solidifying their commitment to support one another.

Together, they traveled throughout Judah, recruiting Levites from all the cities and leaders of Israel's ancestral families. This massive gathering came together in Jerusalem, where they made a sacred agreement with King Joash in the house of God. Jehoiada proclaimed that the king's son would ascend to the throne, just as the Lord had decreed for the descendants of David.

The congregation then divided themselves into three groups. A third part of the Levites and priests took on gatekeeping duties at the entrance of the temple, ensuring only authorized individuals entered the sacred space. Another group stood ready at the king's house, while the remaining third served as a protective escort for the king, armed with their respective weapons.

As Jehoiada had instructed, the people faithfully carried out their assigned roles. Those who were on duty on the Sabbath were replaced by others going off-duty, maintaining a seamless rotation of service without interruption from Jehoiada's priestly oversight.

Jehoiada then entrusted the captains of hundreds with sacred instruments that had once belonged to King David – spears, bucklers, and shields – which were stored in the temple. He positioned each person armed with their assigned weapon along both sides of the altar and within the temple complex, creating a secure perimeter around the king.

With the area secured, Jehoiada's sons anointed Joash as king while the people rejoiced, praising God through music, trumpets, and joyful noise. As the commotion reached Athaliah, she rushed into the house of the Lord to confront the situation.

Upon seeing King Joash standing at his designated pillar, surrounded by officials and musicians, Athaliah ripped her clothes in distress, crying out, "Treason!" But Jehoiada stood firm, instructing the captains of hundreds to remove Athaliah from the crowd without harming her within the sacred temple. As they led her away, she was executed at the entrance of the horse gate near the king's house.

In response to this decisive action, Jehoiada made a solemn agreement between himself, the people, and King Joash, committing them all to serve as God's people.

Determined to purify Judah's worship practices, Jehoiada led the congregation in destroying the temple of Baal. They shattered its altars, demolished its images, and executed Mattan, the high priest who had overseen these idolatrous rituals.

Jehoiada then appointed priests and Levites according to David's instructions to offer sacrifices with great joy and singing, following the laws prescribed by Moses. He also reinstated temple porters at the entrance of the Lord's house.

With these crucial steps taken, Jehoiada facilitated the king's transition from the temple back into the royal palace through the high gate. There, he was placed on the throne of the kingdom, marking a new era for Judah under King Joash.

As news of Athaliah's death spread, the people rejoiced and celebrated in quiet dignity, ushering in an era of peace and stability after her brutal execution.