2 Chronicles, Chapter 23:
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Verses from 2 Chronicles, Chapter 23 of the book of the Bible.
- 1. In the seventh year, Jehoiada strengthened himself and made an agreement with the leaders of the hundred battalions: Azariah, son of Jeroam; Ishmael, son of Johanan; Azariah, son of Obed; Maaseiah, son of Adaiah; and Elisaphat son of Zicri.
- 2. They went through all the territory of Judah and called together the Levites and the heads of the families of Israel from all the cities. When they arrived in Jerusalem,
- 3. The whole assembly made a covenant with the king in the temple of the Lord. Jehoiada said to them, “The king’s son will reign, as the Lord promised concerning David’s descendants.
- 4. You must act as follows: One third of you, the priests and Levites who are on duty on the Sabbath, must stand guard at the doors of the temple;
- 5. a rosary in the royal palace; and a third at Porta dos Fundamentos. All the people will remain in the courtyards of the temple of the Lord.
- 6. No one should enter the temple of the Lord except the priests and the Levites who are on duty, for they have been consecrated. The rest of the people must obey the Lord's instructions.
- 7. The Levites must surround the king, each with their weapons in their hands. Kill anyone who tries to enter the temple. Follow the king wherever he goes.”
- 8. The Levites and all the men of Judah did as Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each man brought his soldiers, both those who were on duty on the Sabbath and those who were on duty on other days, because the priest Jehoiada did not dismiss any of the divisions.
- 9. Then he gave to the leaders of the hundred battalions the spears and the large and small shields that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of the Lord.
- 10. They positioned themselves in the temple, each with weapons in hand, from the south side to the north side of the temple, near the altar and the temple, around the king.
- 11. Jehoiada and his sons brought the king's son, crowned him, gave him a copy of the covenant, and proclaimed him king, anointing him and shouting, “Long live the king!”
- 12. When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and cheering the king, she went to the temple of the Lord, where the people were gathered.
- 13. There she saw the king standing by the pillar at the entrance to the temple. The officials and trumpet players were at the king's side, and all the people rejoiced and blew trumpets. The musicians, with their musical instruments, led the songs of praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and cried out: “Treason! Betrayal!"
- 14. Jehoiada the priest ordered the leaders of the battalions of hundreds, who were in command of the troops: “Take her out of the ranks and put to death all those who follow her with the sword.” For the priest had commanded: “Do not kill her in the temple of the Lord.”
- 15. Then they captured her and took her out through the Horse Entrance into the palace grounds, and there they killed her.
- 16. Jehoiada made an agreement between the people, the king and the Lord, that they would be the Lord's people.
- 17. All the people went to the temple of Baal, tore down its altars and idols, and killed Matthan, the priest of Baal, before the altars.
- 18. Jehoiada appointed the Levite priests to oversee the temple of the Lord, as had been established by David, who assigned tasks to the Levite priests to offer burnt offerings to the Lord, as written in the Law of Moses, with joy and songs, according to David's instructions.
- 19. He also appointed guards for the doors of the temple of the Lord, so that no one who was unclean in any way could enter.
- 20. Then Jehoiada gathered together the leaders of the battalions of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people, and all the people, and together they led the king from the temple of the Lord to the palace by the upper gate. There the king was enthroned.
- 21. And all the people rejoiced, and the city was at peace when Athaliah was killed with the sword.
