2 Chronicles 23

NEW JERUSALEM	NEW AMERICAN BIBLE
1 In the seventh year Jehoiada decided to take action and made a pact with the regimentalcommanders, Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son ofAdaiah and Elishaphat son of Zichri.	1 In the seventh year, Jehoiada took courage and entered a conspiracy with certain captains: Azariah, son of Jehoram; Ishmael, son of Jehohanan; Azariah, son of Obed; Masseiah, son of Adaiah; and Elishaphat, son of Zichri.
2 These went al over Judah, gathering the Levites from al the towns of Judah, and the heads of theIsraelite families, who then came to Jerusalem,	2 They journeyed about Judah, gathering the Levites from all the cities of Judah and also the heads of the Israelite families. When they had come to Jerusalem,
3 and the whole assembly made a pact with the king in the Temple of God. Jehoiada said to them,'Look, the king's son is now to be king, as Yahweh has promised of the sons of David!	3 the whole assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. Jehoiada said to them: "Here is the king's son who must reign, as the LORD promised concerning the sons of David.
4 This is what you must do: a third of you priests and Levites who come on duty on the Sabbath mustguard the gates,	4 This is what you must do: a third of your number, both priests and Levites, who come in on the sabbath must guard the thresholds,
5 a third the royal palace, a third the Foundation Gate, while the people must al stay in the courts of theTemple of Yahweh.	5 another third must be at the king's palace, and the final third at the Foundation Gate, when all the people will be in the courts of the LORD'S temple.
6 No one must enter the Temple of Yahweh except the priests and the ministering Levites; they maycome in because they are consecrated. But the people must al observe Yahweh's regulations.	6 Let no one enter the LORD'S house except the priests and those Levites who are ministering. They may enter because they are holy; but all the other people must observe the prescriptions of the LORD.
7 The Levites must surround the king, each man with his weapons in his hands; anyone who enters theTemple must be kil ed. And you wil escort the king when he comes in and when he leaves.'	7 The Levites shall surround the king on all sides, each with his weapon drawn. Whoever tries to enter the house must be slain. Stay with the king wherever he goes."
8 The Levites and al Judah did everything as Jehoiada the priest had ordered, and each one broughthis men, those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty on the Sabbath, for Jehoiada the priesthad not released any of the divisions from duty.	8 The Levites and all Judah did just as Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each brought his men, those who were to come in on the sabbath as well as those who were to depart on the sabbath, since Jehoiada the priest had not dismissed any of the divisions.
9 Jehoiada the priest then issued the regimental commanders with King David's spears and large andsmal shields, which were kept in the Temple of God.	9 Jehoiada the priest gave the captains the spears, shields and bucklers of King David which were in the house of God.
10 He then positioned al the people, each man with his weapon in his hand, from the south side of theTemple to the north side of the Temple, close to the altar and the Temple, to form a circle round the king.	10 He stationed all the people, each with his spear in hand, from the southern to the northern extremity of the enclosure, around the altar and the temple on the king's behalf.
11 Then they brought the king's son out, crowned him, gave him a copy of the covenant and made himking. When Jehoiada and his sons had anointed him, they shouted, 'Long live the king!'	11 Then they brought out the king's son, set the crown and the insignia upon him, and made him king. Jehoiada and his sons anointed him, and they cried, "Long live the king!"
12 On hearing the people shouting as they ran to acclaim the king, Athaliah joined the people in theTemple of Yahweh.	12 When Athaliah heard the din of the people running and acclaiming the king, she went to the people in the temple of the LORD.
13 When she looked, there stood the king on his dais by the entrance, with the officers and trumpetersat the king's side, and all the people of the country rejoicing and blowing the trumpets, and the singers with theirmusical instruments leading the hymns of praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and shouted, 'Treason, treason!'	13 She looked, and there was the king standing beside his pillar at the entrance, the officers and the trumpeters around him, and all the people of the land rejoicing and blowing trumpets, while the singers with their musical instruments were leading the acclaim. Athaliah tore her garments and cried out, "Treason! treason!"
14 Jehoiada the priest then gave the order to the regimental commanders in charge of the troops, 'Takeher out between the ranks and put to the sword anyone who follows her.' For the priest had already said, 'Do notkil her inside the Temple of Yahweh.'	14 Then Jehoiada the priest sent out the captains who were in command of the army; he said to them: "Take her outside through the ranks, and if anyone tries to follow her, let him die by the sword. For," the priest continued, "you must not put her to death in the LORD'S temple."
15 So they made way for her, and when she reached the entrance to the Horses' Gate of the palace,they kil ed her there.	15 So they seized her, and when she arrived at the entrance to the Horse Gate of the palace, they put her to death there.
16 Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, al the people and the king to remain Yahweh's people.	16 Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king, that they should be the LORD'S people.
17 Al the people then went to the temple of Baal and demolished it; they smashed its altars and itsimages and kil ed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.	17 And all the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed its altars and images, and they slew Mattan, the priest of Baal, before the altars.
18 Jehoiada entrusted the security of the Temple of Yahweh to the priests and Levites, whom David hadput in charge of the Temple of Yahweh to present the burnt offerings of Yahweh as laid down in the Law ofMoses, with joy and song as ordained by David.	18 Then Jehoiada gave the charge of the LORD'S temple into the hands of the levitical priests, to whom David had assigned turns in the temple for offering the holocausts of the LORD, as is written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and song, as David had provided.
19 He also appointed gatekeepers for the gates of the Temple of Yahweh, so that no one who wasunclean might enter for any purpose at al .	19 Moreover, he stationed guards at the gates of the LORD'S temple so that no one unclean in any respect might enter.
20 He then took the regimental commanders, the nobles, the government officials and al the people ofthe land and he escorted the king down from the Temple of Yahweh. Entering the palace through the UpperGate, they placed the king on the royal throne.	20 Then he took the captains, the nobles, the rulers among the people, and all the people of the land, and led the king out of the LORD'S house. When they had come within the upper gate of the king's house, they seated the king upon the royal throne.
21 Al the people of the land were delighted, and the city made no move after Athaliah had been put todeath.	21 All the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet, now that Athaliah had been put to death by the sword.