When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the royal offspring. But Jehoshabeath, daughter of King Joram, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him away from the sons of the kings who were killed and hid him in the house of the Lord for six years. In the seventh year, Jehoiada sent and called the guard over a hundred fighting men
and made a covenant with them, and he commanded them, “A third of you shall keep watch in the king’s house on the Sabbath, a third shall guard at the gate Sur, a third at the gate behind the house of the guard and around the house. Two companies will keep watch over the king in the house of the Lord and stand around the king, each with his weapon, and he who comes within the ranks, let him die.” And the priest gave them the shields and spears of King David from the house of the Lord. And they stood around the king. And Jehoiada brought out the king’s son, put the crown on him and gave him the covenant and they made him king and anointed him. And they clapped their hands, “Long live the king!”
When Athaliah heard the noise, she came to the house of the Lord, and behold, the king stood by the pillar as the tradition was with the captains and the trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!” Jehoiada commanded the captains, ”Bring her out and anyone who follows her will die by the sword.” And they killed her outside at the entry of the horses. Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people, that they should be the Lord’s people; also between the king and people. And all the people went into the house of Baal, broke all the altars, smashed the idols, and killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. Everything happened as Jehoiada had commanded it.