2 Kings 11:17-20 - Jehoiada's Reforms

¹⁷ The priest Jehoiada had King Jehoash and the people make a covenant with Jehovah that they would be Jehovah's people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people. ¹⁸ The people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and the idols, and killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars. Jehoiada put guards on duty at the Temple, ¹⁹ Jehoiada the priest, the officers, the royal bodyguard, and the palace guards escorted the king from the Temple to the palace. All the people followed them. Jehoash entered by the Guard Gate and took his place on the royal throne. ²⁰ All the people were happy. The city was quiet, now that Athaliah had been killed in the palace.

¹⁶ The priest Jehoiada had King Joash and the people join him. They made a covenant that they would be Jehovah's people. ¹⁷ Then they all went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols. Then they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars.

¹⁸ Jehoiada put the priests and Levites in charge of the work of the Temple. They were to carry out the duties assigned to them by King David. This included burning the sacrifices offered to Jehovah in accordance with the Law of Moses. They were also in charge of the music and the celebrations. ¹⁹ Jehoiada appointed gatekeepers for the gates of Jehovah's temple. That way no one who was unclean for any reason could enter. ²⁰ He took the company commanders, the nobles, the people's governors, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king from Jehovah's Temple. They went through Upper Gate to the royal palace and seated the king on the royal throne. The nobles, the governors of the people, and ²¹ all the people of the land celebrated. The city was quiet because they had killed Athaliah with a sword.