Ahaziah was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned one year in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name was Athaliah the granddaughter of Omri king of Israel.

When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she rose and destroyed all the royal offspring.

But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Joram, sister of Ahaziah, took Joash the son of Ahaziah and stole him from among the king’s sons who were being put to death, and placed him and his nurse in the bedroom. So they hid him from Athaliah, and he was not put to death.

So he was hidden with her in the house of the Lord six years, while Athaliah was reigning over the land.

When Athaliah heard the noise of the guard and of the people, she came to the people in the house of the Lord.

She looked and behold, the king was standing by the pillar, according to the custom, with the captains and the trumpeters beside the king; and all the people of the land rejoiced and blew trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and cried, “Treason! Treason!”

So all the people of the land rejoiced and the city was quiet. For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword at the king’s house.