2 Chronicles 23:12-15·~1 min

The Death of Athaliah

Athaliah enters the house of the LORD at the sound of the rejoicing and sees the newly crowned king surrounded by officials, trumpeters, singers, and the gladness of the people.

W¹²hen Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and cheering the king, she went out to them in the house of the LORD. ¹³And she looked and saw the king standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets, while the singers with musical instruments were leading the praises.

Jehoiada orders Athaliah taken out and killed away from the house of the LORD, and she is executed at the Horse Gate on the palace grounds.

¹⁴And Jehoiada the priest sent out the commanders of hundreds in charge of the army, saying, “Bring her out between the ranks, and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the house of the LORD.” ¹⁵So they seized Athaliah as she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate on the palace grounds, and there they put her to death.

Section summaryAthaliah hears the noise of Joash’s coronation and comes into the house of the LORD, where she sees the king surrounded by celebration and praise. Jehoiada has her removed from the holy place and executed on the palace grounds.

Role in the chapterThis section removes the usurper without letting blood be shed in the temple. It clears the way for the true king’s rule by separating judgment from the house of the LORD.