Jehoiada Restores the Worship of the LORD
Jehoiada makes covenant between the LORD, the king, and the people so that they will be the LORD’s people, and also between king and people. In response, the people tear down Baal’s temple, destroy its altars and images, and kill Baal’s priest.
T17hen Jehoiada made a covenant between the LORD and the king and the people that they would be the LORD’s people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people. 18So all the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols to pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.
Jehoiada arranges guards for the house of the LORD and leads the king with the commanders, guards, and people into the palace, where Joash takes the throne. The land rejoices, the city grows quiet after Athaliah’s death, and the new king is seven years old.
19And Jehoiada the priest posted guards for the house of the LORD. He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD and entered the royal palace by way of the Gate of the Guards. 20Then Joash took his seat on the royal throne, and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been put to the sword at the royal palace. 21Joash was seven years old when he became king.