2 Chronicles 23
All 21 verses in the Clear Bible Translation. Tap a verse to compare the KJV and read what it means.
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- 1In the seventh year, Jehoiada strengthened himself and made a covenant with the captains of hundreds: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zichri.
- 2They traveled throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from every city, along with the heads of Israel's leading families. Together they all came to Jerusalem.
- 3All the congregation made a covenant with the king in the house of God. He said to them, "Look, the king's son will reign, as the LORD has said of the sons of David."
- 4This is what you shall do: a third of you priests and Levites who come on duty on the Sabbath will serve as doorkeepers.
- 5"A third will be stationed at the royal palace, and a third at the Gate of the Foundation. Everyone else will stand in the courtyards of the LORD's house."
- 6No one is to enter the house of the LORD except the priests and the Levites who are serving; they may enter because they are holy. All the other people must keep the watch of the LORD.
- 7The Levites will form a ring around the king, each man with his weapon drawn. Anyone else who tries to enter the temple must be killed. Stay with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.
- 8The Levites and all of Judah carried out Jehoiada's orders exactly. Each commander brought his men — both those coming on duty for the Sabbath and those going off duty — because Jehoiada didn't dismiss any of the rotating divisions.
- 9Jehoiada also handed out the spears, small shields, and large shields that had belonged to King David, which had been stored in the house of God.
- 10He positioned all the people, each man with his weapon in hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side, along the altar and the temple, surrounding the king.
- 11Then they brought out the king's son, placed the crown on him, and gave him the testimony, and made him king. Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and said, 'God save the king.'
- 12When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she went to the house of the LORD where the people were.
- 13There she saw the king standing by his pillar at the entrance, with the commanders and trumpeters beside him. All the people of the land were celebrating, blowing trumpets, and the singers with musical instruments, along with those who taught to sing praise. Athaliah tore her clothes and shouted, 'Treason! Treason!'
- 14Jehoiada the priest called out the military commanders and ordered them, "Take her out from the ranks. Anyone who follows her must be killed with the sword." He had specifically instructed them, "Don't kill her inside the LORD's house."
- 15So they seized her, and when she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate near the royal palace, they killed her there.
- 16Then Jehoiada established a covenant between himself, all the people, and the king — pledging that they would be the LORD's people.
- 17Then all the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed his altars and his idols to pieces and killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, right in front of the altars.
- 18Jehoiada also restored the duties at the LORD's house, placing them under the supervision of the Levitical priests just as David had originally organized them — to offer burnt offerings to the LORD as written in the law of Moses, with joyful celebration and singing, following the arrangements David had established.
- 19He stationed gatekeepers at the gates of the LORD's house so that no one who was unclean for any reason could enter.
- 20Then he assembled the commanders, the nobles, the governors, and all the people of the land. Together they escorted the king down from the LORD's house, through the Upper Gate, and into the royal palace, where they seated him on the throne.
- 21All the people of the land celebrated, and the city was peaceful. Athaliah had been put to death by the sword.