2 Chronicles 23 in plain modern English. New Ground English Translation.

In the seventh year, Jehoiada gathered his courage and brought the commanders of hundreds into a pact with him: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zikri.

They traveled throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from all the towns of Judah, along with the heads of Israelite families. Then they came to Jerusalem.

The whole assembly made a covenant with the king in God's house. Jehoiada said to them, "Here is the king's son! He will reign, just as Yahweh promised about the descendants of David."

"Here is what you are to do: A third of you priests and Levites who are coming on duty on the Sabbath are to guard the doors,"

"a third will be stationed at the royal palace, a third at the Foundation Gate, and all the rest of the people will be in the courtyards of Yahweh's house."

"No one is to enter Yahweh's house except the priests and the Levites who are on duty. They may enter because they are set apart for this. But everyone else must carry out the responsibility Yahweh has given them."

"The Levites are to surround the king, each man with his weapons in hand. Anyone who enters the temple is to be killed. Stay with the king wherever he goes — when he comes in and when he goes out."

The Levites and all of Judah did everything Jehoiada the priest had ordered. Each commander took his men — both those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty — because Jehoiada the priest had not released any of the divisions.

Then Jehoiada the priest gave the commanders of hundreds the spears and the large and small shields that had belonged to King David and were kept in God's house.

He positioned all the people — each with weapon in hand — from the south side of the temple to the north side, surrounding the altar and the temple, with the king at the center.

Then they brought out the king's son, placed the crown on him, and gave him the written covenant. They proclaimed him king, and Jehoiada and his sons anointed him. The people shouted, "Long live the king!"

When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and cheering for the king, she went to the people at Yahweh's house.

She looked — and there was the king, standing by his pillar at the entrance! The commanders and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were celebrating and blowing trumpets, and the singers with their instruments were leading the praise. Athaliah tore her robes and screamed, "Treason! Treason!"

Jehoiada the priest sent out the commanders of hundreds who were in charge of the troops and said to them, "Bring her out between the ranks. Anyone who follows her — put to death with the sword." For the priest had said, "Do not put her to death in Yahweh's house."

So they seized her as she reached the entrance of the Horse Gate to the royal palace, and they put her to death there.

Then Jehoiada made a covenant between himself, all the people, and the king that they would be Yahweh's people.

Then all the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed its altars and its images to pieces and killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, right in front of the altars.

Jehoiada placed the oversight of Yahweh's house under the priests and the Levites, whom David had organized to serve at Yahweh's house — to offer Yahweh's burnt offerings as written in the instruction of Moses, with celebration and singing, following David's arrangements.

He also stationed gatekeepers at the gates of Yahweh's house so that no one who was in any way unclean could enter.

He took the commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the governors of the people, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from Yahweh's house. They entered the royal palace through the Upper Gate and seated the king on the royal throne.

All the people of the land celebrated, and the city was at peace. As for Athaliah — they had put her to death with the sword.