12. Jehoiada brought Joash outside, where he placed the crown on his head and gave him a copy of instructions for ruling the nation. Olive oil was poured on his head to show that he was now king, while the crowd clapped and shouted, “Long live the king!”
13. Queen Athaliah heard the crowd and went to the temple.
14. There she saw Joash standing by one of the columns, which was the usual place for the king. The singers and the trumpet players were standing next to him, and the people were celebrating and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes in anger and shouted, “You betrayed me, you traitors!”
15. Straight away, Jehoiada said to the army commanders, “Kill her! But don't do it anywhere near the Lord's temple. Take her out in front of the troops and kill anyone who is with her!”
16. So the commanders dragged her to the gate where horses are led into the palace, and they killed her there.
17. Jehoiada the priest asked King Joash and the people to promise that they would be faithful to each other and to the Lord.
18. Then the crowd went to the temple built to honour Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.After Jehoiada had placed guards around the Lord's temple,
19. he called together all the commanders, the king's special bodyguards, the palace guards, and the people. They led Joash from the temple, through the Guards' Gate, and into the palace. He took his place on the throne and became king of Judah.
20. Everyone celebrated because Athaliah had been killed and Jerusalem was peaceful again.
21. Joash was only seven years old when this happened.