Immerse: Kingdoms Full Volume - Flipbook - Page 255
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SAMUEL–KINGS
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you are to stand guard at the Sur Gate. And the final third must stand guard
behind the palace guard. These three groups will all guard the palace. The
other two units who are off duty on the Sabbath must stand guard for the
king at the Lord’s Temple. Form a bodyguard around the king and keep
your weapons in hand. Kill anyone who tries to break through. Stay with
the king wherever he goes.”
So the commanders did everything as Jehoiada the priest ordered. The
commanders took charge of the men reporting for duty that Sabbath, as
well as those who were going off duty. They brought them all to Jehoiada
the priest, and he supplied them with the spears and small shields that had
once belonged to King David and were stored in the Temple of the Lord.
The palace guards stationed themselves around the king, with their weapons ready. They formed a line from the south side of the Temple around
to the north side and all around the altar.
Then Jehoiada brought out Joash, the king’s son, placed the crown on
his head, and presented him with a copy of God’s laws. They anointed him
and proclaimed him king, and everyone clapped their hands and shouted,
“Long live the king!”
When Athaliah heard the noise made by the palace guards and the
people, she hurried to the Lord’s Temple to see what was happening.
When she arrived, she saw the newly crowned king standing in his place
of authority by the pillar, as was the custom at times of coronation. The
commanders and trumpeters were surrounding him, and people from all
over the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. When Athaliah saw
all this, she tore her clothes in despair and shouted, “Treason! Treason!”
Then Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders who were in charge
of the troops, “Take her to the soldiers in front of the Temple, and kill
anyone who tries to rescue her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be
killed in the Temple of the Lord.” So they seized her and led her out to
the gate where horses enter the palace grounds, and she was killed there.
Then 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. And all the people of the land went over
to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They demolished the altars and
smashed the idols to pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal in
front of the altars.
Jehoiada the priest stationed guards at the Temple of the Lord. Then
the commanders, the Carite mercenaries, the palace guards, and all the
people of the land escorted the king from the Temple of the Lord. They
went through the gate of the guards and into the palace, and the king took
his seat on the royal throne. So all the people of the land rejoiced, and the
city was peaceful because Athaliah had been killed at the king’s palace.