1. Now Ahaziah’s mother, Athaliah, saw that her son was dead. Then she killed all the royal family.
2. But Jehosheba took Joash, Ahaziah’s son. She stole him from among the other sons of the king who were about to be murdered. (Jehosheba was King Jehoram’s daughter and Ahaziah’s sister.) She put Joash and his nurse in a bedroom. She hid Joash from Athaliah. So he was not killed.
3. He was hidden with her in the Temple of the Lord for six years. During that time Athaliah ruled the land.
4. In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of groups of 100 men. He sent for guards and the Carites, the royal bodyguards. He brought them together in the Temple of the Lord. Then he made an agreement with them. There, in the Temple of the Lord, he made them promise loyalty. Then he showed them the king’s son.
5. He commanded them, “This is what you must do. A third of you who come in on the Sabbath will guard the king’s palace.
6. Another third of you will be at the Sur Gate. And another third will be at the gate behind the guard. This way you will guard the Temple.
7. Two groups will go off duty on the Sabbath. They must protect the Temple of the Lord for the king.