15. Jehoiada the priest gave orders to the commanders of 100 men who led the army. He said, “Surround her with soldiers. Kill with a sword anyone who follows her.” He said this because he had said, “Don’t put Athaliah to death in the Temple of the Lord.”
16. So they caught her when she came to where the horses enter the palace grounds. There she was put to death.
17. Then Jehoiada made an agreement. It was between the Lord and the king and the people. They agreed to be the Lord’s special people. He also made an agreement between the king and the people.
18. All the people of the land went to the temple of Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols into small pieces. And they killed Mattan, the priest of Baal, in front of the altars.Then Jehoiada the priest placed guards at the Temple of the Lord.
19. He took with him the commanders of 100 men and the Carites, the royal bodyguards. He took the guards and all the people of the land. Together they took the king out of the Temple of the Lord. They went into the palace through the gate of the guards. Then the king sat on the royal throne.
20. So all the people of Judah were very happy. And Jerusalem had peace because Athaliah had been put to death with the sword at the palace.
21. Joash was seven years old when he became king.