2 Kings 11
1NOW when Gotholia the mother of Ochozias saw that her son was dead, she destroyed all the royal seed.
2But Josabee king Joram’s daughter, the sister of Ochozias, took Joas her brother’s son—having stolen him from among the king’s sons who were slain, both him and his nurse, she hid him in the chamber of beds from Gotholia, so that he was not put to death.
3And he was with her hidden in the house of the Lord six years, while Gotholia reigned over the land.
4But in the seventh year Jodae sent for the centurions of the Chorrites and the Rasimites, and had them brought to him into the house of the Lord, and made a covenant of the Lord with them; and having exacted an oath of them he shewed them the king’s son.
5Then he gave them a charge saying, This is the thing which you shall do.
6Let one third of you come in on the sabbath and keep guard, over the king’s house at the gate; another third at the gate of the highway, and the other third at the gate behind the guards. So you will guard the house.
7And two companies among you even all who go out on the sabbath shall keep guard in the house of the Lord before the king.
8And you shall encompass the king round about, every man with his weapon in his hand. And whoever cometh within their ranks, let him be put to death. And they shall be with the king when he goeth out and when he cometh in.
9Accordingly the centurions did all that the prudent Jodae commanded them. And they took every man his men, both those who came in on duty on the sabbath and those who were to go off on that day, and went to Jodae the priest.
10And the priest gave the centurions the spears and the shields of king David, which were in the house of the Lord.
11And the guards stood every man with his weapon in his hand, from the right corner of the house to the corner of the house which is on the left of the altar, and of the house near the king round about.
12Then he sent for the king’s son and put upon him the crown and the testimony, and announcing him king, anointed him. Upon which they clapped with the hand, and said, Long live the king.
13When Gotholia heard the noise of the people’s guards, she came to the people into the house of the Lord and looked.
14And behold the king was standing on the pillar as the manner was, and the musicians and the trumpeters were before the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and the trumpets sounding. Whereupon Gotholia rent her clothes and cried with a loud voice, Treason! Treason!
15Then Jodae the priest gave orders to the centurions the officers of the army, and said to them, Lead her out from within the ranks and let one go after her and put her to death with the sword. Because the priest said, Let her not be killed in the house of the Lord,
16therefore they laid hands on her and went out into the street leading from the king’s house to the horse gate, and she was slain there.
17Then Jodae made a covenant between the Lord and the king and the people, that they would be the Lord’s people. And he made a covenant also between the king and the people.
18Then all the people of the land went into the house of Baal and tore him down and broke all to pieces, his altars and his images, and slew Mathan the priest of Baal before the altar. And when the priest had appointed overseers over the house of the Lord,
19he took the centurions with the Chorrites and the Rasimites and all the people of the land and they conducted the king out of the house of the Lord into the street leading from the king’s house to the gate of the guardhouse, and set him on the throne of the kings.
20And all the people of the land rejoiced, and the city was at peace after they had slain Gotholia at the king’s house.