1. And Athalyah was the mother of Aḥazyahu. And when she saw that her son was dead, she arose and destroyed all the offspring of the reign.
2. But Yehosheḇa, the daughter of Sovereign Yoram, sister of Aḥazyahu, took Yo’ash son of Aḥazyah, and stole him away from among the sons of the sovereign’s sons who were put to death. So they hid him and his nurse in the bedroom, from Athalyahu, and he was not put to death.
3. And he remained with her in hiding in the House of יהוה for six years, while Athalyah was reigning over the land.
4. And in the seventh year Yehoyaḏa sent and brought the commanders of hundreds, with the Karites and the runners, and brought them into the House of יהוה to him. And he made a covenant with them and took an oath from them in the House of יהוה, and showed them the son of the sovereign.
5. And he commanded them, saying, “This is what you are to do: One-third of you who come in on the Sabbath to be on guard in the sovereign’s house,
6. and one-third at the gate of Sur, and one-third at the gate behind the runners. And you shall be on guard in the house, lest it be broken down.
7. “And the two detachments of you who are going out on the Sabbath shall be on guard in the House of יהוה for the sovereign.
8. “And you shall surround the sovereign on all sides, every man with his weapons in his hand. And whoever comes within the ranks, let him be put to death. And be with the sovereign as he goes out and as he comes in.”
9. So the commanders of the hundreds did according to all that Yehoyaḏa the priest commanded. And each of them took his men who were going in on the Sabbath, with those who were going out on the Sabbath, and came to Yehoyaḏa the priest.