Queen Athaliah of Judah
(2 Chronicles 22.10-12)1 As soon as Athaliah heard that her son King Ahaziah was dead, she decided to kill any relative who could possibly become king. She would have done that, 2 but Jehosheba rescued Joash son of Ahaziah just as he was about to be murdered. Jehosheba, who was Jehoram's daughter and Ahaziah's half sister, hid her nephew Joash and his personal servant in a bedroom in the Lord's temple where he was safe from Athaliah. 3 Joash hid in the temple with Jehosheba for six years while Athaliah ruled as queen of Judah.
Jehoiada Makes Joash King of Judah
(2 Chronicles 23.1-21)4 Joash son of Ahaziah had hidden in the Lord's temple six years. Then in the seventh year, Jehoiada the priest sent for the commanders of the king's special bodyguards and the commanders of the palace guards. They met him at the temple, and he asked them to make a promise in the name of the Lord. Then he brought out Joash 5 and said to them:
Here's what I want you to do. Three of your guard units will be on duty on the Sabbath. I want one unit to guard the palace. 6 Another unit will guard Sur Gate, and the third unit will guard the palace gate and relieve the palace guards.
7 The other two guard units are supposed to be off duty on the Sabbath. But I want both of them to stay here at the temple and protect King Joash. 8 Make sure they follow him wherever he goes, and tell them to keep their swords ready to kill anyone who tries to get near him.
9 The commanders followed Jehoiada's orders. Each one called together his guards—those coming on duty and those going off duty. 10 Jehoiada brought out the swords and shields that had belonged to King David and gave them to the commanders. 11 Then they gave the weapons to their guards, who took their positions around the temple and the altar to protect Joash on every side.
12 Jehoiada brought Joash outside, where he placed the crown on his head and gave him a copy of instructions for ruling the nation. Olive oil was poured on his head to show that he was now king, while the crowd clapped and shouted, “Long live the king!”
13 Queen Athaliah heard the crowd and went to the temple. 14 There she saw Joash standing by one of the columns, which was the usual place for the king. The singers and the trumpet players were standing next to him, and the people were celebrating and blowing trumpets. Athaliah tore her clothes in anger and shouted, “You betrayed me, you traitors!”
15 At once, Jehoiada said to the army commanders, “Kill her! But don't do it anywhere near the Lord's temple. Take her out in front of the troops and kill anyone who is with her!” 16 So the commanders dragged her to the gate where horses are led into the palace, and they killed her there.
17 Jehoiada the priest asked King Joash and the people to promise that they would be faithful to each other and to the Lord. 18 Then the crowd went to the temple built to honor Baal and tore it down. They smashed the altars and idols and killed Mattan the priest of Baal right in front of the altars.
After Jehoiada had placed guards around the Lord's temple, 19 he called together all the commanders, the king's special bodyguards, the palace guards, and the people. They led Joash from the temple, through the Guards' Gate, and into the palace. He took his place on the throne and became king of Judah. 20 Everyone celebrated because Athaliah had been killed and Jerusalem was peaceful again. 21 Joash was only seven years old when this happened.
Atalia ohamba onghainu yaJuda nefyo layo
1 Atalia, ina yaAhasia, eshi a mona nokutya omona waye omumati okwa dipawa, okwa yandja elombwelo ovakwahamba aveshe vomuJuda va dipawe. 2 Ndelenee Joseba, omona okakadona kohamba Jehoram, omumwaina waAhasia, okwa kufa Joas, okaana okamati kaAhasia nokwe ka kufa mo movana ovamati vohamba, ava va li ve nokudipawa, nokwe ka twala nomunyamifi wako mondjuwo yokunangala. Osho ngaha ve ka holeka Atalia, onghee ko inaka dipawa. 3 Ndele oko ka li ka holekwa mongulu yOmwene omido hamano, fimbo Atalia a pangela oshilongo. 4 Ndelenee momudo omutiheyali Jehoiada okwa ifana kuye mongulu yOmwene ovanefele vOvakari naavo vovakwaita ovananhapo, ndele ta ningi ehangano navo pakwaana mongulu yOmwene, nokwe va ulikila okaana okamati kohamba. 5 Opo nee te va lombwele, ta ti: “Mu nokuninga ngaha: Oshitukulwangudu shimwe shomoitukulwangudu itatu shomunye ava mu nolufo okunangela mEshabata, shi nokunangela pongulu yohamba, 6 noshitukulwangudu oshitivali shomoitukulwangudu itatu poshivelo shaSur, noshitukulwangudu oshititatu 7 Ndele eengudu mbali dimwe deni nokutya, aveshe ovo va dimbuka okunangela mefiku lEshabata, nava nangele ongulu yOmwene pohamba. 8 Ndele mu nokukala ofika mwa dingilila ohamba, keshe umwe e noiti yaye meke laye, ndele keshe umwe ta pumine mo momhola na dipawe. Ndele mu nokukala pohamba, yo ngeenge tai di mo ile tai uya mo.”
9 Ovanefele va ninga ngaashi omupristeli Jehoiada e va lombwela, ndele keshe umwe okwa kufa ovalumenhu vaye, ava ve nolufo okunangela navenya va dimbuka okunangela mefiku lEshabata, ndele ve uya komupristeli Jehoiada. 10 Nomupristeli okwa yandja kovanefele omaonga noikelelifo yohamba David, oyo ya li mongulu yOmwene. 11 Novakwaita ovananhapo, keshe umwe noiti meke laye, va kala ofika okudja kombinga yokoumbuwanhu wongulu, fiyo okombinga yokoumbangalanhu wongulu koaltari nokongulu, va dingilila ohamba. 12 Opo nee Jehoiada okwa eta Joas pondje, nde te mu dike oshishani nokwe mu pa embo lomhango youhamba. Ndele ve mu vaeka, nove mu ninga ohamba. Ndele ovanhu ova pandula nomake avo ndele tava ti: “Ohamba nai kale nomwenyo!” 13 Atalia eshi a uda ondaka yovakwaita ovananhapo noyovanhu, okwe uya kongulu yOmwene. 14 Ye eshi a mona ohamba tai kala ofika pongudi panghedi yoshilongo, pamwe novakulunhu novashiki vomanghuma pohamba, fimbo ovanhu aveshe vomoshilongo va hafa ndele va shika ouxumba, Atalia okwa pombaula oikutu yaye ndele ta ti: “Ekengelelo! Ekengelelo!” 15 Ndelenee omupristeli Jehoiada okwa li ina hala Atalia a dipaelwe popepi notembeli. Onghee a ifana eendjai doita, nde ta ti: “Mu kwateni, mu mu pitifeni mo a upatwa kovaameni vomikweyo mbali. Ndele dipaeni keshe ou ta kendabala oku mu xupifa.” 16 Opo nee ove mu kwata, ndele eshi va fika pomhito yOshivelo Sheenghambe mombala, ove mu dipaa.
17 Ndele Jehoiada okwa ninga ehangano pokati kOmwene nohamba novanhu, vo va ninge oshiwana shOmwene. Nosho yo pokati kohamba noshiwana. 18 Ovanhu aveshe va ya motembeli yaBaal, ndele tave i ngumauna po, nova tataula po oaltari noiyelekelafano, nova dipaela Mattan, omupristeli waBaal, komesho yoaltari. Omupristeli Jehoiada okwa tula vali ovanangeli pongulu yOmwene. 19 Opo nee a kufa ovanefele novakulunhu vOvakari novakwaita ovananhapo novanhu aveshe vomoshilongo. Ndele va kufa ohamba mongulu yOmwene ndele mokupita moshivelo shovakwaita ovananhapo ve i twala mongulu yohamba ndele ve i kaleka omutumba kolukalwapangelo. 20 Novanhu aveshe vomoshilongo va hafa, noshilando sha tulumukwa. Ndelenee va dipaa neongamukonda Atalia meumbo lohamba. 21 Omido daJoas da li heyali, ye eshi a ninga ohamba.
