2 Chronicles 23: Joash Crowned as King – Clear & Engaging Audio Bible Reading | A Priest’s Plan, Athaliah’s Downfall, and Joash’s Reign

Listen to this clear and engaging audio recording of 2 Chronicles 23, where a priest named Jehoiada devised a plan to crown Joash as king of Judah and overthrow Athaliah, the wicked queen mother who was ruling the land. Experience the captivating events of how the priest gathered the Levites and the leaders of Judah, how Athaliah was brought down, and how Joash began his reign at the young age of seven. Perfect for Bible study, spiritual reflection, or meditation, immerse yourself in this powerful chapter and let the Scriptures come alive.

2 CHRONICLES 23 (NIV)

1 In the seventh year Jehoiada showed his strength. He made a covenant with
the commanders of units of a hundred: Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of
Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of
Zikri.

2 They went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites and the heads of
Israelite families from all the towns. When they came to Jerusalem,

3 the
whole assembly made a covenant with the king at the temple of God.
Jehoiada said to them, “The king’s son shall reign, as the Lord promised
concerning the descendants of David.

4 Now this is what you are to do: A third
of you priests and Levites who are going on duty on the Sabbath are to keep
watch at the doors,

5 a third of you at the royal palace and a third at the
Foundation Gate, and all the others are to be in the courtyards of the temple
of the Lord.

6 No one is to enter the temple of the Lord except the priests
and Levites on duty; they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the
others are to observe the Lord’s command not to enter.

7 The Levites are to
station themselves around the king, each with weapon in hand. Anyone who
enters the temple is to be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he
goes.”

8 The Levites and all the men of Judah did just as Jehoiada the priest
ordered. Each one took his men—those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and
those who were going off duty—for Jehoiada the priest had not released any of
the divisions.

9 Then he gave the commanders of units of a hundred the spears
and the large and small shields that had belonged to King David and that were
in the temple of God.

10 He stationed all the men, each with his weapon in his
hand, around the king—near the altar and the temple, from the south side to
the north side of the temple.

11 Jehoiada and his sons brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him;
they presented him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They
anointed him and shouted, “Long live the king!”

12 When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and cheering the king,
she went to them at the temple of the Lord.

13 She looked, and there was the
king, standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and the trumpeters
were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and
blowing trumpets, and musicians with their instruments were leading the
praises. Then Athaliah tore her robes and shouted, “Treason! Treason!”

14 Jehoiada the priest sent out the commanders of units of a hundred, who were
in charge of the troops, and said to them: “Bring her out between the ranks
and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “Do not
put her to death at the temple of the Lord.”

15 So they seized her as she
reached the entrance of the Horse Gate on the palace grounds, and there they
put her to death.

16 Jehoiada then made a covenant that he, the people and the king would be the
Lord’s people.

17 All the people went to the temple of Baal and tore it down.
They smashed the altars and idols and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in
front of the altars.

18 Then Jehoiada placed the oversight of the temple of the Lord in the hands
of the Levitical priests, to whom David had made assignments in the temple, to
present the burnt offerings of the Lord as written in the Law of Moses, with
rejoicing and singing, as David had ordered.

19 He also stationed gatekeepers
at the gates of the Lord’s temple so that no one who was in any way unclean
might enter.

20 He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the
people and all the people of the land and brought the king down from the
temple of the Lord. They went into the palace through the Upper Gate and
seated the king on the royal throne.

21 All the people of the land rejoiced,
and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword.