2 Kings 11: Athaliah’s Usurpation and Jehoiada’s Rightful Leadership – Clear & Engaging Audio Bible Reading | The Queen’s Reign, Joram’s Death, Jehoash’s Coronation, and Athaliah’s Punishment

Listen to the gripping events of 2 Kings 11 with this clear and engaging audio recording. Follow the story of Queen Athaliah’s usurpation of the throne, Joram’s death, Jehoash’s coronation as the rightful king, and Athaliah’s well-deserved punishment. Perfect for study, reflection, or meditation, immerse yourself in this powerful chapter and let the Scriptures come alive.

2 KINGS 11 (NIV)

1 When Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she
proceeded to destroy the whole royal family.

2 But Jehosheba, the daughter of
King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash son of Ahaziah and stole him
away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put him
and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed.

3
He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the Lord for six years
while Athaliah ruled the land.

4 In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of units of a hundred,
the Carites and the guards and had them brought to him at the temple of the
Lord. He made a covenant with them and put them under oath at the temple of
the Lord. Then he showed them the king’s son.

5 He commanded them, saying,
“This is what you are to do: You who are in the three companies that are going
on duty on the Sabbath—a third of you guarding the royal palace,

6 a third at
the Sur Gate, and a third at the gate behind the guard, who take turns
guarding the temple—

7 and you who are in the other two companies that
normally go off Sabbath duty are all to guard the temple for the king.

8
Station yourselves around the king, each of you with weapon in hand. Anyone
who approaches your ranks is to be put to death. Stay close to the king
wherever he goes.”

9 The commanders of units of a hundred 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—and came to Jehoiada the priest.

10 Then he gave
the commanders the spears and shields that had belonged to King David and that
were in the temple of the Lord.

11 The guards, each with weapon in hand,
stationed themselves around the king—near the altar and the temple, from the
south side to the north side of the temple.

12 Jehoiada brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him; he presented
him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him,
and the people clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!”

13 When Athaliah heard the noise made by the guards and the people, she went
to the people at the temple of the Lord.

14 She looked and there was the king,
standing by the pillar, as the custom was. The officers and the trumpeters
were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and
blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her robes and called out, “Treason!
Treason!”

15 Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of units of a hundred, who were
in charge of the troops: “Bring her out between the ranks and put to the sword
anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to
death in the temple of the Lord.”

16 So they seized her as she reached the
place where the horses enter the palace grounds, and there she was put to
death.

17 Jehoiada then made a covenant between the Lord and the king and people that
they would be the Lord’s people. He also made a covenant 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 to pieces and killed Mattan the
priest of Baal in front of the altars.
Then Jehoiada the priest posted guards at the temple of the Lord.

19 He took
with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards and all the
people of the land, and together they brought the king down from the temple of
the Lord and went into the palace, entering by way of the gate of the guards.
The king then took his place on the royal throne.

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

21 Joash was seven years old when he began to reign.