Then Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds that were set over the host, and said unto them, Have her forth of the ranges: and whoso followeth her, let him be slain with the sword. For the priest said, Slay her not in the house of the LORD.
Then Jehoiada the priest called out the military commanders who were in charge of the army, and said to them, 'Take her out from the temple area, and kill anyone who follows her with the sword. The priest said this because he didn't want her killed inside the LORD's house.'
The priest Jehoiada orders the military commanders to remove the wicked queen Athaliah from the temple and execute her outside, because he wanted to keep God's house from being defiled by bloodshed.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of 2 Chronicles, Queen Athaliah had seized the throne of Judah after killing her grandchildren in an attempt to eliminate the royal line, ruling tyrannically for six years. Jehoiada the priest, who had secretly protected the young prince Joash, the rightful heir, organized the priests, Levites, and military commanders to stage a coup and restore the Davidic monarchy. This event unfolded in the temple, highlighting the priesthood's role in upholding God's covenant and preventing sacrilege within His house.
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