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
This occurs during the overthrow of Queen Athaliah, who had murdered most of the royal family and seized power in Judah. Jehoiada the priest had secretly preserved the young prince Joash and was now orchestrating a coup to restore the rightful king. Athaliah had just discovered the plot when she came to the temple and saw Joash being crowned.
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