2 Tawarikh 23:11-13

23:11 Jehoiada and his sons led out the king’s son and placed on him the crown and the royal insignia. ¹  They proclaimed him king and poured olive oil on his head. ²  They declared, “Long live the king!”

23:12 When Athaliah heard the royal guard ³  shouting and praising the king, she joined the crowd ⁴  at the Lord’s temple. 23:13 Then she saw ⁵  the king standing by his pillar at the entrance. The officers and trumpeters stood beside the king and all the people of the land were celebrating and blowing trumpets, and the musicians with various instruments were leading the celebration. Athaliah tore her clothes and yelled, “Treason! Treason!” ⁶ 

[23:11]  ¹ tn The Hebrew word עֵדוּת (’edut) normally means “witness” or “testimony.” Here it probably refers to some tangible symbol of kingship, perhaps a piece of jewelry such as an amulet or neck chain (see the discussion in M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings [AB], 128). Some suggest that a document is in view, perhaps a copy of the royal protocol or of the stipulations of the Davidic covenant (see HALOT 790-91 s.v.).

[23:11]  ² tn Or “they made him king and anointed him.”

[23:12]  ³ tn Heb “and Athaliah heard the sound of the people, the runners.”

[23:12]  ⁴ tn Heb “she came to the people.”

[23:13]  ⁵ tn Heb “and she saw, and behold.”

[23:13]  ⁶ tn Or “Conspiracy! Conspiracy!”