Jehoiada the Priest

Jehoiada was the high priest who secretly protected the infant Joash, the only surviving heir of the royal line of David, hiding him in the Temple for six years after the usurper queen Athaliah slaughtered the rest of the royal family. In the seventh year, Jehoiada organized the palace guards, brought out the young king along with weapons and shields once belonging to David, and had him publicly crowned and anointed. When Athaliah heard the celebration and rushed in crying treason, Jehoiada had her taken outside and executed, then led the people in renewing their covenant with God and tearing down the temple of Baal. Jehoiada continued to guide the young king wisely throughout his own long life, and his death was mourned as that of a man who had done good in Israel toward both God and the royal house.