23 In the seventh year, Je·hoiʹa·da acted courageously and made a pact* with the chiefs of hundreds,+ namely, Az·a·riʹah the son of Je·roʹham, Ishʹma·el the son of Je·ho·haʹnan, Az·a·riʹah the son of Oʹbed, Ma·a·seiʹah the son of A·daiʹah, and E·li·shaʹphat the son of Zichʹri. 2 Then they went throughout Judah and gathered together the Levites+ from all the cities of Judah and the heads of the paternal houses of Israel. When they came to Jerusalem, 3 the entire congregation made a covenant+ with the king in the house of the true God, after which he said to them:

“Look! The king’s son will reign, just as Jehovah promised concerning the sons of David.+