With all the palace guards in place and their weapons ready, Jehoiada brought out Joash before the people and crowned him king. He also gave him a copy of God's laws. The king was to receive a copy of the law, make his own copy, and "read from it all the days of his life" (Deuteronomy 17:18–19). Jehoiada's actions strongly contrast with Athaliah's pagan rule.