Then the priests and the prophets spoke to the officials and to all the people, saying, “This man deserves to die! For he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your ears.”
Yet, Lord, You know all their counsel against me to slay me. Do not forgive their iniquity nor blot out their sin from Your sight; but let them be overthrown before You; deal thus with them in the time of Your anger.
Then the officials and all the people said to the priests and to the prophets, “This man is not worthy of death, for he has spoken to us in the name of the Lord our God.”
Therefore the officials said to the king, “We beseech you, let this man be put to death, for he thus weakens the hands of the men of war who remain in this city and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words to them, for this man does not seek the welfare of this people, but their harm.”
But the prophet, who presumes to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who shall speak in the name of other gods—that prophet shall die.”
Then the men of the city said to Joash, “Bring out your son so that he may die, for he tore down the altar of Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.”