Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 2 Kings 11:5
And he commanded them, saying, This [is] the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you that enter in on the sabbath shall even be keepers of the watch of the king’s house;
5. And he commanded them ] The two things to be provided for were the safety of the young king’s person when it should be known to Athaliah and her party that he was alive, and the guarding of the royal palace, so that no personal troop of Athaliah’s might make an attack on the king’s party, and at the proper moment the palace might be seized and the king brought to it and set on the throne. These duties Jehoiada deputed to the five captains whom he had taken into his confidence. Three bodies of men, presumably each under a captain, are to watch the palace at different points, while two other bodies are to be in charge of the house of the Lord about the king. It is not without interest to observe that this fivefold division of the guards corresponds to the number of the captains selected, though they and their number are only mentioned in the narrative of 2 Chronicles. We see from this, that although we may not, at this distance of time, be able to make clear every detail of the two stories, they fit here very remarkably into each other.
a third part of you that enter [R.V. come ] in on the sabbath ] Those who are to take part in the work that is planned are to be the guards who enter on their duty on the Sabbath, and those who are going off duty. As the words are addressed to the captains over hundreds the ‘of you’ must apply to the soldiers under their command. But it is perfectly intelligible that a somewhat similar arrangement of the Levites might also be made, and that they should take their part in work of restoring the king. From the narrative in 2 Chronicles we see that the priests and Levites were arranged in 3 divisions, one of which was to have the duty of porters, as it seems, at the doors of the temple, another to be at the king’s house, and the third at the gate of the foundation. On this last position see below. Thus, as in the case of the purely military arrangement, the larger number of the priestly and Levitical body was to serve near the royal palace. We note also from Chronicles that the occasion of some feast was arranged as the time for carrying out the plan. For it is said that ‘all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord’.
shall even be keepers of the watch of the king’s house ] R.V. omits ‘even’. The LXX. adds ‘at the doorway’ in the end of this clause. No doubt they would be stationed so as to prevent any one from the palace coming forth, without their consent, to interfere with the proceedings at the temple.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Five divisions of the guard under their five captains are distinguished here. Three of the five divisions enter in on the Sabbath; the other two go forth on the Sabbath 2Ki 11:7. By the former phrase seems to be meant the mounting guard at the royal palace (the kings house, where Athaliah then was); by the latter the serving of escort to the sovereign beyond the palace bounds. Jehoiada orders that of those whose business it would be to guard the palace on the ensuing Sabbath, one company or cohort should perform that task in the ordinary way, while another should watch the gate of Sur – or better, the gate of the foundation 2Ch 23:5 – that by which the palace was usually quitted for the temple, and a third should watch another of the palace gates, called the gate of the guard (see 2Ki 11:19). The two companies whose proper business it would be to serve as the royal escort beyond the palace walls, he orders to enter the temple, and surround the person of the young king.
2Ki 11:6
That it be not broken down – The one word in the original text of which this is a translation occurs nowhere else; and its meaning is very doubtful.
2Ki 11:8
Within the ranges – Rather, within the ranks. If anyone tried to break through the soldiers ranks to the king, or even to disturb their order, he was to be immediately slain.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 5. That enter in on the Sabbath] It appears that Jehoiada chose the Sabbath day to proclaim the young king, because as that was a day of public concourse, the gathering together of the people who were in this secret would not be noticed; and it is likely that they all came unarmed, and were supplied by Jehoiada with the spears and shields which David had laid up in the temple, 2Kg 11:10.
The priests and Levites were divided into twenty-four classes by David, and each served a week by turns in the temple, and it was on the Sabbath that they began the weekly service, all this favoured Jehoiada’s design.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
A third part of you; either,
1. A third part of you, (i.e. of the whole number, including those
that come in and those
that go out on the sabbath,) even
they that enter in on the sabbath;
and so the two other third parts were to consist of those that went out on the sabbath, as some gather from 2Ki 11:6,7. Or rather,
2. A third part only of those that enter in on the sabbath, who seem to be plainly divided into three thirds here, and 2Ki 11:6, as those that went forth on the sabbath are expressly distributed into two parts, 2Ki 11:7. That enter in on the sabbath, i.e. that come into the temple on the sabbath day. For the understanding of this matter, you must know that the Levites were, in and from Davids time, distributed into twenty-four courses, which were to do the work of the temple successively, and by turns; each course consisting of about a thousand men for his week; of which see 1Ch 23; 1Ch 24.
The watch of the kings house; either,
1. Of that bed-chamber where the king now was. But it is unlikely, and without example, either that one bed-chamber, or the temple, or any part of it, should be called the kings house. And besides, the kings person is secured by other persons, 2Ki 11:7. Or rather,
2. Of that part which leadeth to the kings palace, which Athaliah now possessed, and whence they might expect opposition.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And he commanded them, saying, this is the thing that ye shall do,…. These were the rulers over hundreds among the priests and Levites, and which he, as high priest, could command, and whom he could convene without suspicion, being such as he had a connection with, and were unarmed men: and for the better understanding of what follows, it should be observed, that the priests, in the times of David, were divided into twenty four courses, which were by turns to serve a week in the temple; the course that came in entered when the sabbath began, and that which went out went out when it ended, and each course consisted of a thousand men: now with respect to both these courses, both that which went in and that which went out, Jehoiada gave them the following charge:
a third part of you that enter in on the sabbath; on the beginning of it, to do duty in the temple the week following:
shall even be keepers of the watch of the king’s house, which, according to some, was that part of the temple where the king was hid and brought up, supposed to be the north part of it: or rather these were set at the north gate of the temple, which led to the royal palace, lest any should rush out of that, and kill the king.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(5) A third part of you . . . kings house.Rather, the third of you who come in on the Sabbath shall keep the ward of the kings house. (Reading wshmr, as in 2Ki. 11:7.) The troops of the royal guard regularly succeeded each other on duty just as they do in modern European capitals. That the Sabbath was the day on which they relieved each other is known only from this passage; but the priestly and Levitical guilds did the same, and their organisation in many ways resembled that of an army.
The watch of the kings house.There were two places to be occupied for the success of the present movementviz., the royal palace and the Temple, the kings house and the house of the Lord. In the former was Athaliah, the usurping queen, whose movements must be closely watched, and whose adherents must be prevented from occupying and defending the palace; in the latter, the young heir to the throne, who must be protected from attack. That the kings house here means the palace proper is evident from 2Ki. 11:16; 2Ki. 11:19, and, indeed, from the whole narrative. The LXX. adds, at the entry ( )i.e., the grand entrance to the palace itself. This is at least a correct gloss, and may be part of the original text.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
(5, 6) Three companies of the guards to be stationed at the three approaches to the palace.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
5. This is the thing that ye shall do This description (2Ki 11:5-14) of the arrangement of the Levite guards is obscure, and some parts of it difficult to harmonize with the parallel and fuller account in 2Ch 23:4-13. The difficulty comes from our ignorance of some of the terms employed. The gate of Sur and the gate behind the guard are matters of conjecture, on which it is needless to posit a decided opinion. But so long as these gates are unknown, there must rest an obscurity upon the whole passage. We attempt merely to point out what seems to be the most natural and plausible meaning of the words.
You that enter in on the sabbath Those Levites whose turn to enter upon their week of service in the temple came on the particular Sabbath here indicated. The different kinds of service in which they were employed are described in 1Ch 9:17-33, from which passage it appears that a large body of the Levites were constantly required in the temple, and that they relieved each other by turns, one company entering in on the Sabbath when another company, having filled their week, went forth. 2Ki 11:7. “By choosing the Sabbath day,” says Wordsworth, “and by retaining those of the Levitical course whose turn it was to retire from its allotted service, Jehoiada doubled the number of the official forces of the temple without exciting suspicion.”
Shall even be keepers of the watch of the king’s house The king’s house must certainly mean the royal palace, from which there was a magnificent passageway leading up to the house of the Lord. 1Ki 10:5, note. A third part of the Levites here specified, instead of entering the temple as usual, were to stay outside, and guard this way to the royal residence, lest some satellite of Athaliah should discover or interrupt the plot. They are the ones who in 2Ch 23:5 are to be at the king’s house.
2Ki 11:5. A third part of you that enter, &c. The captains, and other officers who were admitted to the knowledge of Jehoiada’s design, came into the temple unarmed, that they might give no suspicion: but as David had erected a kind of sacred armoury in one of the apartments of the temple, wherein were deposited the weapons and other trophies which he and several other generals had gained from their enemies; Jehoiada took care upon the present occasion to have this magazine of military provisions opened, so that there was no want of any sort of arms. See 2Ki 11:10 and Joseph. Antiq. lib. 9: cap. 7.
Young as Joash was, no doubt the sight of him stirred up the minds of the people to love him. And young as he was, the priest took care that the ceremony should be observed the same in his coronation, and with respect to the convention of the people, as if he had arrived to the maturity and ripeness of age for government. He is crowned, anointed: the testimony of the word, even the law is put into his hand, agreeable to what the Lord commanded by Moses: Deu 17:18-19 . And the people ratify their approbation of his government in shouting, God save the king. But, Reader! doth not the view of this coronation, suggest to your mind one of an infinitely higher nature? When the Lord Jesus is brought forth from obscurity to the sinner’s view; when we behold Jesus Christ of Nazareth, anointed with the Holy Ghost and with power, as King in Zion; when the law of his gospel is given to us in him, and by him; and when the Covenant of redemption is revealed to the poor sinner in his blood; oh! what a double coronation is here, when Christ is crowned King of his church, and King in the sinner’s heart! Surely every knee of his people is made with holy joy to bend before him, and, every tongue is constrained to confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
2Ki 11:5 And he commanded them, saying, This [is] the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you that enter in on the sabbath shall even be keepers of the watch of the king’s house;
Ver. 5. And he commanded them. ] For he was protector of the young king, and – as Theodoret styleth Athanasius – the Bulwark of Truth.
That enter in on the Sabbath. Of the king’s house.] Which was very near the temple; however it was with Athaliah, and the recently revolted princes of Judah, according to the common word, The nearer to the church, the farther from God.
that enter in = must come inside.
shall even be = and must be.
that enter: 1Ch 9:25, 1Ch 23:3-6, 1Ch 23:32, 1Ch 24:3-6, Luk 1:8, Luk 1:9
the watch: 2Ki 11:19, 2Ki 16:18, 1Ki 10:5, Jer 26:10, Eze 44:2, Eze 44:3, Eze 46:2, Eze 46:3
Reciprocal: 2Ki 11:7 – go forth 2Ch 23:5 – the king’s house Luk 1:23 – the days
2Ki 11:5-6. A third part of you Of the Levites, who were distributed into twenty-four courses, to minister in turns, each course consisting of about a thousand men for a week. That enter in, &c. That come into the temple to attend your ministry. Shall be keepers of the kings house Of that part which led to the kings palace, which Athaliah now possessed. A third part shall be at the gate of Sur The chief gate of the temple, called the high gate, 2Ki 15:35; the foundation gate, 2Ch 23:5; the east gate, Jer 19:2; the middle gate, Jer 39:3; and the gate of entrance, Eze 40:15. A third part at the gate behind the guard Either, 1st, The kings guard: or, 2d, The guard of the temple; this gate was in the south side. So shall ye keep, &c. So you shall guard all the gates or entrances into the temple, that neither Athaliah nor any of her soldiers may break in.
11:5 And he commanded them, saying, This [is] the thing that ye shall do; A third part of {e} you that enter in on the sabbath shall {f} even be keepers of the watch of the king’s house;
(e) Of the Levites, who had charge of the keeping of the temple, and kept watch by course.
(f) That no one should come on them, while they were crowning the king.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Fuente: Geneva Bible Notes