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2 Chronicles 23:4 This is what you are to do: A third of you priests and Levites who come on duty on the Sabbath shall keep watch at the doors,
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>2 Chronicles 23:4 This is what you are to do: A third of you priests and Levites who come on duty on the Sabbath shall keep watch at the doors,</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/2_chronicles/23-4.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/17/14_2Ch_23_04.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="2 Chronicles 23:4 - Joash Anointed King in Judah" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="This is what you are to do: A third of you priests and Levites who come on duty on the Sabbath shall keep watch at the doors," /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/2_chronicles/23-4.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/2_chronicles/23-4.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/2_chronicles/">2 Chronicles</a> > <a href="/2_chronicles/23.htm">Chapter 23</a> > Verse 4</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad4.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/2_chronicles/23-3.htm" title="2 Chronicles 23:3">◄</a> 2 Chronicles 23:4 <a href="/2_chronicles/23-5.htm" title="2 Chronicles 23:5">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#audio" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Audio Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Cross </a> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Study Bible"> Study </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Heb </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/2_chronicles/23.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter"> (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/2_chronicles/23.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Now this is what you are to do: A third of you priests and Levites who are going on duty on the Sabbath are to keep watch at the doors,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/2_chronicles/23.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />This is what you must do. When you priests and Levites come on duty on the Sabbath, a third of you will serve as gatekeepers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/2_chronicles/23.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />This is the thing that you shall do: of you priests and Levites who come off duty on the Sabbath, one third shall be gatekeepers,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/2_chronicles/23.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />This is what you are to do: A third of you priests and Levites who come on duty on the Sabbath shall keep watch at the doors,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/2_chronicles/23.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />This <i>is</i> the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, <i>shall be</i> porters of the doors;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/2_chronicles/23.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />This <i>is</i> what you shall do: One-third of you entering on the Sabbath, of the priests and the Levites, <i>shall be</i> keeping watch over the doors;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/2_chronicles/23.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />This is the thing which you shall do: a third of you, of the priests and Levites who come in on the Sabbath, <i>shall be</i> gatekeepers,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/2_chronicles/23.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />“This is the thing which you shall do: one third of you, of the priests and Levites who come in on the sabbath, shall be gatekeepers,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/2_chronicles/23.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“This is the thing which you shall do: one third of you, of the priests and Levites who come in on the sabbath, <i>shall be</i> gatekeepers,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/2_chronicles/23.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />This is the thing which you shall do: one-third of you, of the priests and Levites who come in on the sabbath, <i>shall be</i> gatekeepers at the thresholds,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/2_chronicles/23.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />This is what you shall do: a third of you, of the priests and Levites who are resuming service on the Sabbath, shall be gatekeepers,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/2_chronicles/23.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />This is what you are to do: a third of you, priests and Levites who are coming on duty on the Sabbath, are to be gatekeepers.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/2_chronicles/23.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />This is what you are to do: a third of you, priests and Levites who are coming on duty on the Sabbath, are to be gatekeepers. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/2_chronicles/23.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />This is the thing that ye shall do: a third part of you, that come in on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the thresholds;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/2_chronicles/23.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Here is what we will do. Three groups of priests and Levites will be on guard duty on the Sabbath--one group will guard the gates of the temple, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/2_chronicles/23.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />This is the thing that ye shall do: a third part of you, that come in on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doors;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/2_chronicles/23.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />This is what you must do: One third of you, the priests and Levites who are on duty on the day of worship, must guard the gates.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/2_chronicles/23.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />This is what we will do. When the priests and Levites come on duty on the Sabbath, one third of them will guard the Temple gates, <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/2_chronicles/23.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />So here's what you'll need to do: One third of you priests and descendants of Levi who are on duty during the Sabbath will serve as guards at the temple gates. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/2_chronicles/23.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />This is what you are to do: A third of you priests and Levites who come on duty on the Sabbath shall keep watch at the doors,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/2_chronicles/23.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />This is what you must do. One third of you priests and Levites who are on duty during the Sabbath will guard the doors.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/2_chronicles/23.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />This is the thing that you shall do. A third part of you, who come in on the Sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be gatekeepers of the thresholds.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/2_chronicles/23.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />This is the thing that ye shall do: A third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests, and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doors;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/2_chronicles/23.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />This is the thing that you must do: a third part of you, who come in on the Sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be gatekeepers of the thresholds. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/2_chronicles/23.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />This [is] the thing that you do: the third of you, going in on the Sabbath, of the priests, and of the Levites, [are] for gatekeepers of the thresholds,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/2_chronicles/23.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> This is the thing that ye do: The third of you, going in on the sabbath, of the priests, and of the Levites, are for gatekeepers of the thresholds,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/2_chronicles/23.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />This the word which ye shall do; the third of you coming in the Sabbath to the priests and to the Levites, to the gates of the thresholds;<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/2_chronicles/23.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And this is the thing that you shall do: <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/2_chronicles/23.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Therefore, this is the word that you shall do:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/2_chronicles/23.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />This is what you must do: a third of your number, both priests and Levites, who come on duty on the sabbath must guard the thresholds,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/2_chronicles/23.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />This is what you are to do: one-third of you, priests and Levites, who come on duty on the sabbath, shall be gatekeepers,<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/2_chronicles/23.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />This is the thing that you shall do: a third part of you who enter the temple on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites and of the porters shall be on guard;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/2_chronicles/23.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />This is the thing that you shall do: a division of you in the going in of the Sabbath, of the Priests and of the Levites, and of the Guards of the doors<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/2_chronicles/23.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />This is the thing that ye shall do: a third part of you, that come in on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doors;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/2_chronicles/23.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />Now this <i>is</i> the thing which ye shall do. Let a third part of you, <i>even</i> of the priests and of the Levites, enter in on the sabbath, even into the gates of the entrances;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/2_chronicles/23-4.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zGrb4955Tvs?start=5541" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/2_chronicles/23.htm">Joash Anointed King in Judah</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">3</span>the whole assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. “Behold, the king’s son!” said Jehoiada. “He must reign, just as the LORD promised concerning the descendants of David. <span class="reftext">4</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/2088.htm" title="2088: zeh (Pro-ms) -- This, here. A primitive word; the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that.">This</a> <a href="/hebrew/1697.htm" title="1697: had·dā·ḇār (Art:: N-ms) -- Speech, word. From dabar; a word; by implication, a matter or thing; adverbially, a cause."></a> <a href="/hebrew/834.htm" title="834: ’ă·šer (Pro-r) -- Who, which, that. A primitive relative pronoun; who, which, what, that; also when, where, how, because, in order that, etc.">is what</a> <a href="/hebrew/6213.htm" title="6213: ta·‘ă·śū (V-Qal-Imperf-2mp) -- To do, make. A primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application.">you are to do:</a> <a href="/hebrew/7992.htm" title="7992: haš·šə·li·šîṯ (Art:: Number-ofs) -- Ordinal from shalowsh; third; feminine a third; by extension, a third; specifically, a third-story cell).">A third</a> <a href="/hebrew/mik·kem (Prep:: 2mp) -- ">of you</a> <a href="/hebrew/3548.htm" title="3548: lak·kō·hă·nîm (Prep-l, Art:: N-mp) -- Priest. Active participle of kahan; literally, one officiating, a priest; also an acting priest.">priests</a> <a href="/hebrew/3881.htm" title="3881: wə·lal·wî·yim (Conj-w, Prep-l:: N-proper-mp) -- Desc. of Levi. Or Leviy; patronymically from Leviy; a Levite or descendant of Levi.">and Levites</a> <a href="/hebrew/935.htm" title="935: bā·’ê (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mpc) -- To come in, come, go in, go. A primitive root; to go or come.">who come on duty</a> <a href="/hebrew/7676.htm" title="7676: haš·šab·bāṯ (Art:: N-cs) -- Sabbath. Intensive from shabath; intermission, i.e the Sabbath.">on the Sabbath</a> <a href="/hebrew/7778.htm" title="7778: lə·šō·‘ă·rê (Prep-l:: N-mpc) -- A gatekeeper. Or shomer: active participle of sha'ar; a janitor.">shall keep watch</a> <a href="/hebrew/5592.htm" title="5592: has·sip·pîm (Art:: N-mp) -- A vestibule, a dish. From caphaph, in its original sense of containing; a vestibule; also a dish.">at the doors,</a> </span><span class="reftext">5</span>a third shall be at the royal palace, and a third at the Foundation Gate, while all the others are in the courtyards of the house of the LORD.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/11-5.htm">2 Kings 11:5-8</a></span><br />and commanded them, “This is what you are to do: A third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath shall guard the royal palace, / a third shall be at the gate of Sur, and a third at the gate behind the guards. You are to take turns guarding the temple— / the two divisions that would go off duty on the Sabbath are to guard the house of the LORD for the king. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/1-38.htm">1 Kings 1:38-40</a></span><br />Then Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada, along with the Cherethites and Pelethites, went down and set Solomon on King David’s mule, and they escorted him to Gihon. / Zadok the priest took the horn of oil from the tabernacle and anointed Solomon. Then they blew the ram’s horn, and all the people proclaimed, “Long live King Solomon!” / All the people followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy that the earth was split by the sound.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_samuel/15-10.htm">2 Samuel 15:10</a></span><br />Then Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: “When you hear the sound of the horn, you are to say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/9-25.htm">1 Chronicles 9:25</a></span><br />Their relatives came from their villages at fixed times to serve with them for seven-day periods.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/23-32.htm">1 Chronicles 23:32</a></span><br />So the Levites were to carry out the responsibilities for the Tent of Meeting and the Holy Place, and, under their brothers the descendants of Aaron, the service of the house of the LORD.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/24-5.htm">1 Chronicles 24:5</a></span><br />Thus they were divided by lot, for there were officers of the sanctuary and officers of God among both Eleazar’s and Ithamar’s descendants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/25-8.htm">1 Chronicles 25:8</a></span><br />They cast lots for their duties, young and old alike, teacher as well as pupil.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/26-13.htm">1 Chronicles 26:13</a></span><br />They cast lots for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_chronicles/27-1.htm">1 Chronicles 27:1</a></span><br />This is the list of the Israelites—the heads of families, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in every matter concerning the divisions on rotating military duty each month throughout the year. There were 24,000 men in each division:<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/8-14.htm">2 Chronicles 8:14</a></span><br />In keeping with the ordinances of his father David, Solomon appointed the divisions of the priests over their service, and the Levites for their duties to offer praise and to minister before the priests according to the daily requirement. He also appointed gatekeepers by their divisions at each gate, for this had been the command of David, the man of God.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_chronicles/35-15.htm">2 Chronicles 35:15</a></span><br />The singers, the descendants of Asaph, were at their stations according to the command of David, Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun the king’s seer. And the gatekeepers at each gate did not need to leave their posts, because their fellow Levites made preparations for them.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/11-19.htm">Nehemiah 11:19</a></span><br />And the gatekeepers: Akkub, Talmon, and their associates, who kept watch at the gates—172 men.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/26-47.htm">Matthew 26:47</a></span><br />While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and elders of the people.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/14-43.htm">Mark 14:43</a></span><br />While Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, scribes, and elders.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/22-47.htm">Luke 22:47</a></span><br />While He was still speaking, a crowd arrived, led by the man called Judas, one of the Twelve. He approached Jesus to kiss Him.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">This is the thing that you shall do; A third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doors;</p><p class="hdg">entering</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_chronicles/23-3.htm">1 Chronicles 23:3-6</a></b></br> Now the Levites were numbered from the age of thirty years and upward: and their number by their polls, man by man, was thirty and eight thousand… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_chronicles/24-3.htm">1 Chronicles 24:3-6</a></b></br> And David distributed them, both Zadok of the sons of Eleazar, and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, according to their offices in their service… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/luke/1-8.htm">Luke 1:8,9</a></b></br> And it came to pass, that while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his course, … </p><p class="hdg">porters</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_chronicles/26-13.htm">1 Chronicles 26:13-16</a></b></br> And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate… </p><p class="hdg">doors [heb] thresholds </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/2_chronicles/8-5.htm">Doors</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/12-10.htm">Duty</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/18-9.htm">Entering</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/26-19.htm">Gatekeepers</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/9-24.htm">Keepers</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/23-2.htm">Levites</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/19-7.htm">Part</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/8-14.htm">Porters</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/19-8.htm">Priests</a> <a href="/1_chronicles/9-32.htm">Sabbath</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/17-7.htm">Third</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/3-7.htm">Thresholds</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/20-24.htm">Watch</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/2_chronicles/23-19.htm">Doors</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/23-6.htm">Duty</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/23-13.htm">Entering</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/23-19.htm">Gatekeepers</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/26-10.htm">Keepers</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/23-6.htm">Levites</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/23-5.htm">Part</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/23-19.htm">Porters</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/23-6.htm">Priests</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/23-8.htm">Sabbath</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/23-5.htm">Third</a> <a href="/nehemiah/12-25.htm">Thresholds</a> <a href="/2_chronicles/23-6.htm">Watch</a><div class="vheading2">2 Chronicles 23</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_chronicles/23-1.htm">Jehoiada, having set things in order, makes joash king</a></span><br><span class="reftext">12. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_chronicles/23-12.htm">Athaliah is slain</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/2_chronicles/23-16.htm">Jehoiada restores the worship of God</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-ATF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-300x250-BTF --> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br /> <!-- /1078254/BH-728x90-BTF2 --> <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/2_chronicles/23.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/2_chronicles/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/2_chronicles/23.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>This is what you are to do:</b><br>This phrase introduces a specific set of instructions, indicating a divinely ordained plan. In the context of <a href="/2_chronicles/23.htm">2 Chronicles 23</a>, Jehoiada the priest is orchestrating a coup to overthrow Queen Athaliah and restore the rightful king, Joash, to the throne. This reflects the biblical theme of God's sovereignty and His ability to use His people to fulfill His purposes. The directive nature of the phrase underscores the importance of obedience to God's commands, a recurring theme throughout Scripture.<p><b>A third of you priests and Levites who come on duty on the Sabbath:</b><br>The mention of priests and Levites highlights the importance of the Levitical priesthood in maintaining the religious and ceremonial life of Israel. The division into thirds suggests an organized and strategic approach, ensuring that the temple is adequately protected. The reference to the Sabbath indicates a time of heightened religious activity, as the Sabbath was a day set apart for rest and worship according to the Mosaic Law (<a href="/exodus/20-8.htm">Exodus 20:8-11</a>). This strategic timing would ensure that the temple was well-guarded during a time when many would be present for worship, minimizing suspicion.<p><b>Shall keep watch at the doors:</b><br>The instruction to keep watch at the doors emphasizes the need for vigilance and protection. In the historical context, this was crucial to prevent Athaliah's supporters from interfering with the anointing of Joash as king. The doors of the temple were significant as they represented the entrance to the holy place where God's presence dwelt. This act of guarding the doors can be seen as a type of Christ, who is described as the "door" or "gate" in <a href="/john/10-7.htm">John 10:7-9</a>, symbolizing the way to salvation and the protection of His people. The role of the priests and Levites as guardians also reflects the broader biblical theme of spiritual vigilance and the protection of God's covenant community.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/jehoiada_the_priest.htm">Jehoiada the Priest</a></b><br>A key figure in the restoration of the Davidic line, Jehoiada orchestrated the overthrow of Queen Athaliah and the crowning of Joash as king. His leadership was crucial in re-establishing proper worship and governance in Judah.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/p/priests_and_levites.htm">Priests and Levites</a></b><br>These were the religious leaders and temple servants responsible for maintaining the worship and rituals in the temple. In this context, they were tasked with guarding the temple and ensuring the safety of the young king.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/s/sabbath.htm">Sabbath</a></b><br>The day of rest and worship in Jewish tradition, the Sabbath was a time when the priests and Levites would be on duty in the temple, making it a strategic time for Jehoiada's plan.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/t/temple_of_the_lord.htm">Temple of the LORD</a></b><br>The central place of worship in Jerusalem, the temple was the focal point of religious life in Judah. It was also the setting for Jehoiada's plan to protect and anoint Joash as king.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/a/athaliah.htm">Athaliah</a></b><br>The usurping queen of Judah, Athaliah had seized power after the death of her son, King Ahaziah. Her reign was marked by idolatry and the persecution of the Davidic line.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/t/the_importance_of_godly_leadership.htm">The Importance of Godly Leadership</a></b><br>Jehoiada's role in guiding the nation back to Godly worship demonstrates the impact of righteous leadership. We should pray for and support leaders who uphold biblical values.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/s/strategic_use_of_resources_and_timing.htm">Strategic Use of Resources and Timing</a></b><br>Jehoiada's plan utilized the resources and timing available to him effectively. In our lives, we should seek God's wisdom to use our resources and opportunities for His glory.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_role_of_community_in_god's_work.htm">The Role of Community in God's Work</a></b><br>The involvement of priests and Levites shows the importance of community in accomplishing God's purposes. We should engage with our faith communities to support and participate in God's work.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/g/guarding_what_is_sacred.htm">Guarding What is Sacred</a></b><br>The priests and Levites were tasked with guarding the temple, a reminder for us to guard our hearts and lives against spiritual threats, maintaining holiness in our walk with God.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_2_chronicles_23.htm">Top 10 Lessons from 2 Chronicles 23</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_do_2_chron._23_1-7_and_2_kings_11_differ.htm">Why do the details in 2 Chronicles 23:1–7 differ from the parallel account in 2 Kings 11, suggesting possible biblical inconsistencies? </a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/2_chr_29_3-5__quick_temple_restoration.htm">2 Chronicles 29:3-5 - How plausible is it that the priests and Levites restored the temple so quickly without any record of detailed construction or supply logistics?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_no_records_of_hezekiah's_decree.htm">In 2 Chronicles 31:4, why is there no historical or extra-biblical record supporting Hezekiah's decree that provided consistent resources to priests and Levites?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/trust_2_chronicles_23's_coup_with_scant_proof.htm">How can we trust the historicity of this sudden coup described in 2 Chronicles 23 when there is limited archaeological evidence?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/2_chronicles/23.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(4) <span class= "bld">This is the thing that ye shall do.</span>--<a href="/2_kings/11-5.htm" title="And he commanded them, saying, This is the thing that you 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;">2Kings 11:5</a> : "And he charged them saying, This is the thing," (&c. There he charges the captains of the guard as being the leaders of the conspiracy.<p><span class= "bld">A third.</span>--<span class= "ital">The third.</span> So <a href="/2_chronicles/23-5.htm" title="And a third part shall be at the king's house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD.">2Chronicles 23:5</a>. "The third of you who come in on the Sabbath" is read also in <a href="/2_kings/11-5.htm" title="And he commanded them, saying, This is the thing that you 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;">2Kings 11:5</a>. The chronicler has added the explanatory words: "belonging to the priests and to the Levites." This can hardly be harmonised with <a href="/context/2_kings/12-4.htm" title="And Jehoash said to the priests, All the money of the dedicated things that is brought into the house of the LORD, even the money of every one that passes the account, the money that every man is set at, and all the money that comes into any man's heart to bring into the house of the LORD,">2Kings 12:4-12</a> - The chronicler may have misunderstood the words, which in the older account designate the royal guard; and it might have appeared to him impossible that any but members of the sacred orders would be called together <span class= "ital">in the Temple</span> by the high priest. (Comp. <a href="/context/2_chronicles/23-5.htm" title="And a third part shall be at the king's house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD.">2Chronicles 23:5-6</a> with <a href="/2_kings/11-4.htm" title="And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and showed them the king's son.">2Kings 11:4</a> : "brought them <span class= "ital">into</span> <span class= "ital">the house of the Lord."</span>) But he may also have had before him an account in which the part taken by the sacerdotal caste in the revolution was made much more of than m the account of Kings. Moreover the priests and Levites would be likely to play a considerable part in a movement tending to the overthrow of a <span class= "ital">cultus</span> antagonistic to their own, especially when that movement originated with their own spiritual head, and was transacted in the sanctuary to which they were attached. The chronicler, therefore, cannot with fairness be accused of "arbitrary alterations," unless it be presupposed that his <span class= "ital">sole</span> authority in writing this account was the Second Book of Kings. The priests and Levites used to do duty in the Temple from Sabbath to Sabbath, so that one course relieved another at the end of each week. (See 1 Chronicles 24; <a href="/luke/1-5.htm" title="THERE was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth.">Luke 1:5</a>.) That the companies of the royal guards succeeded each other on duty in the same fashion is clear from the parallel narrative. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/2_chronicles/23.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 4.</span> - The first thing that is to be observed is the distinct and repeated mention of the <span class="accented">Levites</span>, as those on whom the critical and onerous service that came of Jehoiada's resolution was devolved, while the parallel does not so much as mention them. It may next be noted that our first and second verses state the part that "the captains of hundreds" were called to perform in <span class="accented">collecting</span> the requisite number of Levites from the provincial cities of Judah. And once more it may be noted that whereas, while we abide close by our own text alone, nothing in the description of our vers. 4-10 occasions material difficulty, even when the perplexity, which is considerable, does enter, on consulting and endeavouring to reconcile the parallel, it is with extreme probability due to our not making sufficient allowance for the fact that the matter of the two accounts does not so much offer itself for reconciliation as for concurrent acceptance. We have now to follow the description of our own text. <span class="cmt_word">Of you entering on the sabbath</span>; <span class="accented">i.e.</span> of you who enter on your period of duty on such a sabbath. See ver. 8, the "men that were to come in on the sabbath, with them that were to go out on the sabbath." This alludes, as the next clause definitely says, to the weekly courses of the Levites, as described in <a href="/1_chronicles/9-25.htm">1 Chronicles 9:25</a>; <a href="/1_chronicles/24.htm">1 Chronicles 24</a>; <a href="/1_chronicles/25.htm">1 Chronicles 25</a>. - the incoming and outgoing companies. <span class="cmt_word">Porters of the doors;</span> <span class="accented">i.e.</span> "keepers of the doors of the temple" (<a href="/1_chronicles/9-19.htm">1 Chronicles 9:19</a>). This may correspond with the middle clause of ver. 6 in the parallel. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/2_chronicles/23-4.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">This</span><br /><span class="heb">זֶ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(zeh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2088.htm">Strong's 2088: </a> </span><span class="str2">This, that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">is what</span><br /><span class="heb">אֲשֶׁ֣ר</span> <span class="translit">(’ă·šer)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - relative<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_834.htm">Strong's 834: </a> </span><span class="str2">Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that</span><br /><br /><span class="word">you are to do:</span><br /><span class="heb">תַּעֲשׂ֑וּ</span> <span class="translit">(ta·‘ă·śū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6213.htm">Strong's 6213: </a> </span><span class="str2">To do, make</span><br /><br /><span class="word">A third</span><br /><span class="heb">הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֨ית</span> <span class="translit">(haš·šə·li·šîṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Number - ordinal feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7992.htm">Strong's 7992: </a> </span><span class="str2">Third, feminine a, third, a third, a third-story cell)</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of you</span><br /><span class="heb">מִכֶּ֜ם</span> <span class="translit">(mik·kem)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition | second person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4480.htm">Strong's 4480: </a> </span><span class="str2">A part of, from, out of</span><br /><br /><span class="word">priests</span><br /><span class="heb">לַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙</span> <span class="translit">(lak·kō·hă·nîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3548.htm">Strong's 3548: </a> </span><span class="str2">Priest</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and Levites</span><br /><span class="heb">וְלַלְוִיִּ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(wə·lal·wî·yim)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3881.htm">Strong's 3881: </a> </span><span class="str2">Levites -- descendant of Levi</span><br /><br /><span class="word">who come on duty</span><br /><span class="heb">בָּאֵ֣י</span> <span class="translit">(bā·’ê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_935.htm">Strong's 935: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come in, come, go in, go</span><br /><br /><span class="word">on the Sabbath</span><br /><span class="heb">הַשַּׁבָּ֗ת</span> <span class="translit">(haš·šab·bāṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - common singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7676.htm">Strong's 7676: </a> </span><span class="str2">Intermission, the Sabbath</span><br /><br /><span class="word">shall keep watch</span><br /><span class="heb">לְשֹֽׁעֲרֵ֖י</span> <span class="translit">(lə·šō·‘ă·rê)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7778.htm">Strong's 7778: </a> </span><span class="str2">A gatekeeper</span><br /><br /><span class="word">at the doors,</span><br /><span class="heb">הַסִּפִּֽים׃</span> <span class="translit">(has·sip·pîm)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5592.htm">Strong's 5592: </a> </span><span class="str2">A vestibule, a dish</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/2_chronicles/23-4.htm">2 Chronicles 23:4 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/2_chronicles/23-4.htm">2 Chronicles 23:4 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/2_chronicles/23-4.htm">2 Chronicles 23:4 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/2_chronicles/23-4.htm">2 Chronicles 23:4 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/2_chronicles/23-4.htm">2 Chronicles 23:4 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/2_chronicles/23-4.htm">2 Chronicles 23:4 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/2_chronicles/23-4.htm">2 Chronicles 23:4 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/2_chronicles/23-4.htm">2 Chronicles 23:4 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/2_chronicles/23-4.htm">2 Chronicles 23:4 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/2_chronicles/23-4.htm">2 Chronicles 23:4 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/2_chronicles/23-4.htm">OT History: 2 Chronicles 23:4 This is the thing that you shall (2 Chron. 2Ch iiCh ii ch 2 chr 2chr) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/2_chronicles/23-3.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="2 Chronicles 23:3"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="2 Chronicles 23:3" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/2_chronicles/23-5.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="2 Chronicles 23:5"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="2 Chronicles 23:5" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>