2 Kings 11:7
New International Version
and you who are in the other two companies that normally go off Sabbath duty are all to guard the temple for the king.

New Living Translation
The other two units who are off duty on the Sabbath must stand guard for the king at the LORD’s Temple.

English Standard Version
And the two divisions of you, which come on duty in force on the Sabbath and guard the house of the LORD on behalf of the king,

Berean Standard Bible
the two divisions that would go off duty on the Sabbath are to guard the house of the LORD for the king.

King James Bible
And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD about the king.

New King James Version
The two contingents of you who go off duty on the Sabbath shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD for the king.

New American Standard Bible
And two parts of you, all who go out on the Sabbath, shall also keep watch over the house of the LORD for the king.

NASB 1995
“Two parts of you, even all who go out on the sabbath, shall also keep watch over the house of the LORD for the king.

NASB 1977
“And two parts of you, even all who go out on the sabbath, shall also keep watch over the house of the LORD for the king.

Legacy Standard Bible
And two parts of you, even all who go out on the sabbath, shall also keep watch over the house of Yahweh for the king.

Amplified Bible
Two units of you, all those who go out [off duty] on the Sabbath, shall also keep watch over the house (temple) of the LORD for [the protection of] the king.

Christian Standard Bible
“Your two divisions that go off duty on the Sabbath are to provide the king protection at the LORD’s temple.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Your two divisions that go off duty on the Sabbath are to provide protection for the LORD’s temple.

American Standard Version
And the two companies of you, even all that go forth on the sabbath, shall keep the watch of the house of Jehovah about the king.

Contemporary English Version
The other two guard units are supposed to be off duty on the Sabbath. But I want both of them to stay here at the temple and protect King Joash.

English Revised Version
And the two companies of you, even all that go forth on the sabbath, shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD about the king.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then your two groups who [normally] go off duty on the day of worship must guard the king at the LORD's temple.

Good News Translation
The two groups that go off duty on the Sabbath are to stand guard at the Temple to protect the king.

International Standard Version
Two of you who enter here on this coming Sabbath are to stand watch at the LORD's Temple,

Majority Standard Bible
the two divisions that would go off duty on the Sabbath are to guard the house of the LORD for the king.

NET Bible
The two units who are off duty on the Sabbath will guard the LORD's temple and protect the king.

New Heart English Bible
The two companies of you, even all who go out on the Sabbath, shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD around the king.

Webster's Bible Translation
And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD about the king.

World English Bible
The two companies of you, even all who go out on the Sabbath, shall keep the watch of Yahweh’s house around the king.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and two parts of you, all going out on the Sabbath—they have kept the charge of the house of YHWH about the king,

Young's Literal Translation
and two parts of you, all going out on the sabbath -- they have kept the charge of the house of Jehovah about the king,

Smith's Literal Translation
And two hands among you all going forth the Sabbath, and watch ye the watches of the house of Jehovah for the king.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But let two parts of you, all that go forth on the sabbath, keep the watch of the house of the Lord about the king.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Yet truly, let two parts of you, all who depart on the Sabbath, keep watch over the house of the Lord concerning the king.

New American Bible
while the two of your divisions who are going off duty that week shall keep guard over the house of the LORD for the king.

New Revised Standard Version
and your two divisions that come on duty in force on the sabbath and guard the house of the LORD
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And two parts of all you that go off duty on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD together with the king's house;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And two parts of you in all the goings forth of the Sabbath keep guard of the house of LORD JEHOVAH with that of the house of the King.
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the other two parts of you, even all that go forth on the sabbath, shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD about the king.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And there shall be two parties among you, even every one that goes out on the Sabbath, and they shall keep the guard of the Lord's house before the king.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Joash Anointed King in Judah
6a 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— 7the two divisions that would go off duty on the Sabbath are to guard the house of the LORD for the king. 8You must surround the king with weapons in hand, and anyone who approaches the ranks must be put to death. You must stay close to the king wherever he goes.”…

Cross References
2 Chronicles 23:6-8
No one is to enter the house of the LORD except the priests and those Levites who serve; they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the people are to obey the requirement of the LORD. / The Levites must surround the king with weapons in hand, and anyone who enters the temple must be put to death. You must stay close to the king wherever he goes.” / So the Levites and all Judah did everything that Jehoiada the priest had ordered. Each of them took his men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—for Jehoiada the priest had not released any of the divisions.

2 Kings 11:4-6
Then in the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards, and had them brought into the house of the LORD. There he made a covenant with them and put them under oath. He showed them the king’s son / 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—

2 Kings 11:9-11
So the commanders of hundreds did everything that Jehoiada the priest had ordered. Each of them took his men—those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty—and came to Jehoiada the priest. / Then the priest gave to the commanders of hundreds the spears and shields of King David from the house of the LORD. / And the guards stood with weapons in hand surrounding the king by the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.

2 Kings 11:13-14
When Athaliah heard the noise from the guards and the people, she went out to the people in the house of the LORD. / And she looked out and saw the king standing by the pillar, according to the custom. The officers and trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and screamed, “Treason! Treason!”

2 Kings 11:19-20
He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, the guards, and all the people of the land, and they brought the king down from the house of the LORD and entered the royal palace by way of the Gate of the Guards. Then Joash took his seat on the royal throne, / and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been put to the sword at the royal palace.

1 Kings 1:38-40
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.

1 Kings 2:28-30
When the news reached Joab, who had conspired with Adonijah but not with Absalom, he fled to the tent of the LORD and took hold of the horns of the altar. / It was reported to King Solomon: “Joab has fled to the tent of the LORD and is now beside the altar.” So Solomon sent Benaiah son of Jehoiada, saying, “Go, strike him down!” / And Benaiah entered the tent of the LORD and said to Joab, “The king says, ‘Come out!’” But Joab replied, “No, I will die here.” So Benaiah relayed the message to the king, saying, “This is how Joab answered me.”

2 Samuel 15:10-12
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!’” / Two hundred men from Jerusalem accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and they went along innocently, for they knew nothing about the matter. / While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from his hometown of Giloh. So the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept increasing.

2 Samuel 20:4-10
Then the king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.” / So Amasa went to summon Judah, but he took longer than the time allotted him. / And David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take your lord’s servants and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and elude us.” ...

1 Chronicles 9:25-27
Their relatives came from their villages at fixed times to serve with them for seven-day periods. / But the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the rooms and the treasuries of the house of God. / They would spend the night stationed around the house of God, because they were responsible for guarding it and opening it every morning.

1 Chronicles 23:32
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.

1 Chronicles 25:1
Additionally, David and the commanders of the army set apart some of the sons of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to prophesy with the accompaniment of lyres, harps, and cymbals. The following is the list of the men who performed this service:

1 Chronicles 26:12-19
These divisions of the gatekeepers, through their chief men, had duties for ministering in the house of the LORD, just as their relatives did. / They cast lots for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike. / The lot for the East Gate fell to Shelemiah. Then lots were cast for his son Zechariah, a wise counselor, and the lot for the North Gate fell to him. ...

1 Chronicles 27:1
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:

Nehemiah 4:9
So we prayed to our God and posted a guard against them day and night.


Treasury of Scripture

And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of the LORD about the king.

parts.

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;

2 Chronicles 23:6
But let none come into the house of the LORD, save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall go in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD.

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Charge Companies Divisions Duty Force Forth Guard House Kept Normally Parts Sabbath Temple Watch
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Charge Companies Divisions Duty Force Forth Guard House Kept Normally Parts Sabbath Temple Watch
2 Kings 11
1. Jehoash, being saved by Jehosheba his aunt from Athaliah's massacre,
3. is hidden six years in the house of God
13. Jehoiada, giving order to the captains, in the seventh year anoints him king
17. Jehoiada restores the worship of God














the two divisions
In the context of ancient Israel, the term "divisions" refers to organized groups of priests or Levites who served in the temple. The Hebrew word used here is "מַחֲלָקוֹת" (machaloqot), which denotes a structured and orderly arrangement. This reflects the importance of order and discipline in the service of God, emphasizing that worship and protection of sacred spaces require dedication and organization. Historically, these divisions were established by King David to ensure that the temple service was continuous and well-managed (1 Chronicles 24).

that go off duty
The phrase "go off duty" indicates a rotation of service, which was a practical solution to maintain the temple's operations without overburdening any single group. The Hebrew root "שָׁבַת" (shavat) means to cease or rest, which is the same root for "Sabbath." This highlights the principle of rest and renewal, even for those in sacred service, underscoring the balance between work and rest as ordained by God.

on the Sabbath
The Sabbath, or "שַׁבָּת" (Shabbat) in Hebrew, is a day of rest and worship, instituted by God in the creation narrative (Genesis 2:2-3) and codified in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:8-11). In this context, the Sabbath is not only a day of rest but also a strategic time for heightened vigilance and protection of the temple, reflecting the dual nature of the Sabbath as a time for both spiritual renewal and safeguarding the community's spiritual center.

are to guard
The Hebrew word "שָׁמַר" (shamar) means to keep, watch, or preserve. This duty of guarding is both a physical and spiritual responsibility, symbolizing the protection of what is holy and the defense against any profanation. It serves as a reminder of the vigilance required in maintaining the sanctity of worship and the presence of God among His people.

the house of the LORD
The "house of the LORD" refers to the temple, the central place of worship for the Israelites. In Hebrew, "בֵּית יְהוָה" (Beit Yahweh) signifies not just a physical structure but the dwelling place of God's presence. This phrase underscores the temple's significance as the heart of Israel's religious life, where God's glory resided and where the covenant relationship between God and His people was continually renewed.

for the king
The phrase "for the king" indicates that the protection of the temple was also a matter of national security and stability. In the historical context of 2 Kings 11, this refers to the protection of the young King Joash, who was hidden in the temple to preserve the Davidic line. This highlights the intertwining of religious and political spheres in ancient Israel, where the king was seen as God's anointed leader, and the temple as the symbol of divine authority and blessing.

(7, 8) The whole body of guards relieved on the Sabbath are to guard the Temple and the young prince.

(7) And two parts of all you . . . sabbath.--Rather, and the two branches among you, all that go out on the Sabbath. The two "branches" means the two fundamental divisions--viz., Carians (or executioners) and Couriers. The troops relieved on the Sabbath were not to be posted in three companies at three different points, like those who came on duty in their place; but they were to form in two ranks--Carians on one side and Couriers on the other--for the purpose of guarding the Temple, and especially the king's person.

About.--Literally, in the direction of--i.e., with regard to, over. "The house of the Lord" is obviously contrasted with "the king's house" (2Kings 11:5).

(8) Ye shall compass the king round about.--They were to form two lines, between which the king might walk safely from the Temple to the palace.

The ranges.--Rather, the ranks--scil., the two lines of the guard formed for the protection of the king. If any one attempted to force his way through the ranks in order to attack the king he was to be slain.

Be ye with the king . . . cometh in.--When he leaves the Temple, and when he enters the palace.

Verse 7. - And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath. Three-fifths of the guard having been disposed of about the palace, there remained only two-fifths, or two "companies" (margin of Authorized Version). These Jehoiada commanded to enter the temple and protect the young king. Even they shall keep the watch of the house of the Lord about the king. According to Chronicles (2 Chronicles 23:7), the great body of the Levites gathered from the cities of Judah was also to be in the temple, and to assist in the protection of the monarch.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
the two
וּשְׁתֵּ֤י (ū·šə·tê)
Conjunctive waw | Number - fdc
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

divisions
הַיָּדוֹת֙ (hay·yā·ḏō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 3027: A hand

that would go off duty
יֹצְאֵ֣י (yō·ṣə·’ê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

on the Sabbath
הַשַּׁבָּ֑ת (haš·šab·bāṯ)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 7676: Intermission, the Sabbath

are to guard
וְשָֽׁמְר֛וּ (wə·šā·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

the house
בֵּית־ (bêṯ-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1004: A house

of the LORD
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

for
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the king.
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king


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OT History: 2 Kings 11:7 The two companies of you even all (2Ki iiKi ii ki 2 kg 2kg)
2 Kings 11:6
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