eminency,as their Work ſheweth, wver.5,6,7.and 2 Chron. 23,1,2+ and their diſtin&tion from the Captains and Guard. 1 Or, Princes,or Nebles, or Commanders ; ſuch as he knew were weary of her Idolatrous and Tyrannnical Government, and Faithful to their King. »» Poflibly thoſe who had been the former King's Guard, who had been dif- placed by 4thaliah,as Perſons whoſe Fidelity ſhe ſuf] petted. 27. e. Into the Courts of that Houſe, which oft come under the Name of the Houſe, or Temple of the Lord : for into the Houſe none but the Prieſts or Levites might enter. 0 To reſtore the King to his King- dom, and Religion to its purity. p For their Secretie and Fidelis ty in the preſent Deſign. |
5 And he commanded them,ſfaying, This is the thing
the kings houſe s : 9g Either, 1. A third part of you, (1. e. of the whole Number, in- cluding thoſe that come in, and thoſe that go our 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 wver.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 wer. 6 as s/ole that went jorch on the Sabbath are ex reſly diſtributed into Two parts, ver. 7+ 71:e. That come into the "ow ple on the Sabbath-day, For the underſtanding of this matter,you muſt know, That the Levites were; in and from Dawas time,diſtri- buted 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 1 Chron. 23.and 24. 5 Eicher, 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 King's Houſes And beſides, the Kings Perſon is ſecured by other Perſons, ver.7. Or rather, 2. Of that Part which leadeth to the Kings Palace,which A:haliah now poſlefſed, and whence they might expe& Oppoſition: 6 And a thud part ſhall be at the gate of Sur z, and a
third part at the gate behind the guard «:fo ſhall ye keep
£ The Chief Gate of the Temple called the High-gare,
the middle-gate, Jer: 39: 3- and the gate of the entrance, Exek: 40: 15g u Either, 1. The Kings Guard Or, 2. The Guard of the Temple;
che watch of the houſe || that it be not broken down x. ||Or, from
| 2 King.15+35» breaking and the foundation gate, 2 Chron: 23:5. and the eaſt-gate, Jer: 19: 2: and
for ſuch a Guard there was, and a Ccaprain of the Guard, called, the Caprain of the Temple, AGRF- 4: 1: and F3 24. This Gate was in the South-ſide ; and as ſome think,is that which is called Sippim, or the threſhold-gate, 2 Chron 23 4. * i.e« So you ſhall guard all the Gates or Entrances into the Houſe or Temple of (50d, that neither &hali. ah nor any of her Soldiers may break into the Temple, and Defile it, or Deſtroy it ; as the w:1l doubtleſs endeavour to do, Qr, and ye ſhall keep the watch of the Houje Maſſach : as the LXX and other In- terpreters render it ; who think this was the name of an Houſe not far from the Temple ; in which, or againſt which, they were ro keep a Guard. | -
ſabbath y, even chey ſhall keep the watch of the the LORD about the king z.
3 i, e: Who having finiſhed their Courſe, and Week, ſhould have gone home, but were detained, 2 Chron: 23:8- z Whilſt the reſt guard the Doors and Entrances into the Temple; thele ſhall have a ipaciel c_ of the Kings Perſon, part on his Right, and part on his Leit Hand. |
8 And ye ſhall compaſs the king round about a,every man with his weapons 1n his hand : and he that cometh within the ranges 5,tet him be ſlain ;and be ye with the king as he goeth out, and as he cometh in c.
9 And the captains over the hundreds did accordin to all things that Jehoiada the prieſt commanded : _ they took every man his men that were to come in on the ſabbath, with them that ſhould go out on the ſab- bath, and came to Jehoiada the prieſt.
a When you have ſer your Watches, and Guards, all the reſt of
you ſhall draw near to the King to preſerve his Royal Perſon from all Afſaults and Dangers. 6 Or, Fences, i.e. the Walls wherewirh the Courts of the Temple were Invironed : See ver 15. Or,'your Ranks or Order, If any of Athaliah's Guards ſhall attempr to break in ve upon you, or within your Bounds. c Whether the King ſhall go out of the Temple, to offend, or ſubdue his Enemies; or retire hither to Defend himſelf; do you always accompany him.
10 And to the captains over hundreds,did the prieſt
pantes, houſe of Heb. Bana.
Temple of the LORD.
d Offenſive and DefenſiveWeapons, which he gave to the Captains, both for themſclves.and for all their Soldiers: for they all came into the Temple unarmed,t- prevent ſuſpicion. Theſe are called Davidr, either becauſe they were fuch as he had raken from his Enemies, which he had dedicated to God,and Jaid up in the Temple,as Monuments of Gods Goodneſs to him. See 18am: 21: 9. 2 Sam: 8:7, 11. 1 Kings 7-51 Or, becauſe David had made a Sacred Armory in the Temple, whence Arms might be taken upon extraordinary Occaſions, for the Defence of the Temple, or Ciry of God. |
1x And the guard ſtood,every man with his weapon in his hand, round about the king,trom the right + cor- , ,z... ner of the temple, to the left corner of the temple e, ſhoulder. slong by the altar f, and the temple g.
e From the South-eaſt, ro the North-eaſt fide. f The Altar of Burnt-offerings,which was by the Great and EaiternGate of the Temes
ple. £ #. e. By, and towards the other parts of the Temple, which. rhey defended on all fides. ;
put the
kinz in; much ſtead, And why dig he avs rather engage Captains
i2 And hs brought forth the kings ſon, and | : crown
3N2
Chap. Xi
of Thouſands, or greater Perſons,whom doubtleſs he might eaſily have brought into this Confederacy ? Or rather,Prie#s or Levites of
that + ſhall do ; a third part of you 9 that enter in* on * 1 Chrog abbath r, ſhall even be keepers of the watch of the 9: 25.
7 And two || f parts of all you that go forth on the |'or, Come
eg; <0= Fi anives
give king Davids ſpears and ſhields d that ere in the br
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.
t Heb. let he King I'VE
* 2 Chro.
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. - E d own upon him, and gave him the teſtimony h, an toy be him king, and anointed him z ; and chey
clapr their hands, and faid, f God fave the king.