Another third of you are to stand guard at the Sur Gate. And the final third must stand guard behind the palace guard. These three groups will all guard the palace.
Parallel translations
- WEB a third of you shall be at the gate Sur; and a third of you at the gate behind the guard. So you shall keep the watch of the house, and be a barrier.
- KJV And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of the house, that it be not broken down.
- BSB 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—
- NKJV one-third shall be at the gate of Sur, and one-third at the gate behind the escorts. You shall keep the watch of the house, lest it be broken down.
- NASB (a third also shall be at the gate Sur, and a third at the gate behind the guards), shall keep watch over the house for defense.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Other divisions are posted at key gates to form a protective barrier. Every approach is secured.
Overview
Jehoiada stations guards at the gate Sur and behind the guardhouse to seal off access. The layered defense ensures no threat can reach the young king. The thoroughness of the protection reflects the value of the Davidic heir and God's care in preserving the line of promise.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- 2 Chr 23:4–5This 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 porters of the thresholds.
- 1 Chr 26:13–19They cast lots, the small as well as the great, according to their fathers’ houses, for every gate.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Amid the long decline toward exile, the promise to David's house refuses to die; the flickering lamp kept burning anticipates the coming King who will not fail or be cut off.
How 2 Kings 11:6 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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