2 kings 11:5 - He commanded them, saying, “This is what you must do: a third of you, who come in on the Sabbath, shall be keepers of the watch of the king’s house;
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What does "2 kings 11:5" mean?
2 Kings 11:5 is part of a larger plan to overthrow Queen Athaliah and restore the rightful heir, Joash, to the throne of Judah. Let's break down the meaning of the verse:
"He commanded them...": This refers to Jehoiada the priest, a powerful and influential figure who secretly protected the infant Joash from Athaliah's murderous rampage. He's orchestrating the coup.
"...saying, “This is what you must do...": This introduces specific instructions to be followed.
"...a third of you, who come in on the Sabbath...": This refers to a portion of the temple guards (likely Levites or other temple personnel) whose regular duty it was to begin their shift on the Sabbath (Saturday, the day of rest). They were divided into three groups.
"...shall be keepers of the watch of the king's house;": This specifies the duty of one of the three groups. They are to guard the palace or "king's house."
In simpler terms, the verse means:
Jehoiada instructed a third of the guards who were starting their weekly shift on the Sabbath to be responsible for guarding the royal palace. This was a key part of the plan to protect Joash and seize control of the government. By controlling the palace, they could prevent Athaliah from interfering with their plan to crown Joash king.
Why is the Sabbath shift significant?
The use of the Sabbath shift is clever for a few reasons:
Legitimacy: The guards are simply doing their regular duty. This would arouse less suspicion than bringing in an entirely new force.
Established Presence: They already have a routine and know their positions.
Numbers: Dividing the Sabbath guard into three groups ensures enough manpower to control key areas.
In essence, Jehoiada is using the existing security structure of the temple and palace to his advantage, turning it against the illegitimate queen and using it to protect and install the true king.
2 kings 11:5 - He commanded them, saying, “This is what you must do: a third of you, who come in on the Sabbath, shall be keepers of the watch of the king’s house;
What does "2 kings 11:5" mean?
2 Kings 11:5 is part of a larger plan to overthrow Queen Athaliah and restore the rightful heir, Joash, to the throne of Judah. Let's break down the meaning of the verse:
"He commanded them...": This refers to Jehoiada the priest, a powerful and influential figure who secretly protected the infant Joash from Athaliah's murderous rampage. He's orchestrating the coup.
"...saying, “This is what you must do...": This introduces specific instructions to be followed.
"...a third of you, who come in on the Sabbath...": This refers to a portion of the temple guards (likely Levites or other temple personnel) whose regular duty it was to begin their shift on the Sabbath (Saturday, the day of rest). They were divided into three groups.
"...shall be keepers of the watch of the king's house;": This specifies the duty of one of the three groups. They are to guard the palace or "king's house."
In simpler terms, the verse means:
Jehoiada instructed a third of the guards who were starting their weekly shift on the Sabbath to be responsible for guarding the royal palace. This was a key part of the plan to protect Joash and seize control of the government. By controlling the palace, they could prevent Athaliah from interfering with their plan to crown Joash king.
Why is the Sabbath shift significant?
The use of the Sabbath shift is clever for a few reasons:
Legitimacy: The guards are simply doing their regular duty. This would arouse less suspicion than bringing in an entirely new force.
Established Presence: They already have a routine and know their positions.
Numbers: Dividing the Sabbath guard into three groups ensures enough manpower to control key areas.
In essence, Jehoiada is using the existing security structure of the temple and palace to his advantage, turning it against the illegitimate queen and using it to protect and install the true king.