5. a third part shall be at the king’s house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation] These two-thirds according to the scheme given above were both stationed about the palace, but they are not to be reckoned as two-thirds of the whole guard.
the gate of the foundation] “Gate of JSVD” (Hebrew). This is certainly the “Gate of Sur” (SVR in Hebrew) of 2 Kings xi. 6. Possibly however we should read “Gate of SVS (or SVSIM)” i.e. “Horse Gate” (verse 15; compare 2 Kings xi. 16) both here and in Kings.
⁶But let none come into the house of the Lord, save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall come in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the watch of the Lord.
6. let none come into the house of the Lord] It is clear on the contrary from Kings (verse 11) that the royal guards (who were laymen) were brought into the Temple itself under Jehoiada’s directions. The Chronicler is evidently at pains to guard against the notion that such a breach of ritual took place.
all the people] Not mentioned in Kings; but compare 1 Kings xi. 14.
⁷And the Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whosoever cometh into the house, let him be slain: and be ye with the king when he cometh in, and when he goeth out.
7. into the house] 2 Kings “within the ranks.” Any one who should attempt to break through the ranks of the guard to get near to the king was to be killed. According to the Chronicler Jehoiada’s precaution would protect the sanctity of the Temple as well as the person of the young king.
⁸So the Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded: and they took every man his men, those that were to come in on the sabbath, with those that were to go out on the sabbath; for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.
8. the Levites and all Judah] In 2 Kings “the captains over hundreds.” See notes on verse 4.
for Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses] Not in Kings. The Levites (1 Chronicles xxiii. 6), the priests (1 Chronicles xxiv. 1), and the king’s army (1 Chronicles xxvii. 1 ff.) were each divided into “courses,” but it is clear from the context that courses of Levites are meant here.