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Wednesday, August 13th, 2025
the Week of Proper 14 / Ordinary 19
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New Living Translation

2 Kings 11:6

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.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Armies;   Church and State;   Citizens;   Conspiracy;   Israel, Prophecies Concerning;   Loyalty;   Orphan;   Sur;   Usurpation;   Watchman;   Women;   Zeal, Religious;   Thompson Chain Reference - Bible Stories for Children;   Children;   Home;   Pleasant Sunday Afternoons;   Religion;   Stories for Children;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Fatherless;   Kings;   Levites, the;   Watchmen;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Athaliah;   Joash or Jehoash;   King, Kings;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Judah, tribe and kingdom;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Fulfillment;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Judgments of God;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Jehoiada;   Jerusalem;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Athaliah;   Canaan, History and Religion of;   High Priest;   History;   Kings, 1 and 2;   People of the Land;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Athaliah;   Chronicles, I;   Government;   Jehoash;   Jerusalem;   Marriage;   Priests and Levites;   Sur;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Athaliah ;   Guard;   Jehoiada ;   Sur;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Athaliah;   Jerusalem;   Joash;   Queen;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Footman,;   Jeru'salem;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Kingdom of Judah;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Guard;   Jehoiada;   Joel (2);   Priest, High;   Priests and Levites;   Watch;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
A third are to be at the Foundation Gate and a third at the gate behind the guards. You are to take turns providing protection for the palace.
Hebrew Names Version
A third part shall be at the gate Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall you keep the watch of the house, and be a barrier.
King James Version
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.
English Standard Version
(another third being at the gate Sur and a third at the gate behind the guards) shall guard the palace.
New Century Version
A third of you will be at the Sur Gate, and another third will be at the gate behind the guard. This way you will guard the Temple.
New English Translation
Another third of you will be stationed at the Foundation Gate. Still another third of you will be stationed at the gate behind the royal guard. You will take turns guarding the palace.
Amplified Bible
(a third shall also be at the [city] gate Sur, and a third at the gate behind the guards); so you shall keep watch over the palace [from three posts] for defense.
New American Standard Bible
(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.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And another third part in the gate of Sur: and another thirde part in the gate behinde them of the garde: and ye shall keepe watche in the house of Massah.
Legacy Standard Bible
(one-third also shall be at the gate Sur, and one-third at the gate behind the guards), shall keep watch over the house for defense.
Contemporary English Version
Another unit will guard Sur Gate, and the third unit will guard the palace gate and relieve the palace guards.
Complete Jewish Bible
a third is at the Sur Gate and a third is at the gate behind the guards. [The first third] is to continue guarding the palace and serve as a barrier,
Darby Translation
and a third part shall be at the gate of Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the couriers; and ye shall keep the watch of the house for a defence.
Easy-to-Read Version
Another third will be at the Sur Gate, and the other third will be at the gate behind the guard. This way you will stand guard over the palace on all sides.
George Lamsa Translation
And a third part shall be at the gate of Kersa; and a third part at the gate of the house of the guards; so shall you keep the watch of the house, that it be in perfect order.
Good News Translation
another third are to stand guard at the Sur Gate, and the other third are to stand guard at the gate behind the other guards.
Lexham English Bible
and another third at the gate of Sur, and a third at the gate behind the runners, shall guard the post of the palace alternately.
Literal Translation
A third shall be at the Sur Gate. A third shall be at the gate behind the runners. And you shall keep the watch of the house, alternately.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and one thyrde parte shalbe at the porte of Sur, and one thirde parte shal be at ye porte which is behynde the fote men, and ye shal kepe the watch at the house of Massa.
American Standard Version
and a third part shall be at the gate Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of the house, and be a barrier.
Bible in Basic English
Three dots are used where it is no longer possible to be certain of the true sense of the Hebrew words, and for this reason no attempt has been made to put them into Basic English.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And another third part shal keepe the gate of Sur: And another third part shall keepe the gate which is behinde them of the garde: and so shall ye keepe the watch of the house of Messah.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
now another third part was at the gate Sur, and another third part at the gate behind the guard--shall keep the watch of the house, and be a barrier.
King James Version (1611)
And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur, and a third part at the gate behinde the guard: so shall yee keepe the watch of the house, that it be not broken downe.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
Let a third part of you go in on the sabbath-day, and keep ye the watch of the king’s house in the porch; and another third in the gate of the high way, and a third at the gate behind the footmen; and keep ye the guard of the house.
English Revised Version
And a third part shall be at the gate Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of the house, and be a barrier.
Berean Standard Bible
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-
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
the thridde part of you entre in the sabat, and kepe the wakyngis of the `hows of the kyng; sothely the thridde part be at the yate of Seir; and the thridde part be at the yate which is bihynde the dwellyng place of the makeris of scheeldis; and ye schulen kepe the wakyngis of the hows of Messa.
Young's Literal Translation
and the third [is] at the gate of Sur, and the third at the gate behind the runners, and ye have kept the charge of the house pulled down;
Update Bible Version
And a third part shall be at the gate Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so you shall keep the watch of the house, and be a barrier.
Webster's Bible Translation
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.
World English Bible
A third part shall be at the gate Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall you keep the watch of the house, and be a barrier.
New King James Version
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.
New Life Bible
One third are to be at the gate Sur and one third at the gate behind the soldiers. So you will keep watch over the king's house.
New Revised Standard
(another third being at the gate Sur and a third at the gate behind the guards), shall guard the palace;
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and, a third, in the side-gate; and, a third, in the gate behind the runners, - so shall ye keep the watch of the house, by turns.
Douay-Rheims Bible
Let a third part of you go in on the sabbath, and keep the watch of the king’s house. And let a third part be at the gate of Sur; and let a third part be at the gate behind the dwelling of the shieldbearers; and you shall keep the watch of the house of Messa.
Revised Standard Version
(another third being at the gate Sur and a third at the gate behind the guards), shall guard the palace;
New American Standard Bible (1995)
(one third also shall be at the gate Sur, and one third at the gate behind the guards), shall keep watch over the house for defense.

Contextual Overview

4 In the seventh year of Athaliah's reign, Jehoiada the priest summoned the commanders, the Carite mercenaries, and the palace guards to come to the Temple of the Lord . He made a solemn pact with them and made them swear an oath of loyalty there in the Lord 's Temple; then he showed them the king's son. 5 Jehoiada told them, "This is what you must do. A third of you who are on duty on the Sabbath are to guard the royal palace itself. 6 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. 7 The other two units who are off duty on the Sabbath must stand guard for the king at the Lord 's Temple. 8 Form a bodyguard around the king and keep your weapons in hand. Kill anyone who tries to break through. Stay with the king wherever he goes." 9 So the commanders did everything as Jehoiada the priest ordered. The commanders took charge of the men reporting for duty that Sabbath, as well as those who were going off duty. They brought them all to Jehoiada the priest, 10 and he supplied them with the spears and small shields that had once belonged to King David and were stored in the Temple of the Lord . 11 The palace guards stationed themselves around the king, with their weapons ready. They formed a line from the south side of the Temple around to the north side and all around the altar. 12 Then Jehoiada brought out Joash, the king's son, placed the crown on his head, and presented him with a copy of God's laws. They anointed him and proclaimed him king, and everyone clapped their hands and shouted, "Long live the king!"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

the gate of Sur: 1 Chronicles 26:13-19, 2 Chronicles 23:4, 2 Chronicles 23:5

that it be not broken down: or, from breaking up

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 23:6 - they that minister

Cross-References

Genesis 3:22
Then the Lord God said, "Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!"
Genesis 6:5
The Lord observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil.
Genesis 8:21
And the Lord was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and said to himself, "I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things.
Genesis 9:19
From these three sons of Noah came all the people who now populate the earth.
Genesis 11:1
At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words.
Genesis 11:4
Then they said, "Come, let's build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world."
Judges 10:14
Go and cry out to the gods you have chosen! Let them rescue you in your hour of distress!"
1 Kings 18:27
About noontime Elijah began mocking them. "You'll have to shout louder," he scoffed, "for surely he is a god! Perhaps he is daydreaming, or is relieving himself. Or maybe he is away on a trip, or is asleep and needs to be wakened!"
Ecclesiastes 11:9
Young people, it's wonderful to be young! Enjoy every minute of it. Do everything you want to do; take it all in. But remember that you must give an account to God for everything you do.
Luke 1:51
His mighty arm has done tremendous things! He has scattered the proud and haughty ones.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur,.... Generally thought by the Jews to be the eastern gate, so called, as they say, because such as were defiled were bid to depart, or go back, as this word signifies, and not enter the temple; it is called "the gate of the foundation", 2 Chronicles 23:5 because, according to Ben Gersom, here the foundation of the sanctuary was first laid; it is said b to have five other names besides these:

and a third part at the gate behind the guard; the temple guard, which had a captain of them, Acts 4:1 this gate is supposed to be the same with "sippim", or the threshold gate, 2 Chronicles 23:4 and to be the southern one:

so shall ye keep the watch of the house, that it be not broken down; guard the temple, that none break or rush into it, of Athaliah's party.

b T. Hieros. Yoma apud Beckium in Targ. in 2 Chron. xxiii. 5.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Five divisions of the guard under their five captains are distinguished here. Three of the five divisions “enter in” on the Sabbath; the other two “go forth” on the Sabbath 2 Kings 11:7. By the former phrase seems to be meant the mounting guard at the royal palace (the “king’s house,” where Athaliah then was); by the latter the serving of escort to the sovereign beyond the palace bounds. Jehoiada orders that of those whose business it would be to guard the palace on the ensuing Sabbath, one company or cohort should perform that task in the ordinary way, while another should watch the gate of Sur - or better, “the gate of the foundation” 2 Chronicles 23:5 - that by which the palace was usually quitted for the temple, and a third should watch another of the palace gates, called “the gate of the guard” (see 2 Kings 11:19). The two companies whose proper business it would be to serve as the royal escort beyond the palace walls, he orders to enter the temple, and surround the person of the young king.

2 Kings 11:6

That it be not broken down - The one word in the original text of which this is a translation occurs nowhere else; and its meaning is very doubtful.

2 Kings 11:8

Within the ranges - Rather, “within the ranks.” If anyone tried to break through the soldiers’ ranks to the king, or even to disturb their order, he was to be immediately slain.


 
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