Lectionary Calendar
Tuesday, July 22nd, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Douay-Rheims Bible

2 Kings 11:6

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.

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 Living Translation
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.
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.
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 And in the seventh year Joiada sent, and taking the centurions and soldiers, brought them in to him into the temple of the Lord, and made a covenant with them: and taking an oath of them in the house of the Lord, shewed them the king’s son: 5 And he commanded them, saying: This is the thing that you must do. 6 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. 7 But let two parts of you all that go forth on the sabbath, keep the watch of the house of the Lord about the king. 8 And you shall compass him round about, having weapons in your hands: and if any man shall enter the precinct of the temple, let him be slain: and you shall be with the king, coming in and going out. 9 And the centurions did according to all things that Joiada the priest, had commanded them: and taking every one their men, that went in on the sabbath, with them that went out in the sabbath, came to Joiada, the priest. 10 And he gave them the spears, and the arms of king David, which were in the house of the Lord. 11 And they stood, having every one their weapons in their hands, from the right side of the temple, unto the left side of the altar, and of the temple, about the king. 12 And he brought forth the king’s son, and put the diadem upon him, and the testimony: and they made him king, and anointed him: and clapping their hands, they said: God save 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
And he said: Behold Adam is become as one of us, knowing good and evil: now therefore lest perhaps he put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever.
Genesis 6:5
And God seeing that the wickedness of men was great on the earth, and that all the thought of their heart was bent upon evil at all times,
Genesis 8:21
And the Lord smelled a sweet savour, and said: I will no more curse the earth for the sake of man: for the imagination and thought of man’s heart are prone to evil from his youth: therefore I will no more destroy every living soul as I have done.
Genesis 9:19
These three are the sons of Noe: and from these was all mankind spread over the whole earth.
Genesis 11:1
And the earth was of one tongue, and of the same speech.
Genesis 11:4
And they said: Come, let us make a city and a tower, the top whereof may reach to heaven; and let us make our name famous before we be scattered abroad into all lands.
Judges 10:14
Go, and call upon the gods which you have chosen: let them deliver you in the time of distress.
1 Kings 18:27
And when it was now noon, Elias jested at them, saying: Cry with a louder voice: for he is a god; and perhaps he is talking, or is in an inn, or on a journey; or perhaps he is asleep, and must be awaked.
Ecclesiastes 11:9
Rejoice therefore, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart be in that which is good in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thy eyes: and know that for all these God will bring thee into judgment.
Luke 1:51
He hath shewed might in his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

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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