Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole 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^F2T. Hieros. Yoma apud Beckium in Targ. in 2 Chron. xxiii. 5. 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.

Geneva Study Bible

(g) Called the east gate of the temple, (2 Chronicles 23:5).

Wesley's Explanatory Notes

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.

Sur — The chief gate of the temple.

The guard — Either, 1. the king's guard. Or, 2. the guard of the temple; this gate was in the south-side.

So, … — So you shall guard all the gates or entrances into the temple that neither Athaliah nor any of her soldiers may break in.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

2 Kings 11:6 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.

Ver. 6. At the gate of Sur.] So called, saith Martyr, from declining or departing; because the door keepers made the unclean decline from it.

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible

2 Kings 11:6. Keep the watch of the house, that it be not broken down— In the Hebrew מסח הבית habbaiith massach, which the Vulgate and LXX render the house Messah, supposing the original to be a proper name. Houbigant renders it, the court of casting away; supposing it to mean that part of the temple where the filth and dirt were carried out and thrown away.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

At the gate of Sur; the chief gate of the temple, called the high gate, 2 Kings 15:35, and the foundation gate, 2 Chronicles 23:5, and the eastgate, Jeremiah 19:2, and the middle gate, Jeremiah 39:3, and the gate of the entrance, Ezekiel 40:15.

Behind the guard; either,

1. The king’s guard; or,

2. The guard of the temple; for such a guard there was, and a captain of the guard, called the captain of the temple, Acts 4:1 5:24. This gate was in the south side; and, as some think, is that which is called sippim, or the threshold gate, 2 Chronicles 23:4.

So shall ye keep the watch of the house, that it be not broken down, i.e. so you shall guard all the gates or entrances into the house or temple of God, that neither Athaliah nor any of her soldiers may break into the temple, and defile it, or destroy it; as she will doubtless endeavour to do. Or, and ye shall keep the watch of the house Massach, as the LXX. and other interpreters render it; who think this was the name of a house not far from the temple; in which, or against which, they were to keep a guard.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

6.Gate of Sur — The same, doubtless, as the gate of the foundation, or gate of Yesod, in Chronicles. The exact locality of this gate cannot be decided, for it is nowhere mentioned again; but the most plausible supposition is, that it was the main entrance into the inner court of the temple.

The gate behind the guard — To this corresponds porters of the doors, in Chronicles. The guard, according to 2 Kings 11:11, stood round about the king, and extended from the right to the left side of the temple, by the altar and temple, and the gate behind the guard would seem to be some well-known side or rear entrance into the court of the temple, from which an attack or annoyance might be expected. It is also likely that some of these might stand as porters of the doors of the temple, gate-keepers of the Lord’s house, whose position would naturally be behind the guard that encompassed the king.

So shall ye keep the watch of the house — That is, all the three divisions just mentioned, by being stationed as described, shall guard all the approaches to the house of the Lord.

That it be not broken down — The Hebrew for this sentence is all in one word, מסח, a defence; a driving off. This body of Levites were to serve as a defensive watch — a company of sentinels set to drive away all that might presume to interfere with the plans of the high priest Jehoiada.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Sabbath. On this day the Levites replaced each other; so that many might assemble without suspicion. They guarded the king's apartments in the temple. --- The gate of Sur, or of the foundation, (2 Paralipomenon xxiii. 5.) and the western gate leading to the palace. (Calmet) --- Sur, or "the gate of the lords," (Chaldean) is generally supposed to be on the opposite side. (Menochius) --- But this is uncertain, as well as the situation of Messa, which is perhaps the Musach, chap. xvi. 18. This was probably some building or covert adjoining the temple, (Calmet) either belonging to some private person, (Menochius) or designed to contain the ashes, &c., taken from the temple; (Villalpand ii. 32.) or a tribune for the king in the temple. (Haydock) -- The Chaldean seems to have explained it as an adverb, sollicite, "with diligence," (Menochius) as well as the Septuagint, (Du Hamel) which is consonant to Vatable; you shall guard the house "from desertion." Let no one quit his post. (Menochius)

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

shall be = must be.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(6) And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur.—Or, and the third (shall be on guard) at the gate of Sur, Instead of Sûr (“turning aside”) Chronicles has Jesôd (“foundation”). The gate Sur was apparently a side exit from the court of the palace, such as may be seen in the old Egyptian palaces at Medinat-Abû and Karnak. “Jesod” is another name for the same side-door, or, as is far more likely, a textual corruption of “Sur.”

And a third part at the gate behind the guard.—Literally, and the third at the gate behind the Couriers. In 2 Kings 11:19 “the gate of the Couriers” is mentioned, apparently as the principal entrance to the palace enclosure. That gate and this one are probably the same. It is here called “the gate behind the Couriers” because a guard was usually stationed in front of it. Perhaps the word “behind” has originated in a mere echo of the word “gate” (‘ahar, sha’ar), and should be omitted as an error of transcription.

So shall ye keep the watch of the house.—Thus shall ye—the three divisions of the guards, entering on duty on the Sabbath—guard the entrances and exits of the royal palace.

That it be not broken down.—The Hebrew is only the one word massâh, which occurs nowhere else. It appears to mean “repulse,” “warding off,” and is probably a marginal gloss on “watch” (mishmèreth), explaining its nature—viz., that the guards were to keep back any one who tried to enter the palace buildings. Gesenius paraphrases, “ad depellendum populum” (zum Abwehren). Thenius suggests the reading “and repel”! scil., “all comers” (ûnesôah for massâh). He should have written wenâsôah.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

the gate of Sur

1 Chronicles 26:13-19; 2 Chronicles 23:4,5

that it be not broken down

or, from breaking up.