2 Kings 11:4

4 But in the seventh year Jehoiada the priest sent for the officers in charge of the royal bodyguard and of the palace guards, and told them to come to the Temple, where he made them agree under oath to what he planned to do. He showed them King Ahaziah's son Joash

2 Kings 11:4 Meaning and Commentary

2 Kings 11:4

And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over
hundreds, with the captains and the guard
This was the husband of Jehosheba, who was high priest, ( 2 Chronicles 22:11 ) these

rulers over hundreds
were not those appointed over the people for civil affairs, as by the advice of Jethro, but over the priests and Levites in their courses; five of whom are mentioned by name, and were employed in gathering together the Levites, and the chief of the fathers, throughout all the cities of Judah, ( 2 Chronicles 23:1 2 Chronicles 23:2 ) , and the "captains" here are the heads of the fathers there, who were the heads of the courses they were sent to gather; and the "guard", those of the late king, whom Athaliah had turned out of their post, and took in others in their room, unless rather the temple guard is meant:

and brought them to him into the house of the Lord;
the temple, that part of it where was the court of the priests and Levites:

and made a covenant with them;
to join with him, assist him, and stand by him in the restoration of the king, and the reformation of the kingdom:

and took an oath of them in the house of the Lord;
to keep secrecy, and be faithful to him:

and showed them the king's son;
for the truth of which he could produce his wife, the sister of the late king, and also the nurse of this child with him.

2 Kings 11:4 In-Context

2 Only Ahaziah's son Joash escaped. He was about to be killed with the others, but was rescued by his aunt Jehosheba, who was King Jehoram's daughter and Ahaziah's half sister. She took him and his nurse into a bedroom in the Temple and hid him from Athaliah, so that he was not killed.

3 For six years Jehosheba took care of the boy and kept him hidden in the Temple, while Athaliah ruled as queen.

4 But in the seventh year Jehoiada the priest sent for the officers in charge of the royal bodyguard and of the palace guards, and told them to come to the Temple, where he made them agree under oath to what he planned to do. He showed them King Ahaziah's son Joash

5 and gave them the following orders: "When you come on duty on the Sabbath, one third of you are to guard the palace;

6 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.