1
In the seventh year Yehoiada strengthened himself, and took the captains of hundreds, `Azaryah the son of Yerocham, and Yishma'el the son of Yehochanan, and `Azaryah the son of `Oved, and Ma`aseyah the son of `Adayah, and Elishaphat the son of Zikhri, into covenant with him.
2
They went about in Yehudah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Yehudah, and the heads of fathers' [houses] of Yisra'el, and they came to Yerushalayim.
3
All the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. He said to them, Behold, the king's son shall reign, as the LORD has spoken concerning the sons of David.
4
This is the thing that you shall do: a third part of you, who come in on the Shabbat, of the Kohanim and of the Levites, shall be porters of the thresholds
5
and a third part shall be at the king's house; and a third part at the gate of the foundation: and all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the LORD.
6
But let none come into the house of the LORD, save the Kohanim, and those who minister of the Levites; they shall come in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the charge of the LORD.
7
The Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes into the house, let him be slain: and be you with the king when he comes in, and when he goes out.
8
So the Levites and all Yehudah did according to all that Yehoiada the Kohen commanded: and they took every man his men, those who were to come in on the Shabbat; with those who were to go out on the Shabbat; for Yehoiada the Kohen didn't dismiss the shift.
9
Yehoiada the Kohen delivered to the captains of hundreds the spears, and bucklers, and shields, that had been king David's, which were in the house of God.