2 Kings 11:4

4 But in the seventh year Jehoiada, the priest, sent, and took (the) chieftains upon hundreds, and (the) knights, and he brought them to him into the temple of the Lord; and covenanted with them a bond of peace (and made a covenant with them), and he made them to swear in the temple of the Lord, and showed to them the son of the king.

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 And Jehosheba, the daughter of king Jehoram , (and) the sister of Ahaziah, took Joash , the son of Ahaziah, and stole him from the midst of the sons of the king, that were slain (who were killed); and she (also) took the nurse of him from the house of three stages; and she hid him from the face of Athaliah, so that he were not slain.

3 And he was with her in the house of the Lord privily six years (And he was hid with her in the House of the Lord for six years). Forsooth Athaliah reigned upon the land six years.

4 But in the seventh year Jehoiada, the priest, sent, and took (the) chieftains upon hundreds, and (the) knights, and he brought them to him into the temple of the Lord; and covenanted with them a bond of peace (and made a covenant with them), and he made them to swear in the temple of the Lord, and showed to them the son of the king.

5 And he commanded to them, and said, This is the word, that ye ought to do; the third part of you enter in (on) the sabbath day, and keep ye the watches of the king's house; (And he commanded to them, and said, This is the thing, that ye ought to do; a third part of you be on duty on the sabbath day, and keep ye watch over, or guard, the palace;)

6 and another third part be at the gate of Sur; and the third part be at the gate that is behind the dwelling place of the makers of shields; and ye shall keep the watches of the house of Masah. (and a third part be at the Sur Gate; and a third part be at the gate that is behind the dwelling place of the shield-makers; and so ye shall keep watch over the House of the Lord behind the other guards.)