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.