2 Chronicles 23:4

This is what you are to do: A third of you priests and Levites who come on duty on the Sabbath shall keep watch at the doors,

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jehoiada addresses the assembled priests, Levites, and military captains during a covenant ratification to secure the succession of the Davidic king’s son. He issues immediate logistical orders to protect the temple and palace during the transition of power.

The words — תַּעֲשׂ֑וּ (ta'asu) translates literally as "you will do," establishing a binding command. הַשְּׁלִשִׁית (hashlishit) means "the third part," specifying the exact fraction of personnel assigned to each station.

The thread — The division of personnel echoes the fixed seven-day service periods in 1 Chronicles 9:25 and the organized priestly divisions in 1 Chronicles 24:3. The administrative counting of Levites in 1 Chronicles 23:3 provides the personnel roster that makes this rotational watch possible.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to recognize that sacred order demands precise allocation of personnel and strict adherence to appointed posts. It asks for obedient execution of assigned roles without personal modification or delay.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

זֶ֥הzehthis הַדָּבָ֖רha./da.Var[is] the/ thing אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.Sherwhich תַּעֲשׂ֑וּta.'a.Suyou will do הַשְּׁלִשִׁ֨יתha./she.li.Shitthe/ third [part]מִכֶּ֜םmi./Kemof/ youבָּאֵ֣יba.'Ei[who] come of הַשַּׁבָּ֗תha./sha.Batthe/ sabbath לַכֹּֽהֲנִים֙la./ko.ha.Nimto the/ priests וְלַלְוִיִּ֔םve./la/l.vi.Yimand/ to the/ Levites לְשֹֽׁעֲרֵ֖יle./sho.'a.Rei[will become] <into>/ [the] gatekeepers of הַסִּפִּֽים׃ha./si.Pimthe/ thresholds

King James Version

This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doors;

Cross-references

1 Chronicles 9:25 Their relatives came from their villages at fixed times to serve with them for seven-day periods.
1 Chronicles 23:3 The Levites thirty years of age or older were counted, and the total number of men was 38,000.
1 Chronicles 24:3 With the help of Eleazar’s descendant Zadok and Ithamar’s descendant Ahimelech, David divided them according to the offices of their service.
1 Chronicles 26:13 They cast lots for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.
Luke 1:8 One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,