New English Translation
2 Chronicles 23:7
7The Levites must surround the king. Each of you must hold his weapon in his hand. Whoever tries to enter the temple must be killed. You must accompany the king wherever he goes.”
2 Chronicles 23:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the Levites shall compass the king round about, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whosoever else cometh into the house, he shall be put to death: but be ye with the king when he cometh in, and when he goeth out.
- New International Version (NIV)The Levites are to station themselves around the king, each with weapon in hand. Anyone who enters the temple is to be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes.”
- English Standard Version (ESV)The Levites shall surround the king, each with his weapons in his hand. And whoever enters the house shall be put to death. Be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out."
- New King James Version (NKJV)And the Levites shall surround the king on all sides, every man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever comes into the house, let him be put to death. You are to be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out.”
Context of 2 Chronicles 23:7
5Another third of you will be stationed at the royal palace and still another third at the Foundation Gate. All the others will stand in the courtyards of the Lord’s temple. 6No one must enter the Lord’s temple except the priests and Levites who are on duty. They may enter because they are ceremonially pure. All the others should carry out their assigned service to the Lord. The Levites must surround the king. Each of you must hold his weapon in his hand. Whoever tries to enter the temple must be killed. You must accompany the king wherever he goes.” 8The Levites and all the men of Judah did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each of them took his men, those who were on duty during the Sabbath as well as those who were off duty on the Sabbath. Jehoiada the priest did not release his divisions from their duties. 9Jehoiada the priest gave to the officers of the units of hundreds King David’s spears and shields that were kept in God’s temple.
Read all of 2 Chronicles 232 Chronicles 23:7 word by word
וְהִקִּיפוּ֩ הַלְוִיִּ֨ם אֶת־הַמֶּ֜לֶךְ סָבִ֗יב אִ֚ישׁ וְכֵלָ֣יו בְּיָד֔וֹ וְהַבָּ֥א אֶל־הַבַּ֖יִת יוּמָ֑ת וִֽהְי֥וּ אֶת־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ בְּבֹא֥וֹ וּבְצֵאתֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And the Levitesלֵוִיlêvîyîy lêvîy · LeviH3881
- shall compassנָקַףnâqaph · to surroundH5362
- the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
- round aboutסָבִיבsâbîyb sebîybâh · aroundH5439
- every manאִישׁ'îysh · man: anyoneH376
- with his weaponsכְּלִיkelîy · article/utensilH3627
- in his handיָדyâd · handH3027
- comethבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- into the houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: homeH1004
- he shall be put to deathמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
- and when he goeth outיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
Cross-references for 2 Chronicles 23:7
- 2 Kings 11:8You must surround the king. Each of you must hold his weapon in his hand. Whoever approaches your ranks must be killed. You must accompany the king wherever he goes.”
- Exodus 19:12You must set boundaries for the people all around, saying, ‘Take heed to yourselves not to go up on the mountain nor touch its edge. Whoever touches the mountain will surely be put to death!
- Exodus 21:14But if a man willfully attacks his neighbor to kill him cunningly, you will take him even from my altar that he may die.
- Numbers 3:10So you are to appoint Aaron and his sons, and they will be responsible for their priesthood; but the unauthorized person who comes near must be put to death.”
Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 23:7
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 7Compare 2 Kings 11:8, 2 Kings 11:11. The soldiers and the Levites in the temple were probably intermixed in about equal proportions.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6-7Only the priests and Levites on duty could enter the temple, so the Levites had to stop others from entering.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 4-94-9. This is the thing that ye shall do--The arrangements made for defense are here described. The people were divided into three bodies; one attended as guards to the king, while the other two were posted at all the doors and gates, and the captains and military officers who entered the temple unarmed to lull suspicion, were furnished with weapons out of the sacred armory, where David had deposited his trophies of victory and which was reopened on this…Read the comment
Topics related to 2 Chronicles 23:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 2 Chronicles 23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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Commentaries