2 Chronicles 23 6

2 Chronicles 23:6 kjv

But let none come into the house of the LORD, save the priests, and they that minister of the Levites; they shall go in, for they are holy: but all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 23:6 nkjv

But let no one come into the house of the LORD except the priests and those of the Levites who serve. They may go in, for they are holy; but all the people shall keep the watch of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 23:6 niv

No one is to enter the temple of the LORD except the priests and Levites on duty; they may enter because they are consecrated, but all the others are to observe the LORD's command not to enter.

2 Chronicles 23:6 esv

Let no one enter the house of the LORD except the priests and ministering Levites. They may enter, for they are holy, but all the people shall keep the charge of the LORD.

2 Chronicles 23:6 nlt

Remember, only the priests and Levites on duty may enter the Temple of the LORD, for they are set apart as holy. The rest of the people must obey the LORD's instructions and stay outside.

2 Chronicles 23 verses

2 Chronicles 23 6 Meaning

2 Chronicles 23:6 establishes a divine decree concerning access to the Jerusalem Temple. It declares that only consecrated priests and the Levites actively engaged in their service were permitted to enter the sacred precincts of the "house of the LORD." This restriction was rooted in their special consecration; "they are holy" (qodesh), meaning they were set apart for God's exclusive use and service. Conversely, it mandates that "all the people" (the general Israelite populace) must maintain "the charge of the LORD," emphasizing their duty to keep proper reverence, observe boundaries, and respect the holy order prescribed by God, particularly regarding their restricted access to His dwelling place. This rule ensured the sanctity of the Temple and the structured worship appointed by Yahweh.

2 Chronicles 23 6 Context

2 Chronicles 23:6 is a crucial command given by Jehoiada the high priest during his plot to overthrow the wicked queen Athaliah and install the rightful king Joash. The preceding verses (2 Chr 23:1-5) detail Jehoiada gathering the commanders, Levites, and heads of Israelite families to secure the Temple. This verse, therefore, functions as a direct instruction within a time of great national crisis and spiritual reformation. It underscores the vital importance of maintaining cultic order and holiness in God's house even amidst political upheaval. This was a restoration of the long-standing Mosaic laws that defined roles and boundaries for sacred service, which had likely been neglected or violated during Athaliah's reign when Baal worship gained prominence (2 Chr 24:7). The instruction emphasizes proper reverence and warns against unauthorized intrusion into the holy space, protecting both the Temple's sanctity and the lives of the people.

2 Chronicles 23 6 Word analysis

• But let no one come: The phrase "לא יָבֹא" (lo yavo') indicates a strong prohibition, a negative command with strict enforcement. This is not a suggestion but an absolute rule governing sacred space. It contrasts sharply with Athaliah's reign, where such boundaries may have been blurred.

• into the house of the LORD: Refers to the "בֵּית יְהוָה" (beit YHWH), Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. This was the earthly dwelling place of God's manifest presence among His people. Access was severely restricted due to God's holiness and the sinfulness of humanity. The "house" encompassed the holy areas beyond the outer courts where the general populace might gather.

• except the priests: הַכֹּהֲנִים (hakohanim). These were direct descendants of Aaron, set apart for liturgical functions: offering sacrifices, burning incense, teaching the law, and blessing the people. Their role involved unique access to the inner parts of the Temple.

• and those Levites who minister: וְהַלְוִיִּם הַמְשָׁרְתִים (vehalei'vim hamesharetim). Not all Levites had equal access or duties. "Hamesharetim" means "the serving ones" or "those who minister." This specifies the Levites who were actively on duty, involved in the direct service of the Temple, whether guarding, carrying holy objects, preparing sacrifices, or musical service. Their function was essential in maintaining order and assisting the priests.

• For they are holy: כִּי־הֵמָּה קֹדֶשׁ (ki-hemma qodesh). "Qodesh" (holy) signifies being set apart and consecrated exclusively for God's use. Their holiness was not inherent righteousness but an assigned status through divine appointment and anointing, enabling them to handle holy things without incurring divine wrath. This is the rationale for their exclusive access.

• but all the people: וְכָל־הָעָם (vekhol-ha'am). Refers to the rest of the Israelite community, distinct from the priestly and Levitical lines. This group's boundary was the outer courts, signifying their general yet reverent presence without direct access to the most sacred areas.

• shall keep the charge of the LORD: שָׁמְרוּ מִשְׁמֶרֶת יְהוָה (shamru mishmeret YHWH). "Shamru mishmeret" means to "keep a charge," "guard a duty," or "observe an ordinance." Here, it refers to their responsibility to adhere to the divine regulations concerning the Temple's sanctity and their limited access. It's an exhortation to maintain reverence and order by respecting the established boundaries and roles.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "But let no one come into the house of the LORD except the priests and those Levites who minister": This establishes a clear boundary for access to God's dwelling, differentiating roles and responsibilities based on divine ordination. It highlights the structured hierarchy of Temple service mandated by Mosaic Law, emphasizing that physical proximity to the sacred core was limited to a consecrated few.
  • "For they are holy; but all the people shall keep the charge of the LORD": This provides the theological rationale for the restricted access. The holiness of the priests and ministering Levites qualifies them. For the rest of the populace, their "charge" is to maintain reverence and respect by acknowledging and obeying the divinely instituted boundaries, preventing the profanation of holy space. This upholds the inherent holiness of God and His dwelling place.

2 Chronicles 23 6 Bonus section

The strict regulations in 2 Chronicles 23:6 concerning Temple access reflect a core theological truth: the immeasurable chasm between the perfectly holy God and fallen humanity. The graded access to the Tabernacle/Temple (Outer Court for all, Inner Court for priests, Holy of Holies for high priest once a year) graphically depicted this reality. This separation served not to distance God from His people entirely, but to teach them about His character and the gravity of sin, while simultaneously protecting them from divine wrath that might erupt from unauthorized contact with His holy presence. This structure foreshadowed the ultimate reconciliation provided through the sacrifice of Jesus, who, as the great High Priest (Heb 4:14), tore the veil, providing all believers direct access into God's presence, establishing a "royal priesthood" (1 Pet 2:9). Yet, even in the New Covenant, access requires a new kind of "holiness"—repentance, faith, and a reverent approach to God, as emphasized in passages like Hebrews 12:28-29, demonstrating that while the physical boundaries changed, the divine demand for holiness and reverence did not.

2 Chronicles 23 6 Commentary

2 Chronicles 23:6 stands as a firm reiteration of divine protocol concerning the sanctity of the Jerusalem Temple. In a moment of high political tension and religious reform, Jehoiada's instruction grounds the return to Yahwism in the strict adherence to established sacred laws. The principle is clear: access to the immediate presence of God, symbolized by His Temple, is not universal but strictly regulated. This is not arbitrary exclusion but a necessary consequence of God's absolute holiness. The priests and Levites were ceremonially consecrated and, thus, uniquely set apart ("holy") for the rigorous service and proximity to sacred objects. Their roles encompassed both ritual purity and physical guarding of the holy precincts, ensuring that the people did not incur sin or death through unauthorized entry, as seen tragically with Nadab and Abihu (Lev 10) or Korah's rebellion (Num 16). For "all the people," their "charge" was reverential submission to this divine order—observing boundaries, maintaining purity in their designated areas, and showing appropriate respect. This command underlines that proper worship necessitates both appointed ministers and a reverent congregation.

This verse practically illustrates that approaching God always requires a defined path and appropriate posture, whether under the Old Covenant's external laws or the New Covenant's spiritual truths. The Old Testament emphasized physical separation; the New Testament, while removing the physical barrier through Christ's sacrifice, stresses a new kind of "holiness" and "reverence" in how believers approach a holy God.