2 Kings 11:11 kjv
And the guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, round about the king, from the right corner of the temple to the left corner of the temple, along by the altar and the temple.
2 Kings 11:11 nkjv
Then the escorts stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, all around the king, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, by the altar and the house.
2 Kings 11:11 niv
The guards, each with weapon in hand, stationed themselves around the king?near the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.
2 Kings 11:11 esv
And the guards stood, every man with his weapons in his hand, from the south side of the house to the north side of the house, around the altar and the house on behalf of the king.
2 Kings 11:11 nlt
The palace guards stationed themselves around the king, with their weapons ready. They formed a line from the south side of the Temple around to the north side and all around the altar.
2 Kings 11 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Sam 7:16 | And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me... | Davidic covenant's eternal promise |
| 1 Kgs 11:36 | And to his son I will give one tribe, that David my servant may always have a lamp before me in Jerusalem... | God's promise to maintain David's line in Jerusalem |
| 2 Kgs 11:4 | But in the seventh year Jehoiada sent and brought the captains... into a covenant with him in the house of the Lord... | Preparations for the coup against Athaliah |
| 2 Kgs 11:7 | Two parts of you... shall keep watch over the house of the Lord for the king. | Specific command for guards protecting the king |
| 2 Kgs 11:10 | And the priest delivered to the captains the spears and the shields that had been King David's... | Arming of the loyal guards |
| 2 Kgs 11:13-14 | When Athaliah heard the noise... behold, the king was standing by the pillar, as was the custom... | Confirmation of the king's presence at the described location |
| 2 Chr 23:9-10 | And Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains the spears and the shields... So the guard stood... by the king. | Parallel account of the same event |
| Ps 18:2 | The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer... | God as protector and secure refuge |
| Ps 27:5 | For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent... | Divine protection within God's dwelling place |
| Ps 91:4 | He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and a buckler. | God's comprehensive protection |
| Ps 121:7-8 | The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in... | God's watchful care and preservation |
| Isa 37:35 | For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake and for the sake of my servant David. | God's promise to defend Jerusalem and David's lineage |
| Jer 33:17 | For thus says the Lord: David shall never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel. | Divine promise for the continuation of David's dynasty |
| Eze 37:24-25 | My servant David shall be king over them... they shall dwell in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob... forever. | Prophecy of an eternal Davidic ruler |
| Neh 4:18 | And each of the builders had his sword strapped at his side while he built. The one who sounded the trumpet was beside me. | Preparedness for defense while serving God's work |
| Matt 1:1, 6 | The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David... and David was the father of Solomon... | Jesus' lineage, affirming the Davidic covenant's fulfillment |
| Luke 1:32-33 | He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David... | Jesus as the eternal Davidic King |
| John 10:28-29 | I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand... | Ultimate protection provided by the true King |
| Rom 8:31 | What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? | Assurance of divine support and victory |
| Heb 1:8 | But of the Son he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever..." | The eternal nature of Christ's reign as the ultimate Davidic King |
| Rev 5:5 | And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered..." | Christ identified as the promised Davidic deliverer |
| Rev 22:16 | "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David..." | Jesus' self-identification as the fulfillment of the Davidic line |
2 Kings 11 verses
2 Kings 11 11 Meaning
The verse describes the meticulous and strategic positioning of the royal guards within the Jerusalem Temple. These armed men were stationed around the altar and the sacred confines of the house of God, forming an unbroken protective perimeter that stretched from the right to the left side, all focused on safeguarding the young king Joash. This deployment ensured the security of the Davidic heir during his coronation, restoring legitimate rule after Athaliah's usurpation and apostasy.
2 Kings 11 11 Context
Chapter 11 of 2 Kings details a critical juncture in the history of Judah. After King Ahaziah of Judah was killed by Jehu (2 Kgs 9), his mother Athaliah, daughter of wicked King Ahab and Queen Jezebel of Israel, usurped the throne of Judah. To solidify her power and destroy the legitimate Davidic lineage, she ruthlessly ordered the massacre of all the royal heirs. However, Ahaziah’s sister Jehosheba rescued his infant son Joash and hid him for six years in the Temple with her husband, Jehoiada the priest. In the seventh year, Jehoiada initiated a daring and divinely ordained coup. He garnered support from the captains of the Carites and the guard, arranged a precise military deployment within the Temple complex during the Sabbath change of guard, and presented young Joash to the assembled loyalists. Verse 11 specifically describes the formation of this protective force around the sacred space and the hidden king, a crucial step in re-establishing the rightful Davidic monarchy and the true worship of Yahweh after a period of Ba'al worship fostered by Athaliah.
2 Kings 11 11 Word analysis
- And the guard stood (`וַיַּעֲמְדוּ הָרָצִים`, vayya'amdu hā-rāṣīm):
- `וַיַּעֲמְדוּ` (vayya'amdu - they stood/they were stationed): Denotes a deliberate, firm, and fixed position, indicating readiness and purpose.
- `הָרָצִים` (hā-rāṣīm - the runners/guards): Refers to a specific unit of elite royal guards or swift messengers, often functioning as part of the king's bodyguard and sometimes as executioners. Their designation as "runners" suggests efficiency, swift action, and loyalty to the king's command. This was an effective and dependable force chosen for such a crucial task.
- every man with his weapons in his hand (`אִישׁ כֵּלָיו בְּיָדוֹ`, ʾîš kêlāyw bə-yādō):
- `אִישׁ` (ʾîš - every man): Emphasizes the collective unity and individual readiness of each soldier.
- `כֵּלָיו` (kêlāyw - his weapons/implements): The word keli can mean "vessel," "instrument," or "equipment." In this military context, it refers to all necessary arms and military gear, such as swords, spears, and shields, signifying their complete preparedness for combat.
- `בְּיָדוֹ` (bə-yādō - in his hand): Directly indicates immediate readiness and a stance of active vigilance, rather than having their weapons stored away.
- from the right side of the house to the left side of the house (`מִיָּמִין הַבַּיִת וְעַד שְׂמֹאול הַבָּיִת`, miyyāmîn habbayit wəʿad śəmōʾwl habbayit):
- `מִיָּמִין... וְעַד שְׂמֹאול` (miyyāmîn... wəʿad śəmōʾwl - from the right... to the left): This idiom signifies a complete, encompassing circumference, ensuring no point of entry or weakness in the defensive line.
- `הַבַּיִת` (habbayit - the house): Refers to the Temple, specifically the inner courts or the sacred structure itself. The double mention underscores the full encirclement of the sacred precinct.
- around the altar and the house (`לַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְלַבָּיִת`, lammizbēaḥ wəllabbāyit):
- `לַמִּזְבֵּחַ` (lammizbēaḥ - the altar): This most likely refers to the great bronze altar for burnt offerings in the outer court of the Temple, indicating that the entire sacred area where divine service took place was included within the protective ring. Its inclusion highlights the protection of proper worship.
- `וְלַבָּיִת` (wəllabbāyit - and the house/Temple): Reiterates the sacred building and its environs, emphasizing the sanctity and strategic importance of the entire Temple complex.
- by the king (`עַל הַמֶּלֶךְ`, ʿal hammeleḵ):
- `עַל` (ʿal - upon/by/over): Here it denotes proximity and ultimate focus of their protection. All aspects of the guard's position were directed toward securing the person of the king.
- `הַמֶּלֶךְ` (hammeleḵ - the king): The primary objective of this extensive deployment was the physical safety and installation of the young king Joash, ensuring the continuity of the divinely promised Davidic line.
- "And the guard stood... by the king": This phrase establishes the immediate, vigilant presence and posture of the elite force, signaling their absolute focus on the royal figure. It conveys readiness for swift defensive action to secure the king's safety.
- "every man with his weapons in his hand": This group of words emphasizes both individual preparedness and collective military discipline. It vividly portrays a formidable, fully armed line of defense, signifying that this was a serious military operation, not merely a ceremonial guard.
- "from the right side of the house to the left side of the house, around the altar and the house, by the king": This extended phrase precisely outlines the strategic, comprehensive, and impenetrable nature of the protective formation. It indicates a meticulously planned encirclement of the entire sacred complex, centering ultimately on the legitimate heir to the throne. The Temple served as both a fortress for the young king and the holy sanctuary, and the guards' placement signified protection of both the person and the purity of the monarchy and worship. This highlights Jehoiada's wisdom in integrating security of the king with the sanctity of the Temple.
2 Kings 11 11 Bonus section
- The selection of
הָרָצִים(the runners/guards) likely refers to the loyal Carites and the royal guard mentioned elsewhere (2 Kgs 11:4). Their elite status and presumed loyalty to the legitimate Davidic line were crucial for the success of Jehoiada's plan. - The Temple's vast and secure complex made it an ideal, defensible location for such an operation, a 'divine fortress' where the Davidic heir could be protected and presented.
- This military display inside the Temple demonstrated the restoration of not only the monarchy but also proper divine order, effectively "sanctifying" the restoration through its placement within the holy precincts. The protection of the altar and the house highlights that God's spiritual order was being re-established along with His chosen king.
2 Kings 11 11 Commentary
This verse concisely captures the tactical brilliance and spiritual significance of Jehoiada’s counter-coup. The specific detailing of the guards' posture and position underscores the grave danger faced by the infant Joash and the meticulous planning required to protect him. Their standing, fully armed and encircling the Temple—the sacred space of God's dwelling—and the king himself, demonstrates not only a physical defense but a symbolic restoration of order. It was a clear statement that God's anointed king and His holy place were now under a divine shield, a powerful repudiation of Athaliah's idolatrous and murderous reign. The protective ring around both altar and king reinforces the symbiotic relationship between true worship and righteous leadership in Judah, and how God works through loyal servants to uphold His covenant promises, particularly concerning the Davidic dynasty.