Annotations upon the remaining historicall part of the Old Testament. The second part. to wit, the books of Joshua, Judges, the two books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, and the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther : wherein first, all such passages in the text are explained as were thought likely to be questioned by any reader of ordinary capacity : secondly, in many clauses those things are discovered which are needfull and usefull to be known ... and thirdly, many places that might at first seem to contradict one another are reconciled ... / by Arthur Jackson.

CHAP. XXIII.

Vers. 1. ANd in the seventh yeare Jehoiada strengthened himself, &c.] See 2. Kings 11.4. &c.

Vers. 4. A third part of you entring on the sabbath of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doores.] This third part here spoken of seems to be the same that in 2. Kings 11.6. are said to have had the charge of the gate behind the guard, which was the south-gate. Whereas therefore it is here said, that they were porters of the doores, it is either because this gate was called the gate of the doores or thresholds (for some cause unknown to us;) or else because besides the charge of the keeping of the gate behind the guard, mentioned in the book of the Kings, they were also appointed to be porters of the doores of the Temple. See the notes on 2. Kings 11.5.

Vers. 5. And a third part at the gate of the foundation.] That is the east-gate called also the gate of Sur, 2 Kings 11.6. it was happely called the gate of the foundation, because it stood lower than the rest, and from thence they went up by an ascent into the great court.

And all the people shall be in the courts of the house of the Lord.] That is, in the court of the people which was divided into severall courts; for we cannot think that the people were appointed to be in the priests court.

Vers. 6. Let none come into the house of the Lord, save the priests, &c.] That is, into the priests court.

But all the people shall keep the watch of the Lord.] That is, shall guard the holy place, that no man enter it, or they shall observe to do in this service of the Lord what is given them in charge.

Vers. 8. And took every man his men that were to come in on the sabbath, &c.] That is, every man that was the head of the family took those that belonged to them.

For Jehoiada the priest dismissed not the courses.] See 2. Kings 11.5.

Vers. 9. Moreover, Jehoiada the priest delivered to the captains of hundreds, spears, &c.] See 2. Kings 11.10. where also are many severall notes for the following passages of this chapter.

Vers. 11. And Jehoiada and his sonnes anointed him, and said, God save the king.] Zechariah therefore the sonne of Jehoiada, that was afterwards slain at the command of this king, chap. 24.21. had now an hand in setting the crowne upon his head.

Vers. 13. Also the singers with instruments of musick, and such as taught to sing praise.] That is, that lead the song, as being the most skilfull, and at other times teachers of the younger sort.

Vers. 16. And Jehoiada made a covenant between him, and between all the peo∣ple, &c.] That is, between the Lord (of whom mention was made before, vers. 14. and again in the last words of this verse) and the king and the people, as it is ex∣pressed,

2. Kings 11.17. or betwixt himself and the king and the people, to wit, in Gods behalf.

Vers. 20. And they came through the high gate into the kings house.] That is, the chief gate of the kings house, called the gate of the guard, 2. Kings. 11.19.