14 Verses 5b–7 read literally, “the third of you, the ones entering [on] the Sabbath and the ones guarding the guard of the house of the king, and the third in the gate of Sur, and the third in the gate behind the runners, and you will guard the guard of the house, alternating. And the two units of you, all the ones going out [on] the Sabbath, and they will guard the guard of the house of the Lord for the king.” The precise meaning of this text is impossible to determine. It would appear that the Carians and royal bodyguard were divided into three units. One unit would serve during the Sabbath; the other two would be off duty on the Sabbath. Jehoiada divided the first unit into three groups and assigned them different locations. The two off duty units were assigned the task of guarding the king.

In other versions

And the two divisions of you, which come on duty in force on the Sabbath and guard the house of the Lord on behalf of the king,

and you who are in the other two companies that normally go off Sabbath duty are all to guard the temple for the king.

“Your two divisions that go off duty on the Sabbath are to provide the king protection at the Lord’s temple.

The other two units who are off duty on the Sabbath must stand guard for the king at the Lord’s Temple.

Two of the units among you, all who go on duty on the Sabbath, guard the post of the temple of Yahweh for the king.

And two parts of all you that go forth on the sabbath, even they shall keep the watch of the house of the Lord about the king.

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