2 Kings 11:7, commentary and pictures

The verse belongs to the beginning of Joash's reign in Judah under the priest Jehoiada. After Ahaziah died Athaliah usurped the throne and sought to destroy the royal heirs, but the infant Joash and his nurse were hidden in the temple by his aunt, the wife of the high priest Jehoiada, and protected there until he was seven. When his grandmother's corrupt reign provoked revolt, officials brought Joash out and proclaimed him the rightful and true king with the guard about him, Athaliah was slain and Joash was placed on the throne. While Jehoiada lived the young king remained under his influence, the house of the Lord was repaired and the worship of the true God was established again. The two parts or divisions or companies going forth or going off duty on the Sabbath, whose regular watch was ending and who would ordinarily leave duty or be dismissed to their quarters, were instead ordered by Jehoiada to keep the watch of the house of the Lord about the king, guarding the temple and protecting Joash.

The change of the guard's positions was arranged on the Sabbath to secure the proclamation of Joash, because it could be carried out more successfully then. The soldiers whose regular watch was ending on the Sabbath were not dismissed to their quarters but were assigned to guard the temple and protect Joash, the rightful king. The verse shows that the Sabbath was recognized in temple service, with the guards changing on the Sabbath and keeping watch over the house of the Lord and the king. It is a reference to the Lord's weekly Sabbath, distinct from festival and land sabbaths.

The coronation account containing the verse is dated to 889 B.C. Those who date the accession of Jehoash to the throne of Judah with its incidental mention of the Sabbath place it about 778 B.C. The verse is one of the passages showing that the Sabbath was mentioned long after Moses, and the absence of mentions in the intervening years does not show that it was unknown.