2 They went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the heads of fathers' (houses) of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Jehoiada was unwilling to trust the success of the revolution wholly and entirely to the royal body-guard. Accordingly, the captains collected from the cities of Judah a strong body of Levites and the chief of the fathers of Israel (i. e. "Judah," see 2-Chronicles 20:34 note) who were brought up to Jerusalem.
And they went about in Judah, and gathered the Levites out of all the cities of Judah, and the (b) chief of the fathers of Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.
(b) Meaning of Judah and Benjamin. To see why they are
called Israel, See 2-Chronicles 15:17
chief of all the fathers of Israel--This name is frequently used in Chronicles for Judah and Benjamin, now all that remained of Israel. Having cautiously entrusted the secret of the young prince's preservation to all the leading men in the kingdom, he enlisted their interest in the royal cause and got their pledge to support it by a secret oath of fidelity.
they came to Jerusalem--The time chosen for the grand discovery was, probably, one of the annual festivals, when there was a general concourse of the nation at the capital.
*More commentary available at chapter level.