And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of the house, that it be not broken down.

Let a third part of you go in on the sabbath, and keep the watch of the king's house. And let a third part be at the gate of Sur: and let a third part be at the gate behind the dwelling of the shieldbearers: and you shall keep the watch of the house of Messa.

and a third part shall be at the gate of Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the couriers; and ye shall keep the watch of the house for a defence.

and the third is at the gate of Sur, and the third at the gate behind the runners, and ye have kept the charge of the house pulled down;

now another third part was at the gate Sur, and another third part at the gate behind the guard-shall keep the watch of the house, and be a barrier.

Let one third part of you enter on the Sabbath, and keep watch on the house of the king. And let one third part be at the gate of Sur. And let one third part be at the gate behind the dwelling place of the shield bearers. And you shall keep the watch on the house of Mesha.

That it be not broken down - The one word in the original text of which this is a translation occurs nowhere else; and its meaning is very doubtful.

And a third part [shall be] at the gate of (g) Sur; and a third part at the gate behind the guard: so shall ye keep the watch of the house, that it be not broken down.
(g) Called the east gate of the temple, (2-Chronicles 23:5).

And a third part shall be at the gate of Sur,.... Generally thought by the Jews to be the eastern gate, so called, as they say, because such as were defiled were bid to depart, or go back, as this word signifies, and not enter the temple; it is called "the gate of the foundation", 2-Chronicles 23:5 because, according to Ben Gersom, here the foundation of the sanctuary was first laid; it is said (b) to have five other names besides these:
and a third part at the gate behind the guard; the temple guard, which had a captain of them, Acts 4:1 this gate is supposed to be the same with "sippim", or the threshold gate, 2-Chronicles 23:4 and to be the southern one:
so shall ye keep the watch of the house, that it be not broken down; guard the temple, that none break or rush into it, of Athaliah's party.
(b) T. Hieros. Yoma apud Beckium in Targ. in 2 Chron. xxiii. 5.

Sur - The chief gate of the temple. The guard - Either, the king's guard. Or, the guard of the temple; this gate was in the south - side. So, &c. - So you shall guard all the gates or entrances into the temple that neither Athaliah nor any of her soldiers may break in.