דברי הימים ב, פרק כ״ג, פסוק י׳

To secure the safety of the new king, Jehoiada orchestrates a massive defense strategy within the Temple grounds. He positions the entire assembled nation as an armed guard, creating a protective barrier to shield the ruler from all sides [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The crowd stands in a state of strict combat readiness, with every individual holding a weapon. While this armament is sometimes understood as general weaponry [רש"י], the primary approach among commentators is that the guards specifically gripped swords or spears [מצודת דוד, מצודת ציון, רלב"ג, רד"ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The physical formation of these guards is highly strategic. They are stationed along the sides of the Temple structure, stretching continuously from the right side to the left [מצודת ציון, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Their ranks fill the central area directly in front of the altar and the main sanctuary [מצודת דוד]. By entirely enclosing the space, this arrangement ensures an unbroken ring of armed guards stands ready to protect the king from every possible direction [ביאור שטיינזלץ].