דברי הימים ב, פרק כ״ג, פסוק ו׳

A strict protocol governs the guarding of the Temple, clearly defining the boundaries of sacred space and the specific roles assigned to those protecting it. This detailed division of duties provides a unique perspective on the events, offering information that is completely absent from parallel historical accounts in the Book of Kings [מלבי״ם].

The central focus of these instructions is the restriction on entering the House of God. This prohibition applies specifically to the inner sanctuary building itself [מצודת דוד]. Access to this deeply sacred area is granted exclusively to the priests, along with the Levites who assist in the daily service of the Temple [מצודת דוד, רד״ק]. They alone are permitted to enter because of the intense holiness of the sanctuary and its entrance hall, spaces strictly off-limits to ordinary Israelites [רד״ק].

While the priests and Levites maintain the watch within the inner courtyards and sanctuary, the rest of the people are given their own crucial responsibility. The primary approach among commentators is that the general population is tasked with standing guard around the outside perimeter. Their duty is to form a protective barrier, ensuring that no unauthorized person mistakenly approaches or wanders into the restricted, holy areas of the Temple [רש״י, מצודת דוד].