מלכים ב, פרק י״א, פסוק ה׳

Preparing for a secret royal coronation requires strict security measures, especially within the Temple grounds, to protect the young heir from a hostile queen and her loyalists. To assemble a significant security force without raising suspicion, Jehoiada the priest takes advantage of the routine weekly rotation of the priests and Levites. Every Sabbath, these watches rotate. The outgoing group finishes their duties after the additional Sabbath sacrifice and departs, making way for the incoming group to take over [רש״י, רד״ק, מצודת דוד].

Jehoiada uses this natural overlap to gather his men. He gives the guards practical instructions to shout and make noise, just as guards stationed on city walls do. This ensures they remain highly alert and deters any strangers from approaching [חומת אנך].

Jehoiada carefully divides these forces. He takes one-third of the incoming Sabbath guards and assigns them, alongside the military men, to protect the king [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Commentators offer complementary explanations for how the rest of the forces are distributed. One approach suggests that the outgoing guards, who are now free from their regular Temple duties, make up the remaining two-thirds of the security detail. The incoming guards only provide one-third of the manpower because they are busy managing the weekly Temple service [רד״ק, רלב״ג]. Another perspective focuses on their physical placement, explaining that the incoming guards protect the king from inside the Temple, while the two-thirds from the outgoing guards secure the outer perimeter [מלבי״ם].

The central mission of this coordinated force is to secure the royal residence. As the king enters the house, the guards are ordered to surround him completely, forming a human shield. This physical barrier ensures that no supporter of Athaliah can slip inside and assassinate the new king [רש״י, מצודת דוד, רלב״ג].