1. After six years, Jehoiada showed his strength and made an agreement with the captains. These captains were Azariah son of Jeroham, Ishmael son of Jehohanan, Azariah son of Obed, Maaseiah son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat son of Zicri.
2. They went around in Judah and gathered the Levites from all the towns of Judah. They also gathered the leaders of the families of Israel. Then they went to Jerusalem.
3. All the people meeting together made an agreement with the king in God’s Temple. Jehoiada said to the people, “The king’s son will rule. That is what the Lord promised about David’s descendants.
4. Now, this is what you must do: One-third of you priests and Levites who go on duty on the Sabbath will guard the doors.
5. And one-third of you will be at the king’s palace, and one-third of you will be at the Foundation Gate. But all the other people will stay in the yards of the Lord’S Temple.
6. Only the priests and Levites who serve in the Lord’S Temple are permitted to enter it. They are the only ones who have been made holy. Don’t let anyone else enter. All the others must do only the work the Lord has given them.
7. The Levites must stay near the king. Every man must have his sword with him. If anyone tries to enter the Temple, kill that person. You must stay with the king everywhere he goes.”