4 But in the seventh year Jehoiada the priest sent for the officers in charge of the royal bodyguard and of the palace guards, and told them to come to the Temple, where he made them agree under oath to what he planned to do. He showed them King Ahaziah's son Joash
5 and gave them the following orders: “When you come on duty on the Sabbath, one third of you are to guard the palace;
6 another third are to stand guard at the Sur Gate, and the other third are to stand guard at the gate behind the other guards.
7 The two groups that go off duty on the Sabbath are to stand guard at the Temple to protect the king.
8 You are to guard King Joash with drawn swords and stay with him wherever he goes. Anyone who comes near you is to be killed.”
9 The officers obeyed Jehoiada's instructions and brought their men to him — those going off duty on the Sabbath and those going on duty.
10 He gave the officers the spears and shields that had belonged to King David and had been kept in the Temple,