This is the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you entering on the sabbath, of the priests and of the Levites, shall be porters of the doors;
This is the thing that ye shall do. The arrangements made for defense are here described. The people were divided into three bodies: one attended as guards to the king, while the other two were posted at all the doors and gates, and the captains and military officers who entered the temple unarmed, to lull suspicion were furnished with weapons out of the sacred armoury, where David had deposited his trophies of victory, and which was re-opened on this occasion.