When the princes of Judah heard these things, then they came up from the king's house unto the house of the LORD, and sat down in the entry of the new gate of the LORD's house.
When the princes - members of the Council of State, or great council, which took cognizance of such offences.
Heard these things - the clamour of the popular tumult.
They came up - from the king's house to the temple, which stood higher than the palace.
Sat - as judges, in the gate, the usual place of trying such cases.
The new gate - originally built by Jotham (2 Kings 15:35, "the higher gate"), and now recently restored.