²⁵ Their relatives in the villages came regularly to share their duties for seven-day periods.

⁵ Jehoiada told them, “This is what you must do. A third of you who are on duty on the Sabbath are to guard the royal palace itself.

⁸ So the Levites and all the people of Judah did everything as Jehoiada the priest ordered. The commanders took charge of the men reporting for duty that Sabbath, as well as those who were going off duty. Jehoiada the priest did not let anyone go home after their shift ended.

⁷ The other two units who are off duty on the Sabbath must stand guard for the king at the Lord’s Temple.