Definition: And he commanded them, saying, This [is] the thing that ye shall do; A third part of you that enter in on the sabbath shall even be keepers of the watch of the king’s house;

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from 2 Kings 11:5. It's a really important and somewhat unsettling passage about King David and his sons. Here’s what it means in simpler terms: The Core Idea: This verse is saying that David’s sons are to be assigned a specific, very important job – watching over the royal house. Basically, they were given a responsibility to keep an eye on the king and his property. Let's unpack it piece by piece: “And he commanded them…” : This tells us that David was giving instructions. He wanted to establish this rule for his family. “…saying, This [is] the thing that ye shall do;” : He’s telling them what they must do – to be responsible for guarding the king's house. “A third part of you that enter in on the sabbath shall even be keepers of the watch of the king’s house.” : This is the crucial part. It means: "Of David's sons, about one-third of them will be assigned to be responsible for keeping the King's house – watching over it and protecting it." “Sabbath” refers to the Jewish Sabbath, a day of rest and holiness. What does this all mean in context? This is a really complex situation rooted in David’s ambition and his desire to build a powerful kingdom. It suggests: David was trying to control his family: He wanted to ensure that his sons wouldn't become too independent or rebellious. It was a way to secure his legacy: By assigning them this task, he hoped to guarantee his family’s continued influence and power. It’s linked to the Jewish Law: The concept of keeping watch over the king's house was a significant part of Jewish law and practice during that time. Important Note: This verse is often interpreted as a sign of David’s growing ambition and perhaps even a hint of something darker – that he was becoming increasingly preoccupied with his own power and might have been considering ways to usurp his father, King Saul. --- Do you want me to: Explain this verse in more detail? Give you an analogy to help understand it better? Discuss the historical context of this passage?