46 “‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: The gate of the inner court^(A) facing east^(B) is to be shut on the six working days, but on the Sabbath day and on the day of the New Moon^(C) it is to be opened. ² The prince is to enter from the outside through the portico^(D) of the gateway and stand by the gatepost. The priests are to sacrifice his burnt offering^(E) and his fellowship offerings. He is to bow down in worship at the threshold of the gateway and then go out, but the gate will not be shut until evening.^(F)

Peter Speaks to the Onlookers

¹¹ While the man held on to Peter and John,^(A) all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade.^(B)

² The Lord said to me, “This gate is to remain shut. It must not be opened; no one may enter through it.^(A) It is to remain shut because the Lord, the God of Israel, has entered through it. ³ The prince himself is the only one who may sit inside the gateway to eat in the presence^(B) of the Lord. He is to enter by way of the portico of the gateway and go out the same way.^(C)”

¹² These divisions of the gatekeepers, through their leaders, had duties for ministering^(A) in the temple of the Lord, just as their relatives had. ¹³ Lots^(B) were cast for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike.

¹⁴ The lot for the East Gate^(C) fell to Shelemiah.^[a] Then lots were cast for his son Zechariah,^(D) a wise counselor, and the lot for the North Gate fell to him. ¹⁵ The lot for the South Gate fell to Obed-Edom,^(E) and the lot for the storehouse fell to his sons. ¹⁶ The lots for the West Gate and the Shalleketh Gate on the upper road fell to Shuppim and Hosah.

Guard was alongside of guard: ¹⁷ There were six Levites a day on the east, four a day on the north, four a day on the south and two at a time at the storehouse. ¹⁸ As for the court^[b] to the west, there were four at the road and two at the court^[c] itself.

¹⁹ These were the divisions of the gatekeepers who were descendants of Korah and Merari.^(F)

¹⁹ He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites,^(A) the guards and all the people of the land, and together they brought the king down from the temple of the Lord and went into the palace, entering by way of the gate of the guards. The king then took his place on the royal throne.

⁵ the food on his table,^(A) the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at^[a] the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed.