So the horseman went to meet him, and said, “Thus says the king: ‘Is it peace?’ ” And Jehu said, “What have you to do with peace? Turn around and follow me.” So the watchman reported, saying, “The messenger went to them, but is not coming back.”

So the watchman reported, saying, “He went up to them and is not coming back; and the driving is like the driving of Jehu the son of Nimshi, for he drives furiously!”

Then he commanded them, saying, “This is what you shall do: One-third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath shall be keeping watch over the king’s house,

one-third shall be at the gate of Sur, and one-third at the gate behind the escorts. You shall keep the watch of the house, lest it be broken down.

The two contingents of you who go off duty on the Sabbath shall keep the watch of the house of the Lord for the king.

Also the children of Israel secretly did against the Lord their God things that were not right, and they built for themselves high places in all their cities, from watchtower to fortified city.

He subdued the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory, from watchtower to fortified city.

To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came out for the West Gate, with the Shallecheth Gate on the ascending highway—watchman opposite watchman.

This is what you shall do: One-third of you entering on the Sabbath, of the priests and the Levites, shall be keeping watch over the doors;

But let no one come into the house of the Lord except the priests and those of the Levites who serve. They may go in, for they are holy; but all the people shall keep the watch of the Lord.

Watch and keep them until you weigh them before the leaders of the priests and the Levites and heads of the fathers’ houses of Israel in Jerusalem, in the chambers of the house of the Lord.”

Nevertheless we made our prayer to our God, and because of them we set a watch against them day and night.

And I said to them, “Do not let the gates of Jerusalem be opened until the sun is hot; and while they stand guard, let them shut and bar the doors; and appoint guards from among the inhabitants of Jerusalem, one at his watch station and another in front of his own house.”

Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers keeping the watch at the storerooms of the gates.

Have I sinned? What have I done to You, O watcher of men? Why have You set me as Your target, So that I am a burden to myself?

You put my feet in the stocks, And watch closely all my paths. You set a limit for the soles of my feet.

For now You number my steps, But do not watch over my sin.

He builds his house like a moth, Like a booth which a watchman makes.

“Oh, that I were as in months past, As in the days when God watched over me;

He puts my feet in the stocks, He watches all my paths.’

The wicked watches the righteous, And seeks to slay him.

The Assured Judgment of the Wicked

To the Chief Musician. Set to “Do Not Destroy.” A Michtam of David when Saul sent men, and they watched the house in order to kill him.

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; Defend me from those who rise up against me.

When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.

For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it is past, And like a watch in the night.

My eyes are awake through the night watches, That I may meditate on Your word.