2 Kings 11:11-12

11:11 The royal bodyguard ¹  took their stations, each holding his weapon in his hand. They lined up from the south side of the temple to the north side and stood near the altar and the temple, surrounding the king. ²  11:12 Jehoiada ³  led out the king’s son and placed on him the crown and the royal insignia. ⁴  They proclaimed him king and poured olive oil on his head. ⁵  They clapped their hands and cried out, “Long live the king!”

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¹ tn Heb “the runners” (also in v. 19).

² tn Heb “and the runners stood, each with his weapons in his hand, from the south shoulder of the house to the north shoulder of the house, at the altar and at the house, near the king all around.”

³ tn Heb “he”; the referent (Jehoiada) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁴ tn The Hebrew term עֵדוּת (’edut) normally means “witness” or “testimony.” Here it probably refers to some tangible symbol of kingship, perhaps a piece of jewelry such as an amulet or neck chain. See the discussion in M. Cogan and H. Tadmor, II Kings (AB), 128. Some suggest that a document is in view, perhaps a copy of the royal protocol or of the stipulations of the Davidic covenant. See HALOT 790-91 s.v. עֵדוּת.

⁵ tn Or “they made him king and anointed him.”