He stationed all the troops, with their weapons in hand, surrounding the king by the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.
We may well imagine the bad posture of affairs in Jerusalem during Athaliah's six years' usurpation, and may wonder that God permitted it and his people bore it so long; but after such a dark and tedious night the returning day in this revolution was the brighter and the more welcome.
Commenting on 2 Chronicles 23:1-11
And he set all the people, every man having his weapon in his hand, from the right side of the temple to the left side of the temple, along by the altar and the temple, by the king round about. (f) Meaning the most holy place where the ark stood.
2Ch 23:8-10 The account of the occupation of the temple thus arranged agrees with 2Ki 11:9-11. Instead of המּאות שׂרי (Kings), in 2Ch 23:8 are very fittingly named “the Levites (as in 2Ch 23:5) and all Judah,” viz., in its chiefs, since the high priest had assured himself of the support of the heads of the fathers'-houses of Israel (2Ch 23:2).
Commenting on 2 Chronicles 23:8-10