To guard the Temple area

This mitzvah requires the priests (Kohanim) and Levites to guard the Temple and its courtyards day and night. The guarding was not due to fear of intruders or theft, but to show honor and reverence for the Beit HaMikdash. The very act of posting guards demonstrated the Temple’s holiness, just as a palace is always watched to display its importance.

Rambam explains that guards were stationed at fixed posts throughout the Temple precincts: the Kohanim inside and the Levites outside. Sefer HaChinuch emphasizes that this mitzvah trained the people in awe and respect, making the Temple visibly set apart from ordinary structures.

The mitzvah illustrates how reverence for Hashem is expressed not only in sacrifices and prayer but also in dignified conduct and care for His Sanctuary.

Commentary & Classical Explanation:

• Rambam (Hilchot Beit HaBechirah 8:1–4): Codifies the details of Temple guarding, noting it is an expression of reverence, not for protection.
• Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 388): Explains that guarding the Temple engrains awe in the nation and shows Hashem’s dwelling deserves honor.
• Rashi (Numbers 18:5): Notes that guarding prevents Divine wrath by ensuring reverence and order in the Sanctuary.
• Ramban (Num. 18:5): Stresses that guarding the Temple testifies to its sanctity, as a king’s palace is honored through guards.
• Talmud (Middot 1:1–2): Describes the detailed divisions of Levite guards around the Temple courts.