This was the usual procedure. None except the most trusted individuals were to be allowed in the vicinity of the new king at the time of his coronation.

The location of this gate is not known.

 In 2 Kings 11:5 the “king’s house” seems to apply to the palace, where a part of the royal guard would be expected to be on duty. In Chronicles, however, the term may have been applied to the quarters where the young king was concealed in the Temple precincts. For a group of the Levites to have been stationed at the palace to keep watch on developments there might have created instant suspicion and given Athaliah the opportunity to take effective retaliatory measures against the conspirators.