“the mouth of the sword.” Used to show great destruction, as if the sword was eating its victims (see commentary on Josh. 6:21).

“cast them aside.” The guards did not take time to deal with the dead bodies other than to get them out of the way.

“went into the interior of the house.” The Hebrew word translated “interior” is the usual word for “city.” Although there is no other place that “city” is used for the interior of the temple, it is logical that it was. Just as the city was a place of life and business, the inner part of the temple was where much of the life of the temple occurred. For example, in the next verse, 2 Kings 10:26, it seems clear that there were standing-stones in the inner part of the temple