1 Chronicles 26

COncerning the divisions of the porters: Of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph Not that Famous Asaph the Singer, but another Asaph called also Ebiasaph, ch. 6. 37...

And the sons of Meshelemiah were, Zechariah the first-born, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,

Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh;

Moreover, the sons of Obed-edom were, Shemajah the first-born, Jehozabad the second, Joab the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth:

Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peultha... the eighth: for God blessed him To wit, with a numerous Posterity and other Blessings, for his Respect and Affection to the Ark. See 2 Sam. 6. 11..

Also unto Shemajah his son were two sons born, that ruled throughout the house of their fathers That had the Command of their Brethren and Families, being, as some say, Captains of Hundreds or of Thousands: Of which see Exod. 18. 25. 2 King. 11. 9.: for they were mighty men of valour This Clause is divers times mentioned, because their Office required both Strength and Courage: for they were to shut the Doors of the Temple, one whereof was so great and weighty that in the second Temple it required the help of twenty men to open and shut it, as Iosephus an Eye-witness reports. They were also to keep the Guard, and to keep out all unclean or forbidden Persons who might sometimes presumptuously attempt to enter into the Temple, as Uzziah did, and to prevent or suppress any Tumults or Disorders which might happen in the Temple or in its Courts, and to keep the Treasures of the Temple, v. 20, 22, 24, 26. and to be officers and judges over Israel, v. 29. and to manage every matter pertaining to God and the affairs of the King,.... 32..

The sons of Shemajah; Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were strong men; Elihu and Semachiah.

All these of the sons of Obed-edom: they, and their sons and their brethren, able men for strength for the service, were thr... escore and two of Obed-edom.

And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, strong men, eighteen.

Also Hosah of the children of Merari, had sons; Simri the chief, (for though he was not the first-born, yet his father made him the chief Taking away the Birth-right from the First-born either absolutely, for some gross Miscarriage, as Gen. 49. 4. or only in this... espect, because he wanted either Strength or Valour, or some other Qualification necessary for his Office..)

Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen.

Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men, having wards one against another Heb. having wards against or answerably to their Brethren, to wit, the other Levites, who were divided into 24 Courses, as the Priests also were, and so, it seems were the Porters., to minister in the house of the LORD.

And they cast lots as well the small as the great Determining the Times and Places of their Service not by Age or Dignity, but merely by Lot., according to the house of their fathers A several Lot being allowed for each several House., for every gate That it might be known to whom the Care of each Gate was more especially committed..

And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah; then for Zechariah his son (a wise counsellor Which is noted as an excellent and useful Accomplishment for his Office, in which there was need of Wisdom as well as Courage, as may appear by the description of their Work, v. 20, &c. See the Note on v. 6.) they cast lots, and his lot came out northward.

To Obed-edom southward, and to his sons, the house of Asuppim A Place so called: or of gatherings, so named either from the Assembly of the Elders who met there to consult about the Affairs of the Temple: or from the People who were there gathered together to hear the Discourses and Debates of the Teacher of the Law: or because the Gifts of the People towards the House and Worship of God were kept there. See 2 King. 22. 4. 2 Chr. 25.... 4..

To Shuppim and Hosah Who for some reason were joyned together in the Custody of that Gate., the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shallecheth A Gate of the Court so called, as some think, because the Ashes and filth of the Temple were cast out on that side, which was the most convenient Gate for that purpose, because that was a private Quarter, the great Ways to the Temple lying on the other sides., by the causey of the going up By which Causey they went up towards the Temple., ward against ward Which may respect either 1. the time of their Watching, that when one Guard went off another came on. Or rather 2. the place of their Guard: and so this may be understood either 1. of this Western Quarter, where there was a double Guard either because there were two Gates there, as some think, or for some other cause now unknown. Or rather 2. of all the Quarters compared together, of all which having spoken he adds this, That as one Gate was o... er against another, the West against the East, and the North against the South, so one Ward was over against another..

East-ward were six Levites For that being the Chief Gate of the Temple required a better Guard., north-ward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim i. e. The house of Asuppim, as it is called v. 15. where also it is said to be on the South-side; on which there seems to have been a double Guard both belonging to Obed-edom, v. 15. one at the South-gate, and the other at Asuppim; where possibly the Sacred Treasures mentioned v. 20, &c. were layd up, and therefore a particular Guard was necessary. See on v. 15. two and two.

At Parbar Or, As concerning Parbar, which was another Gate or some building on the Western Quarter of the Temple. west-ward, four at the causey Which led to Parbar., and two at Parbar At the Gate or House it self. By which it may seem that this was a Place of some Importance, either the Vessels of the Temple, or some part of the Treasures of Gods House, being kept here..

These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari.

And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicate things Either these are the same kind of Treasures, the latter phrase only explaining the former, the particle and being used for that is: or rather they are two differing kinds of Treasures, the former containing the Sacred Vessels and other Treasures which by Gods Command were appropriated to the Maintenance of the House, and Worship, and Ministers of God, as Tithes, and First-fruits, and other things; and the latter only those things which had been freely given or dedicated to God for those Ends; or which see v. 26, 27..

As concerning the sons of Laadan: the sons of the Gershonite Laadan, chief fathers i. e. Which sons were Chief Fathers, or Heads of the Houses of their Fathers., even of Laadan the Gershonite were, Jehieli Understand here, and his sons, which here follow..

The sons of Jehieli; Zetham, and Joel his brother, which were over the treasures of the house of the LORD As Shelomith and his brethren were over the treasures of the dedicated things, v. 26. But both may seem to have been subject and accountable to Ahijah, who was over both these kinds of Treasures, v. 20. Or Ahijah might have a general Oversight into the Management of those Treasures as an Auditour of the Accounts, although the others had more dignity and Power in the Disposal of them..

Of the Amramite, and the Izharite, the Hebronite, and the Uzzielite Or, As concerning the Amramite, &c. The meaning is, The persons here following were of these or the most of these Families. Only here is none of the Family of the Uzzielites; either because that Family was now extinct; whence it is that we read no more of them in the Scripture but only in this place, and Numb. 3. 27. or because there was none of them fit to be employed and trusted in these Matters.:

And Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler of the treasures The Prince or Chief over all the Treasures and Treasurers mentioned either before or afterward, as his very Title shows, which is peculiarly given to him and to none of the rest..

And his brethren by Eliezer Another Son of Moses, Exod. 18. 4.; Rehabiah his son, and Jeshajah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son:

Which Shelomith and his brethren, were over all the treasures of the dedicate things, which David the king, and the chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host had dedicated.

Out of the spoils won in battels, did they dedicate to maintain Heb. To strengthen it, either to make that Building strong and substantial by these and other Charges: or rather to repair it when it should be built; for which they might the rather take particular Care, because it was likely that every one would contribute to the building of the Temple, and there would be no want for that use; but few would provide for the Repairs of it, when by the Injury of Men or Time it should receive any Damage. the house of the LORD.

And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zerujah had dedicated, and whosoever had dedicated any thing, it was under the hand of Shelomith Who is particularly named here and v. 26. because they were chiefly committed to his trust, he being, it seems, a person of Eminent Wisdom and Faithfulness., and of his brethren.

Of the Izharite, Chenaniah and his sons Who are probably thought to have been 1600, for that Sum added to the 1700, v. 30. and the 2700, v. 32. make up those 6000 Levites which were Officers and Iudges, 1 Chron. 23. 4. were for the outward business For that business of the Lord and of the King (as it is explained here, v. 30, 32.) which was to be done without the Temple and without Ierusalem; for what was to be done within them was committed to other hands, as we have seen. over Israel Synecdochically, i. e. over part of Israel, even over the Midland part and that which lay upon the Sea Coast: for the other parts of the Land on both sides of Iord... n are here committed to others, v.... 0, 31, 32., for officers and Judges Who shall be Officers and Judges over the People in the several Cities and Towns or Parts of the Land to determine Questions and Controversies which might arise among them. And the reason why the Levites were instrusted with these Matters was, because the Common or Municipal Law of Israel, by which they had and held all their Rights, was no other than the Law of God, whereof the Priests and Levites being the best and established Interpreters, must needs therefore be the most proper Judges of things depending thereupon..

And of the Hebronite, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valour, a thousand and seven hundred were officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward In those parts of the Land of Canaan which border upon Iordan or are not very remote from it., in all business of the LORD i. e. In all things which did or should concern the House or Worship of God; partly to take care that such Monies as were either imposed by a Tax or freely given by the People towards the building or repairing of the Temple, or towards the Sacrifices and other Holy Ministrations should be gathered and received and faithfully sent up to Ierusalem to be employed in that Work; partly to see to the Execution of all the Laws of God among the People, and to restrain or punish wilful Offenders against it., and in the service of the king Not that all the Kings Businesses were managed by them; for it is apparent both from the nature of the thing and from Scripture, that the Kings Military Affairs were managed by his Captains, and his Political or Civil Affairs were managed by the Princes, and Judges, and Officers of other Tribes: but because they served the King in the Execution of his Decreas made pursuantly to the Laws of God, by which the several Rights of King and People were established, and all things both in Church and Commonwealth were to be ordered. Now as the King was the Principal Person intrusted with the Execution of Gods Laws, so these Levites chiefly were his Eyes by which he saw his Peoples Transgressions, and his Hands by which he inflicted due and deserved Censures upon them for their Miscarriages. And the doing of this was very much for the Service of the King, whose Throne was established and secured by such Righteous Administrations. Besides they were to take care by their Cou... sel and Authority to keep the People in Obedience to their King; which the Levites were most obliged and best able to do..

Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief even among the Hebronites, according to the generations of his fathers. In the fortieth year Which was his last year, in which he made all the Orders and distributions of Families and Offices recorded in these Chapters of the reign of David, they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valour, at Jazer of Gilead Which place is here named, either because they were seated in or near that Place, but for what cause it is now unknown: or because they were numbred there by some Person sent by David to that Purpose..

And his brethren men of valour, were two thousand and seven hundred Which is a very great number to be employed about two Tribes and an half; when all the rest of the Tribes had only 1700 v. 30. besides those under Chenaniah; of whom see on v. 29. But the reason hereof is plain, because the Tribes without I... rdan being more remote from the Kings Court and from the place of publick and solemn Worship needed more than ordinary help to instruct and keep them in the Practise of the True Religion and the Worship of God, and in Obedience to their King. chief fathers, whom king David made rulers over the Reubenite, the Gadite, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God, and affairs of the king.