Bible Commentaries
1 Chronicles 26

Introduction

Overview

1 Chronicles 26:1, The divisions of the porters; 1 Chronicles 26:13, The gates assigned by lot; 1 Chronicles 26:20, The Levites that had charge of the treasures; 1 Chronicles 26:29, Officers and judges.

Verse 1

the divisions: There were four classes of these, each of which belonged to the four gates of the temple, which opened to the four cardinal points of heaven. The eastern gate fell to Shelemiah; the northern to Zechariah - 1 Chronicles 26:14, the southern to Obed-edom - 1 Chronicles 26:15, and the western to Shuppim and Hosah - 1 Chronicles 26:16. These several persons were captains of these porter-bands, or door-keepers, at the different gates. There were probably a thousand men under each of these captains; as we find, from 1 Chronicles 23:5, that their whole number was four thousand.

the porters: 1 Chronicles 9:17-27, 1 Chronicles 15:18, 1 Chronicles 15:23, 1 Chronicles 15:24, 2 Chronicles 23:19

Korhites: Numbers 26:9-11, Psalms 44:1, Psalms 49:1, *titles

Meshelemiah: שלמיה [Strong's H8018], Shelemiah, is merely an abbreviation of משלמיה [Strong's H4920], Meshelemiah, by the apheresis of מ, mem. 1 Chronicles 26:14, Shelemiah

Asaph: This variation arises from the rejection of the word אב [Strong's H1], av, "father," and the mutation of י, yood, into א, aleph; being written in the parallel passages אביסף [Strong's H43], Ebiasaph, and here אסף [Strong's H623], Asaph. 1 Chronicles 6:37, 1 Chronicles 9:19, Ebiasaph

Reciprocal: Numbers 3:18 - General Numbers 3:19 - General 2 Kings 23:4 - the keepers 1 Chronicles 6:39 - Asaph 1 Chronicles 23:6 - courses 1 Chronicles 26:9 - Meshelemiah 2 Chronicles 8:14 - the porters 2 Chronicles 34:13 - porters Ezra 2:42 - the porters Nehemiah 7:45 - The porters Ezekiel 44:11 - having charge

Verse 2

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 26:14 - Zechariah

Verse 4

Obededom: 1 Chronicles 15:18, 1 Chronicles 15:21, 1 Chronicles 15:24, 1 Chronicles 16:5, 1 Chronicles 16:38

Reciprocal: Genesis 48:9 - my sons 2 Samuel 6:10 - Obededom 1 Chronicles 13:13 - Obededom

Verse 5

him: "That is, Obed-edom, as 1 Chronicles 13:14." Psalms 128:1

Reciprocal: Genesis 1:28 - General Genesis 48:9 - my sons

Verse 6

mighty men of valour: They were not only porters, or door keepers, in the ordinary sense of the word, but they were a military guard to the gate, as Dr. Delaney suggests that the word shoarim should be rendered here, and perhaps in this sense alone are we to understand their office, which appears to have been of considerable dignity, and conferred only on men of the first rank. They were appointed to attend the temple, to guard all the avenues to it, to open and shut all the outer gates, and attend at them, not only for state but for service. They were also required to direct and instruct those who were going to worship in the courts of the sanctuary in the conduct they were to observe, to encourage those who were timid, to send back the strangers and unclean, and to guard against thieves and others who were enemies to the house of God. 1 Chronicles 26:8, 1 Chronicles 12:28, Judges 6:12, 2 Samuel 2:7, *marg. 2 Chronicles 26:17, Nehemiah 11:14, 1 Timothy 6:12, 2 Timothy 2:3

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 9:13 - very able men 1 Chronicles 26:30 - men of valour 1 Chronicles 26:32 - men of valour

Verse 7

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 9:19 - keepers of the entry

Verse 8

able men: Matthew 25:15, 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 2 Corinthians 3:6, 1 Peter 4:11

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 9:19 - keepers of the entry 1 Chronicles 13:13 - Obededom 1 Chronicles 15:18 - Obededom 1 Chronicles 26:6 - mighty men of valour

Verse 9

Meshelemiah: 1 Chronicles 26:1, 1 Chronicles 26:14

Verse 10

Hosah: 1 Chronicles 16:38

his father: 1 Chronicles 5:1, 1 Chronicles 5:2

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 21:16 - General 1 Chronicles 26:16 - Hosah Nehemiah 12:35 - Zechariah

Verse 11

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 26:16 - Hosah Nehemiah 12:35 - Zechariah

Verse 12

wards: That is, classes against each other. Ward formerly signified a class or division: we still apply the term to the different apartments in hospitals, and to the more extensive districts into which the city of London is divided. 1 Chronicles 25:8

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 9:18 - they 1 Chronicles 26:16 - ward against ward 2 Chronicles 31:14 - the porter Nehemiah 12:25 - keeping

Verse 13

as well the small as the great: Heb. or, as well for the small as for the great, 1 Chronicles 24:31, 1 Chronicles 25:8

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 11:6 - the gate of Sur 2 Kings 22:4 - the keepers 1 Chronicles 9:19 - keepers of the entry 2 Chronicles 23:4 - porters Nehemiah 11:1 - cast lots

Verse 14

Shelemiah: 1 Chronicles 26:1, Meshelemiah

Zechariah: 1 Chronicles 26:2

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 9:21 - Zechariah 1 Chronicles 9:24 - four 1 Chronicles 26:9 - Meshelemiah 2 Chronicles 31:14 - the porter 2 Chronicles 35:15 - the porters Ezra 8:16 - men of understanding

Verse 15

Asuppim: Heb. gatherings, [Strong's H624], 1 Chronicles 26:17, 2 Chronicles 25:24, Nehemiah 12:25, Ecclesiastes 12:11, Or collections; probably the place where either the supplies of the porters, or the offerings made for the priests and Levites, were laid up. Obed-edom is said to have had the charge of the treasures, etc., in 2 Chronicles 25:24.

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 15:18 - Obededom

Verse 16

Hosah: 1 Chronicles 26:10, 1 Chronicles 26:11

Shallecheth: That is, ejection; probably the gate through which all the filth which from time to time might accumulate in the temple and its courts, was cast out.

causeway: 1 Kings 10:5, 2 Chronicles 9:4

ward against ward: That is, their stations were opposite to each other; as the north to the south, and the east to the west. 1 Chronicles 26:12, 1 Chronicles 25:8, Nehemiah 12:24

Verse 17

Eastward: 1 Chronicles 9:24, 2 Chronicles 8:14

Asuppim: 1 Chronicles 26:15

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 31:14 - the porter

Verse 18

Parbar: i.e. the outside place; he annulled the corn; a quarter of Jerusalem (Strong) [Strong's H6503], 1 Chronicles 26:18, Also, 2 Kings 23:11, Parbar is most probably the same as parwar, which denotes suburbs - 2 Kings 23:11, in which sense it is often used in the Chaldee Targums; and consequently this may be considered as leading to the suburbs.

Verse 19

Kore: Kore, or rather, Korhi, קרחי [Strong's H7145], is essentially the same with קרח [Strong's H7141], Korah, merely having a paragogic י, yood. Numbers 16:11, Korah

Verse 20

treasures: 1 Chronicles 26:22, 1 Chronicles 9:26-30, 1 Chronicles 22:3, 1 Chronicles 22:4, 1 Chronicles 22:14-16, 1 Chronicles 28:12-19, 1 Chronicles 29:2-8, 1 Kings 14:26, 1 Kings 15:18, Malachi 3:10

dedicated things: Heb. holy things, 1 Chronicles 26:26-28, 1 Chronicles 18:11, 1 Kings 7:51, 2 Chronicles 31:11, 2 Chronicles 31:12

Reciprocal: Numbers 3:7 - keep Numbers 3:8 - General Numbers 3:32 - General Numbers 8:26 - to keep Numbers 31:30 - keep the Joshua 6:19 - all the silver 1 Chronicles 23:4 - twenty 1 Chronicles 28:11 - the treasuries 2 Chronicles 8:15 - the treasures 2 Chronicles 15:18 - brought Ezra 2:69 - the treasure Ezra 8:29 - Watch ye Nehemiah 11:16 - had the oversight of

Verse 21

Laadan: 1 Chronicles 6:17, Libni, 1 Chronicles 23:7

Reciprocal: Numbers 3:25 - the charge 1 Chronicles 29:8 - Jehiel the Gershonite Nehemiah 12:44 - chambers

Verse 22

Jehieli: Jehieli, יחיאלי [Strong's H3172], is the same as Jehiel, יחיאל [Strong's H3171], with the addition of י, yood. 1 Chronicles 23:8, 1 Chronicles 29:8, Jehiel

over the treasures: 1 Chronicles 26:20, Nehemiah 10:38

Reciprocal: Numbers 3:7 - keep Numbers 3:25 - the charge 1 Chronicles 9:28 - the charge

Verse 23

Amramites: 1 Chronicles 23:12, Numbers 3:19, Numbers 3:27

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 15:9 - Hebron 1 Chronicles 23:14 - his sons 1 Chronicles 26:29 - Izharites

Verse 24

Shebuel: The difference between שובאל [Strong's H7619], Shubael, and שבאל [Strong's H7619], Shebuel, simply arises from the elision of ו, wav and a change of vowels. 1 Chronicles 23:15, 1 Chronicles 23:16, 1 Chronicles 24:20, Shubael

Verse 25

Eliezer: 1 Chronicles 23:15, Exodus 18:4

Rehabiah: 1 Chronicles 23:17

Shelomith: 1 Chronicles 23:18

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 24:21 - Isshiah

Verse 26

over all the treasures: 1 Chronicles 18:11, 1 Chronicles 22:14, 1 Chronicles 29:2-9, Numbers 31:30-52

Reciprocal: Numbers 3:7 - keep Numbers 31:28 - levy Joshua 6:19 - all the silver 2 Samuel 8:11 - Which 1 Kings 7:51 - things which David his father had dedicated 1 Kings 15:15 - he brought 2 Kings 11:9 - the captains 2 Kings 11:10 - king David's spears 1 Chronicles 23:18 - Shelomith 1 Chronicles 24:22 - Shelomoth 1 Chronicles 26:20 - dedicated things 1 Chronicles 28:12 - the treasuries 2 Chronicles 5:1 - brought in all 2 Chronicles 5:2 - the chief 2 Chronicles 15:11 - offered 2 Chronicles 31:3 - the king's

Verse 27

Out: Joshua 6:19

spoils won in battles: Heb. battles and spoils

to maintain: 2 Kings 12:14, Nehemiah 10:32-34

Reciprocal: Numbers 31:28 - levy 2 Kings 11:10 - king David's spears 1 Chronicles 18:11 - dedicated 2 Chronicles 15:11 - offered

Verse 28

Samuel: 1 Samuel 9:9

Abner: 1 Samuel 14:47-51, 1 Samuel 17:55

Joab: 2 Samuel 10:9-14

Reciprocal: Joshua 6:19 - all the silver

Verse 29

Izharites: 1 Chronicles 26:23, 1 Chronicles 23:12

the outward: 2 Chronicles 34:13, Nehemiah 11:16

officers: 1 Chronicles 23:4, 2 Chronicles 19:8-11

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 16:18 - Judges 1 Chronicles 27:8 - Shamhuth

Verse 30

the Hebronites: 1 Chronicles 23:12, 1 Chronicles 23:19

men of valour: 1 Chronicles 26:6

officers: Heb. over the charge

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 9:13 - very able men 1 Chronicles 15:9 - Hebron 1 Chronicles 27:17 - Hashabiah 2 Chronicles 19:11 - all matters 2 Chronicles 34:13 - officers

Verse 31

Jerijah: 1 Chronicles 23:19, Jeriah

fortieth: 1 Chronicles 29:27, 1 Kings 2:11

Jazer: Joshua 21:39, Isaiah 16:9

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 5:4 - forty 1 Chronicles 5:9 - Gilead 1 Chronicles 15:9 - Hebron 1 Chronicles 24:23 - Jeriah Nehemiah 12:27 - out

Verse 32

men of valour: 1 Chronicles 26:6-9

chief fathers: 1 Chronicles 15:12, 1 Chronicles 23:24, 1 Chronicles 24:31

Reubenites: 1 Chronicles 12:37

and affairs: Heb. and thing, 2 Chronicles 19:11, There were more Levites employed as judges with the two tribes and half on the other side of Jordan, than with all the rest of the tribes; there were two thousand seven hundred, whereas on the west side of Jordan there were only one thousand seven hundred. Either those remote tribes were not so well furnished as the rest with judges of their own, or because they lay farthest from Jerusalem, on the borders of the neighbouring nations, and were thus much in danger of being infected with idolatry, they most needed the help of Levites to prevent their running into the abominations of the idolaters.

Reciprocal: Genesis 46:11 - Levi Numbers 1:50 - thou shalt Numbers 8:15 - go in Numbers 32:33 - half the 1 Chronicles 6:48 - brethren 1 Chronicles 9:13 - very able men 1 Chronicles 9:22 - David 1 Chronicles 28:21 - the courses 2 Chronicles 23:8 - the courses 2 Chronicles 31:2 - the courses 2 Chronicles 31:17 - by their courses 2 Chronicles 35:4 - after your courses Ezra 6:18 - the priests Ezra 8:1 - the chief Nehemiah 7:1 - the porters Nehemiah 12:24 - according Nehemiah 12:45 - the singers Nehemiah 13:30 - appointed Matthew 25:16 - went