Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
1 Chronicles 9:33

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

First group to return to Jerusalem (9:1-34)

At the time of writing, the first of the exiles had just returned to Jerusalem, having been given permission by the Persian king Cyrus (2 Chronicles 36:22-23). The writer lists the heads of the families who returned (9:1-9). He points out that priests, Levites and temple servants also returned, to emphasize that the re-establishment of the nation Israel had to be on the basis of the religious order appointed by David before the captivity (10-16).

Just as gate-keepers were needed to guard the tabernacle and the temple in former times, so they would be needed to guard the temple in rebuilt Jerusalem (17-21). The writer records how David organized the guards’ working hours and duties in the former temple (22-27). Even everyday matters, such as the care of temple equipment and the preparation of incense, spices and sacred foods, were carefully planned and supervised (28-32). People such as musicians and singers, who were to be ready for duty any time, day or night, lived in some of the temple buildings (33-34).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

"And these are the singers, heads of fathers' houses of the Levites who dwelt in the chambers and were free from other service; for they were employed in their work day and night. These were heads of fathers' houses of the Levites, throughout their generations, chief men; these dwelt in Jerusalem."

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

The singers - No names follow, and it is thought that they have fallen out.

Were free - “Free,” i. e. from any special duties besides those of supervision, which was so arranged among the overseers that someone exercised it during every part of both day and night.

Smith's Bible Commentary

Chapter 9

You get to chapter nine and it declares,

So all of Israel was reckoned by the genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon because of their transgression ( 1 Chronicles 9:1 ).

Again God declares that the reason for the fall was their transgressions. Carried away to Babylon. And again we come back now to the priests and the descendants of the priests and the Levites and so forth. And in verse twenty-six, we are told that portion of them.

For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God. And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was upon them, and the opening every morning pertained to them ( 1 Chronicles 9:26-27 ).

And so it was their duty to just live around it to protect it from vandals and so forth, and every morning to open it up and to set things out. Set out all of the instruments, the vessels for the worship, the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the frankincense, and all.

And in verse thirty-three we get back to the singers.

These are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night ( 1 Chronicles 9:33 ).

In other words, they were free from the other labors in order that day and night they may spend their whole time in just praising and worshipping the Lord. That would be quite an occupation. Quite a job. Get paid for that. Just being around, worshipping God all the time and getting paid for it.

And so then we jump to in verse thirty-five, the family of Saul again through Jonathan, the descendants of Jonathan. "

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites,.... Others of them were employed in singing, and were masters of the song, and presided in that service, see 1 Chronicles 6:31 who remaining

in the chambers were free; from all other work and service; and there they abode, even in the chambers of the temple, that they might be near to perform their work, and not be defiled, and made unfit for it:

for they were employed in that work day and night; some or other of them, either in composing or singing psalms and hymns, or teaching others how to sing them.

Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      14 And of the Levites; Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;   15 And Bakbakkar, Heresh, and Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Micah, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph;   16 And Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun, and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, that dwelt in the villages of the Netophathites.   17 And the porters were, Shallum, and Akkub, and Talmon, and Ahiman, and their brethren: Shallum was the chief;   18 Who hitherto waited in the king's gate eastward: they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi.   19 And Shallum the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brethren, of the house of his father, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tabernacle: and their fathers, being over the host of the LORD, were keepers of the entry.   20 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar was the ruler over them in time past, and the LORD was with him.   21 And Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was porter of the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.   22 All these which were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve. These were reckoned by their genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office.   23 So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of the LORD, namely, the house of the tabernacle, by wards.   24 In four quarters were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south.   25 And their brethren, which were in their villages, were to come after seven days from time to time with them.   26 For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God.   27 And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was upon them, and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them.   28 And certain of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by tale.   29 Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices.   30 And some of the sons of the priests made the ointment of the spices.   31 And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans.   32 And other of their brethren, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the showbread, to prepare it every sabbath.   33 And these are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night.   34 These chief fathers of the Levites were chief throughout their generations; these dwelt at Jerusalem.

      We have here a further account of the good posture which the affairs of religion were put into immediately upon the return of the people out of Babylon. They had smarted for their former neglect of ordinances and under the late want of ordinances. Both these considerations made them very zealous and forward in setting up the worship of God among them; so they began their worship of God at the right end. Instances hereof we have here.

      I. Before the house of the Lord was built they had the house of the tabernacle, a plain and movable tent, which they made use of in the mean time. Those that cannot yet reach to have a temple must not be without a tabernacle, but be thankful for that and make the best of it. Never let God's work be left undone for want of a place to do it in.

      II. In allotting to the priests and Levites their respective employments, they had an eye to the model that was drawn up by David, and Samuel the seer, 1 Chronicles 9:22; 1 Chronicles 9:22. Samuel, in his time, had drawn the scheme of it, and laid the foundation, though the ark was then in obscurity, and David afterwards finished it, and both acted by immediate direction from God. Or David, as soon as he was anointed had this matter in his mind and consulted Samuel about it, though he was then in his troubles, and the plan was formed in concert between them. This perhaps had been little regarded for many ages; but now, after a long interruption, it was revived. In dividing the work, they observed these ancient land-marks.

      III. The most of them dwelt at Jerusalem (1 Chronicles 9:34; 1 Chronicles 9:34), yet there were some that dwelt in the villages (1 Chronicles 9:16; 1 Chronicles 9:22), because, it may be, there was not yet room for them in Jerusalem. However they were employed in the service of the tabernacle (1 Chronicles 9:25; 1 Chronicles 9:25): They were to come after seven days from time to time. They had their week's attendance in their turns.

      IV. Many of the Levites were employed as porters at the gates of the house of God, four chief porters (1 Chronicles 9:26; 1 Chronicles 9:26), and, under them, others, to the number of 212, 1 Chronicles 9:22; 1 Chronicles 9:22. They had the oversight of the gates (1 Chronicles 9:23; 1 Chronicles 9:23), were keepers of the thresholds, as in the margin (1 Chronicles 9:19; 1 Chronicles 9:19), and keepers of the entry. This seemed a mean office; and yet David would rather have it than dwell in the tents of wickedness,Psalms 84:10. Their office was, 1. To open the doors of God's house every morning (1 Chronicles 9:27; 1 Chronicles 9:27) and shut them at night. 2. To keep off the unclean, and hinder those from thrusting in that were forbidden by the law. 3. To direct and introduce into the courts of the Lord those that came thither to worship, and to show them where to go and what to do, that they might not incur punishment. This required care, and diligence, and constant attendance. Ministers have work to do of this kind.

      V. Here is one Phinehas, a son of Eleazar, that is said to be a ruler over them in time past (1 Chronicles 9:20; 1 Chronicles 9:20), not the famous high priest of that name, but (as is supposed) an eminent Levite, of whom it is here said that the Lord was with him, or (as the Chaldee reads it) the Word of the Lord was his helper--the eternal Word, who is Jehovah, the mighty one on whom help is laid.

      VI. It is said of some of them that, because the charge was upon them, they lodged round about the house of God,1 Chronicles 9:27; 1 Chronicles 9:27. It is good for ministers to be near their work, that they may give themselves wholly to it. The Levites pitched about the tabernacle when they marched through the wilderness. Then they were porters in one sense, bearing the burdens of the sanctuary, now porters in another sense, attending the gates and the doors--in both instances keeping the charge of the sanctuary.

      VII. Every one knew his charge. Some were entrusted with the plate, the ministering vessels, to bring them in and out by tale, 1 Chronicles 9:28; 1 Chronicles 9:28. Others were appointed to prepare the fine flour, wine, oil, c., 1 Chronicles 9:29; 1 Chronicles 9:29. Others, that were priests, made up the holy anointing oil, 1 Chronicles 9:30; 1 Chronicles 9:30. Others took care of the meat-offerings, 1 Chronicles 9:31; 1 Chronicles 9:31. Others of the show-bread, 1 Chronicles 9:32; 1 Chronicles 9:32. As in other great houses, so in God's house, the work is likely to be done well when every one knows the duty of his place and makes a business of it. God is the God of order: but that which is every body's work will be nobody's work.

      VIII. The singers were employed in that work day and night,1 Chronicles 9:33; 1 Chronicles 9:33. They were the chief fathers of the Levites that made a business of it, not mean singing-men, that made a trade of it. They remained in the chambers of the temple, that they might closely and constantly attend it, and were therefore excused from all other services. It should seem, some companies were continually singing, at least at stated hours, both day and night. Thus was God continually praised, as it is fit he should be who is continually doing good. Thus devout people might, at any hour, have assistance in their devotion. Thus was the temple a figure of the heavenly one, where they rest not day nor night from praising God, Revelation 4:8. Blessed are those that dwell in thy house; they will be still praising thee.