1 Chronicles 26

1 Chronicles 26:1

Ch. 1 Chronicles 26:1-12 (cp. 1 Chronicles 9:17-27). The Courses of the Doorkeepers

1. Concerning the divisions of the porters] R.V. For the courses of the doorkeepers. Korhites] R.V. Korahites; 1 Chronicles 9:19. Meshelemiah … Asaph] For the names of the doorkeepers see notes on 1 Chronicles 9:17, and for Asaph see note on 1 Chronicles 9:19.

1 Chronicles 26:2

2. And the sons of Meshelemiah were] R.V. And Meshelemiah had sons. Zechariah] Cp. 1 Chronicles 9:21.

1 Chronicles 26:3

3. Elioenai] R.V. Eliehoenai. The form differs from that in 1 Chronicles 3:23, but has the same meaning, viz., “Mine eyes are towards Jehovah.”

1 Chronicles 26:4

4. Moreover the sons of Obed-edom were] R.V. And Obed-edom had sons. For Obed-edom see 1 Chronicles 13:13, note.

1 Chronicles 26:5

5. for God blessed him] “Him” refers to “Obed-edom” (1 Chronicles 26:4), who was blessed with eight sons. He himself acknowledged the blessing by naming the seventh son “Issachar” (“Reward”), and the eighth Peullethai (“Recompence”).

1 Chronicles 26:6

6. throughout the house] R.V. over the house.

1 Chronicles 26:7

7. whose brethren] The pronoun refers to Elzabad. strong men] R.V. valiant men (and so in 1 Chronicles 26:9; cp. 2 Chronicles 26:17).

1 Chronicles 26:8

8. for strength] R.V. in strength.

1 Chronicles 26:9

9. Meshelemiah] Cp. 1 Chronicles 26:1-3 to which 1 Chronicles 26:9 is a supplement.

1 Chronicles 26:10

10. Hosah] He is mentioned as a doorkeeper along with Obed-edom in 1 Chronicles 16:38. Simri] R.V. Shimri.

1 Chronicles 26:12

12. Among these … another] R.V. Of these were the courses of the doorkeepers, even of the chief man, having charges like as their brethren. In 1 Chronicles 26:8-9; 1 Chronicles 26:11 taken together ninety-three doorkeepers are enumerated, who are presumably the heads of the four thousand mentioned in 1 Chronicles 23:5. In 1 Chronicles 9:22 again the total number (as it seems) of doorkeepers is given as two hundred and twelve. The discrepancy is probably due to the use of different documents belonging to different dates by the Chronicler.

1 Chronicles 26:13

13–19 (cp. 1 Chronicles 9:23-26). The Stations of the Doorkeepers 13. the house of their fathers] R.V. their fathers’ houses.

1 Chronicles 26:14

14. Shelemiah] i.e. Meshelemiah, 1 Chronicles 26:1-2. wise counseller] R.V. discreet counsellor.

1 Chronicles 26:15

15. the house of Asuppim] R.V. the storehouse.

1 Chronicles 26:16

16. To Shuppim and Hosah] Read, To Hosah. The word “Shuppim” (LXX. B, εἰςδεύτερον) seems to be an accidental repetition (in a corrupt form) of “Asuppim” (1 Chronicles 26:15), and so should be omitted from the text. Hosah … going up] R.V. Hosah westward, by the gate of Shallecheth (mg. “casting forth”), at the causeway that goeth up. There is no other mention in the Bible of a gate “Shallecheth,” but it is perhaps to be identified with “the entering in of the house of the Lord … which was in the precincts” (“Parvβrim” Heb.) mentioned 2 Kings 23:11; cp. note on 1 Chronicles 26:18. “The causeway” led up to the Temple either from Ophel (on the S.) or from the Western City (across the Tyrop�on Valley). Traces of two causeways have been discovered by excavation, viz., “Wilson’s Arch” (Bδdeker, p. 57) and “Robinson’s Arch” (ib. p. 59). The second of these arches probably marks the site of a causeway belonging to the period of the Kings.

1 Chronicles 26:17

17. toward Asuppim] R.V. for the storehouse.

1 Chronicles 26:18

18. Parbar] This word, apparently the same as parvarim, 2 Kings 23:11 (R.V. “precincts”; cp. R.V. mg. here), seems to denote some building built on the Temple area on the west side. It may have been a colonnade. The word is Persian and means “lighted [by the sun]”.

1 Chronicles 26:19

19. These … Merari] R.V. These were the courses of the door-keepers; of the sons of the Korahites, and of the sons of Merari.

1 Chronicles 26:20

20–32. Various Offices 20. And of the Levites, Ahijah was over] Read (with LXX.; cp. R.V. marg.), And the Levites their brethren were over. The confusion of readings is easy in Hebrew; cp. 1 Chronicles 2:25 for a similar case. the treasures] R.V. the treasuries; so in 1 Chronicles 26:22; 1 Chronicles 26:24; 1 Chronicles 26:26; and so in 1 Chronicles 28:11-12 (A.V.). the dedicate things] Cp. 1 Chronicles 26:26-28.

1 Chronicles 26:21

21. As concerning … Jehieli] R.V. The sons of Ladan; the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the heads of fathers’ houses belonging to Ladan the Gershonite; Jehieli. Laadan] R.V. Ladan; cp. 1 Chronicles 23:7; called Libni in 1 Chronicles 6:17 [2, Heb.]. Jehieli] Called “Jehiel” in 1 Chronicles 23:8.

1 Chronicles 26:22

22. Zetham and Joel] These appear rather as brethren of Jehieli (Jehiel) in 1 Chronicles 23:8; but since families, not individuals, are spoken of, the discrepancy is not important.

1 Chronicles 26:23

23. the Amramites etc.] Cp. 1 Chronicles 23:12.

1 Chronicles 26:24

24. Shebuel] Cp. 1 Chronicles 23:16; called “Shubael” in 1 Chronicles 24:20,

1 Chronicles 26:25

25. And his brethren by Eliezer; Rehabiah] R.V. And his brethren; of Eliezer came Rehabiah. Cp. 1 Chronicles 23:15-17, 1 Chronicles 24:21. Shelomith] R.V. Shelomoth (so C’thîb); A.V. follows K’ri; cp. 1 Chronicles 26:28 (R.V. mg.).

1 Chronicles 26:26

26. David the king] Cp. 1 Chronicles 18:11. the chief fathers] R.V. the heads of the fathers’ houses.

1 Chronicles 26:27

27. to maintain] R.V. to repair (the same Heb. word as in 2 Chronicles 24:5; 2 Chronicles 29:3).

1 Chronicles 26:29

29. Izharites] Cp. 1 Chronicles 23:12. the outward business] This business as here defined “for officers and for judges” (cp. 2 Chronicles 19:11) is perhaps different from that mentioned in Nehemiah 11:16 (“the outward business of the house of the Lord”).

1 Chronicles 26:30

30. the Hebronites] Cp. 1 Chronicles 23:12. were officers among them of Israel] R.V. had the oversight of Israel. on this side Jordan westward] R.V. beyond Jordan westward; cp. Joshua 22:7, R.V. Western Palestine is meant.

1 Chronicles 26:31

31. Among the Hebronites was … fathers] R.V. Of the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even of the Hebronites, according to their generations by fathers’ houses. Jerijah is called Jeriah (Heb. Jerijahu) in 1 Chronicles 23:19. in the fortieth year] Cp. 1 Chronicles 23:27, By the last words (R.V. mg., In the last acts) of David the sons of Levi were numbered. at Jazer] Cp. 1 Chronicles 6:81 (1 Chronicles 6:66 Heb.); Numbers 21:32, R.V. The Eastern Hebronites were given office east of Jordan; cp. 1 Chronicles 26:32.

1 Chronicles 26:32

32. his brethren] i.e. the brethren of Jerijah. chief fathers] R.V. heads of fathers’ houses. rulers] R.V. overseers; cp. 1 Chronicles 26:30 (R.V. “had the oversight”). Manasseh] R.V. the Manassites. and affairs] R.V. and for the affairs.