1 Chronicles 26
DOYLYChap. XXVI. ver. 1. — of the porters:] By these are meant the guards of the several outward gates and passages of the temple, who were to attend there in their several turns, to open and shut them, to keep out all profane persons, and to prevent any thing that might be done to the prejudice of the peace, safety, and purity of that sacred place. Pyle. The office of these porters was not an ignoble one, as the use of the word porter among us might seem to imply; they were a sort of standing guard about the temple, who had the care of its treasures, as follows at ver. 20, 26: officers and judges were chosen from them, ver. 29, 30, which shews that they were eminent persons, and some amongst them were wise counsellors, ver. 14. Bp. Patrick.
1 Chronicles 26:15
- — the house of Asuppim.] It is not to be determined what is meant by “the house of Asuppim.” A probable opinion is, that it was a treasury, because it comes from a word which signifies “to gather or collect;” also because Obed-edom (whose sons are here said to be placed at the house of Asuppim) is stated in
1 Chronicles 26:16
- — the gate Shallecheth.] The word Shallecheth signifies literally “a casting up:” this gate is here stated to be “by the causeway of the going up;” which “going up” is probably the ascent that Solomon made for his own passage up to the temple, 1 Kings x. 5; 2 Chron. ix. 4; and the causeway is that which Josephus means when he says, “a gate led to the king’s house from the temple, the valley betwixt being filled up for the passage,” which was a great work, from the extent and depth of the valley. Thus we may conclude that the gate was called Shallecheth, or “the casting up,” from the causeway that was cast up to lead to it from the king’s palace, this being his ordinary way to the temple. Dr. Lightfoot.
1 Chronicles 26:18
- At Parbar westward.] Many think the name of this gate to be the same with Parvar, which betokens “suburbs,” and that it had its name from leading to the suburbs of Zion, which were distinguished and parted from Zion by a wall. Dr. Lightfoot. The keepers of the treasures. Officers and judges. Before CHRIST about 1015. holy things. chap. 6. 17. § Or, Jehiel, chap. 23. 8. of God, and over the treasures of the
1 Chronicles 26:20
- — the treasures of the house &c.] By “the treasures of the house of God” are meant such things as were of ordinary use and employment in the temple; together with money or vessels voluntarily offered for the repair of the house of God, and the advancement of the service there. By the “treasures of the dedicated things” are meant all that the different kings and commanders had consecrated and dedicated to divine uses; which lay as a stock for the temple, and as monuments of their devotion. Bp. Patrick.
1 Chronicles 26:24
- — the son of Gershom, &c.] The descendant of Gershom, &c. This is the only honour that we read of hitherto, as conferred upon any of the posterity of Moses. Shelomith, mentioned at ver. 25, is another of his posterity, preferred to a great office. Bp. Patrick.
1 Chronicles 26:29
- — were for the outward business] That is, the business without the city of Jerusalem, as distinguished from that of the other Levites, the singers, porters, &c. whose business was within the city. Bp. Patrick. These were to be Levites of the greatest ability and authority, who were to reside in the country, to be a sort of magistrates, or assessors to the magistrates, in each town, for the purpose of contributing to the preservation of good order, both in civil and religious matters. Pyle. business over Israel, for officers and judges.
1 Chronicles 26:30
- — in all the business of the Lord.] “The business of the Lord,” no doubt, was to take care of all things pertaining to religion; among which divine employments, the chief probably was, to judge the people according to the law of God, and to see their sentence put in execution. The “service of the king” appears to mean, the collection of his tribute, and perhaps the publication of his orders and commands. Bp. Patrick.
1 Chronicles 26:32
- And his brethren, men of valour, &c.] Although the eastern Canaan was much less in circumference than the western; yet, as it lay at a greater distance from the capital, and the temple, and might therefore be subject to greater neglects and more frequent disorders, the number of Levite officers appointed to take care of it amounted to the number of 3700. Pyle. Chap. XXVII. ver. 1. Now the children of Israel &c.] After the settlement of ecclesiastical affairs, here is an account given how the militia (if this term may be allowed) of the kingdom was settled, in such an order as might be serviceable. They were distributed into twelve legions, consisting each of 24,000 men, who were commanded by one of the chief of the fathers. Under these were the captains of thousands, being twenty-four in