1 Chronicles 26

The order and division of the door-keepers of the Temple, v.1. &c. and of the Treasurers that were over the treasures of the Temple, 0. As likewise of the Levitical Officers and Judges, 29.

1. Concerning the divisions of the porters, [To wit, of the Temple. Here is to be noted, that there were three families appointed for the office of porters: as first, the family of Meselemja. Secondly, the family of Obed-Edom, v.4.11. Thirdly, the family of Hosa, v.10.] of the Korhites was Meselemja, [called Selemja, v.14.] the son of Kore, of the children of Asaph. [this was another Asaph, then that famous chief singers, of whom is spoken in the 25. Chapter.]

2. Now Meselemja had children: Secharja was the first-born, [For first-born is often used (above chap.23.v.10,18,19, &c. the word head] Jediael the second, zebadja the third, Jathniel the fourth.

3. Elam the fist, Johanan the six, Eljeoenai the seventh.

4. Obed-Edom had also children: Semaja was the first-born, Jozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sachar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fist.

5. Ammiel the six, Issaschur the seventh, Peullethai the eight, for God had blessed him. [To wit, Obed-Edom, to whom God gave children and grand-children. See below v.8. This phrase is also used, Gen.2.v.22, 18, &c.]

6. Also unto Semaja his son were children born, ruling over the house of their Father: For they were valiant champions. [That is, mighty men, that were valiant and courageous in the execution of their office, to wit, in keeping their guard, and in removing all violence and disorder from the doors of the Temple.]

7. The children of Semaja were Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, (and) Elzabad [Some make of Obed and Elzabad but one name: Others do here insert the word and, the there be four and twenty heads here, as there be in the other courses] his brethren valiant men: [Heb. children, or, sons of valour] Elihu, and Semachja.

8. All these were of the children of Obed-Edom, they and their children, and their brethren, valiant men in strength for the service, there were threescore and two of Obed-Edom.

9. Now Meselemja had children and brethren, valiant men, eighteen.

10. And Hosa of the children of Merari, had sons: Simri was the head (although he was not the first-born, yet his Father made him an head.) [The Father might not give the birth right to this son of his, and exclude the first-born without some special and remarkeable cause, which it may be was given here. See the law, Deu.21.16,17.]

11. Hilkija was the second, Tebalja the third, ZEcharja the fourth; all the children and brethren of Hosa were thirteen.

12. Out of these were the divisions of the Porters among the heads of the men, for the wards against their brethren: [See chap.24.v.31.] to minister in the house of the LORD. [the meaning of the words of this verse is, that these porters or door-keepers were also divided into four and twenty courses, as the other Levites were, each in their function or administration, and that they likewise so came on, and went off in their wards by turns, as the others did, changing their courses every Sabbath day.]

13. And they cast lots as well the small as the great, [Heb. as the small, so the great, as chap.25.v.8.] according to their fatherly houses, for every gate. [understand that they cast or drew lots, according as the gates of the Temple, or other places lay, where they were to keep guard: also according to the number of the persons that were to keep guard in every place. Heb. for gate and gate.]

14. Now the lot East-ward [That is, of the gate that lay East-ward: and so in the sequel] fell upon Selemja: but for Zecharja his son, who was an understanding Counsellor, they cast lots, and his lots came forth North-ward.

15. For Obed-Edom Southward, and for his children the house of the treasure-chambers. [Intimating that some of the children of Obed-Edom kept guard at the south-gate of the Temple, and some at the treasure-chambers. The words rendered here the house of the treasure-chambers, are in the Heb. the house of gatherings; that is, where the gifts that were given by the people toward the building and repairing of the Temple, were gathered and kept, as also the tithes, first-fruits, &c. See 2 Chron.25.v.24. But some conceive that this was an house or building near adjoining to the Temple, where the Teachers of the law, Prophets, and singing-masters kept their meetings and assemblies to discourse and commune together about the laws and commandments of the Lord. Others retain here the Hebrew word Asuppim, as being the name of a certain place.]

16. For Suppim and Hosa [Understand the house of Hosa the son of Suppim of the family of Merari. Some are of opinion that Suppim and Hosa were brethren, that in the lot they were joined together under one head] westward, with the gate Schallecheth, by the ascending highway: [the meaning of these words is, that Suppim and Hosa had not only the guard at the West-gate, (which was called the hinder gate, because it stood behind the gate of the Sanctuary, where the ark of the covenant stood) but also at another gate that was hard by, near unto the ascent or gallery that Salomon had made, to go from the city of David into the Temple. See of this ascent,2 Kings 12.v.20. and 2 Chron.9.v.11.] ward over against ward. [that is, they were so ordered, that as soon as one went off the service of the house of the Lord, another came on. Or they kept watch each in his place over against one another: or they were like one another each in his ward.]

17. East-ward were six Levites: North-ward four a day. South-ward four a day; But by the treasure-chambers two (and) two.

18. At Parbar [Parbar is a Chaldee word, and signifieth an outermost part, or, a part that cometh outward] Westward there were four by the high way, two by Parbar.

19. These are the divisions of the porters of the children of the Korhites, and of the children of Merari.

20. Also of the Levites, Ahija was over the treasures of the house of God, and [Oth. That is, or, to wit, as the letter vau is taken, Judg.7.14. and 1 Sam.28.3, etc.] over the treasures of the hallowed things. [here is to be noted that there were divers treasures in the house of the Lord: For first, there was gathered that which was given toward the maintenance of the Priests and Levites, as there were the first fruits and the tithes, or the value thereof. Secondly, that which was hallowed or consecrated to the Lord, as freewill-offering, vows ransom money for the first-born, and the like, out of which were allowed the expences and charges toward the daily sacrifice, as also toward the offerings o the Sabbath, new moons, and annual feasts, etc. Thirdly, there was also money gathered for the building of the Temple, and maintaining of the same. See below ver.26,27,28.]

21. Of the children of Ladan, [Otherwise called Libni] children of Ladan the Gersonite: of Ladan the Gersonite were heads of the Fathers, Jehieli.

22. The children of Jehieli were Zetham, and Joel [Above chap.23. vers.8. Zetham and Joel are called children of Ladan, either because they were his grandchildren, or because they were his children indeed, and brethren of Jehieli, and that Zetham and Joel were here called children of Jehieli after the names of their Uncles] his brother: (these) were over the treasures of the house of the LORD.

23. Of the Amramites, of the Izharites, of the Hebronites, of the Uzzielites.

24. And Sebuel the son [That is, posterity. See above chap.23.v.16.] of Gersom the son of Moseh, was chief over the treasures. [he might be called chief Accountant, or, President in the chamber of accounts.]

25. But his brethren [That is, kinsmen] from Eliezer, [that is, that sprung from Eliezer. Eliezer was the second of Moses, whose posterity are here made keepers of the treasures] were (these:) Rehabja was his son, and Joram his son, and Zubri his son, and Selomith hisson.

26. This Selomith and his brethren, [That is, kinsmen] were over all the treasures of the holy things, which King David had hallowed, together with the heads of the Fathers, the Rulers over thousand, and hundreds, and the chief of the host had hallowed, [that is, had presented in the temple for the service of God.]

27. Of the wars, [That is, of the spoil gotten in war] and of the spoil had they hallowed it, to maintain the house of the LORD. [to wit, after the house being built, should in time have need of repairing.]

28. Also all that Samuel the Seer, [See 1 Sam.9.9.] had hallowed, and Saul the son of Kis, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruja: all that (anyman) had hallowed, was under the hand of Selomith and his brethren.

29. Of the Izharites, Chenanja, and his sons were for the outwork in Israel, for Officers and for Judges. [That is, for such businesses as were to be done without Jerusalem, understanding thereby, that they likewise executed the office of Judges and Officers in the land. For although the Levites were continued ordinary Churchminister: Yet some of them were likewise employed and made use of in civil affairs and administrations, not only in their own cities, that were given them of the tribes by the order and appointment of god, but also being called thereunto from other places: (as appeareth by these places, v.29,30,31,32. Also above ch.23.v.4. compared with 2 Chron.19.11.) for as much as Levi was likewise one of the tribes of Israel, and the laws and statutes concerning the Common-wealth of Israel were written in the book of the law of God, which especially was commended to the Levites. See 2 Chron.17.8,9, etc. Other conceive that the outward work of the Levites was this, that they throughout all the land gathered and provided that which was necessary for the building of the Temple, and for the worship off God. See 2 Chron.34.v.13. Neh.11.16.]

30. Of the Hebronites was Asabja and his brethren, valiant men, a thousand and seven hundred, over the offices of Israel on this side Jordan West-ward: over the work of the LORD, and for the Kings service.

31. Of the Hebronites Jorija was the head, of the Hebronites of his generations among the Fathers: In the fourteenth year of Davids reign [This was the last year of Davids reign, wherein he made the above recited order, before he made Salomon king in his stead, holding for that purpose a great assembly of the people, below chap.28.29.] there were sought and found among them valiant champions at Jaezer in Gilead. [this was a city in the land of Gilead, given to the Merarites for a dwelling-place, Jos.21.39.]

32. And his [To wit, Jerijas] brethren [that is, kinsmen] were valiant men, [see above v.7.] two thousand and seven hundred heads of the Fathers: And king David set them over the Reubenites, and Gadites, and the half tribe of the Manassites, for all Matters of God, and the matters of the king. [compare verse 30.]