1 Chronicles 26
PATup. This gate which in Solomon’s time was called Shallecheth, in the time of Herod’s temple was called the gate ofCoponius. Which is said here to be by the causey of the going up: because it was by that ascent which’Solomon made for his own passage up from his own house to the temple, (1 Kings x,5. 2 Chron. ix. 4.) Which Josephus thus expresses (as Dr. Lightfoot observes), A gate led to the king’s house from the temple, the valley between them being fdled up for the passage. From whence the gate was called by the namo of Shallechcth, which signifies casting up; because of the causey that was cast up to lead to it from the king’s palace: this being the ordinary way to the house of God. Ward against ward.] I suppose the meaning is, that they guarded each of these gates of Asuppim: or, as others take it, they guarded by turns; when one went off, another coming on. But the most learned Dr. Alix (whom I consulted about it) thinks these words signify, that their stations wxre at the four points of heaven, opposite one to the other.
1 Chronicles 26:1
CONCERNING the divisions of the porters. As some of the Levites were chosen to be singers (of which an account is given in the foregoing chapter), so others were appointed to bp porters. Which were fixed offices (as Dr. Lightfoot observes) which they might not change: none of them being permitted to intrude into the office of the other; and neither of them into the priesthood. It was an office of great dignity, and men of the best quality were put into it: they having tho charge of the holy things, (ver. 20. 22. 24. 26.) • - Of the.Korhites was Meshelemiah.] Called Shelemiah, ver. 14… TJie son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.] Not of Asaph the musician, mentioned in the foregoing chapter, for ho was of the family of Gershon, (ver. 41.) but of another Asaph, called Eliasaph, and sometimes Jasaph, of the line of Kohath, (chap. vi. 23. ix. 19.);..
1 Chronicles 26:2
And the sons of Meshelemiah were Zechariah the first-born, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth.
1 Chronicles 26:3
Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh.
1 Chronicles 26:4
Moreover, the sons of Obed+Edom.were Shemaiah the first-born, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth.
1 Chronicles 26:5
Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Pealthai the eighth; for God blessed him. With a numerous offspring, as the Targum glosses upon the last words: because he entertained the ark in his house with great reverence. Upon which account God did him the honour to let him see of his sons and grandsons fourscore and two: who were chief men among the Levites. This the Targum had said before, one only being wanting of this number. (See upon chap. xiii. 14.) But what the Scripture saith is sufficient to shew how God blessed him with a numerous posterity, without the help of such monstrous stories as some of the Jews relate.., t,’’.♦»„
1 Chronicles 26:6
Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled throughout the house of their father.* Being men of great authority in that family. For they were mighty men of valour.] Which was requisite in men who had this office: for they were to watch, and guard the house of God, night and day. And not only to open and shut the doors of the mountain of the house, and of the court of the women (for the priests opened and shut the gates of the other courts), but to attend there to; prevent any thing that might be done to the prejudice of the peace, safety, and purity of the place. And likewise, as appears by what follows, they had the guard of some treasures, which required men of courage to defend them.. Ver.. 7. The sons of Shemaiah; Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad (whose brethren werestrong men), Elihu, and Semachiah.] Their names are recorded, with two of their brethren, or cousins: who are likewise noted to be strong men. That is, not only men of great bodily strength, but. of great courage and resolution. So it is translated in the margin, out of the Hebrew, sons of valour. But strength of body was a principal requisite in this service; for the doors of the temple were so massy and weighty, that the hands of many men (as Josephus saith) were needful to open and shut them.
1 Chronicles 26:8
All these of the sons of Obed-Edom; they, and their sons, and their brethren, able men for strengthfor the service, were threescore and two of Obed-Edom. This was a great number, which he lived to see descended from him, and from his sons.
1 Chronicles 26:9
And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, strong men, eighteen. Still their strength is mentioned, as a qua-, lification for this service.
1 Chronicles 26:10
Also Hosah, of the sons of Merari, had sons; Simri the chief (for though he was not the first-born, yet his father made him the chief). Because his elder brother was by Microsoft® 4F2 5S4 A COMMENTARY UPON [chap, XXVI. feeble, or some other way unfit for the service. For, as Jacob gave the kingdom to Judah, and the priesthood to Levi, and putHenbenhis first-born from his right, because of his crime; so there was some weighty cause, no doubt, why this man had the right of primogeniture given him, which was not to be altered upon the account of affection, (Dent. xxi. 16, 17.) Vcr. 11. Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren o/Hosahivere thirteen.] Who arc not all named, but these who arc the principal. Vcr. 12. Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men.’] They were distributed into courses, as the priests and Levites were: and these were principal commanders over them: being the most illustrious among their brethren, and therefore particularly named. - * - Having wards one against another.] Having charges or custodies answerable to their brethren; that is, to the Levites, who attended as these did. To minister in the house of the Lord.] This was not a vile ministry (as the word porter sounds among us), but they were like the standing guard of a king in his palace: and so the word, I observed before, had better be rendered. (See ix. 17.) Who kept the treasures of the temple, as it follows, (vcr. 20. 26.) and officers and judges also were chosen out of them, (ver. 29, 30. 32.) which shews they were eminent persons: some of them being very learned and wise; (ver. 14.) though, I suppose, they were not judges of the law, but of other matters.
1 Chronicles 26:13
And they cast lots, as well the small as the great. Without respect to their age or diguity. According to the house of their fatlters.] Every family having a distinct lot drawn for it. For every gate.] That it might be determined at what gate of the temple they were to wait.
1 Chronicles 26:14
And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. AVho is called Meshelcmiah, vcr. 1. TJien for Zechariah his son (a ivise counsellor ) they cast lots, and his lot came out northward.] He was as much reputed for prudence, as others were for strength or valour: and it was as necessary in the management of many of their affairs. Vcr. 15. To Obed-Edom southward; and to his sons the house of Asuppim.] Many learned men take Asnppim to signify the treasury of the temple, or the place where things dedicated were laid up. This they ground, first, upon the import of the word, which betokens collections, or gatherings, as we translate it in the margin: and, secondly, because Obed-Edom (whoso sons are here said to be placed at Asupphn) is said in 2 Chron. xxv. 24. to have the custody of the treasures. But, though this be granted, it still remains a very difficult matter to find where Asuppim was. After a long discussion of it, Dr. Lightfoot concludes, that Asuppim were two gates in the western wall, which stood most south, or nearest to Jerusalem; and that the house of Asuppim was a large building which run between them, and was a treasury of divers rooms for laying up things that served the uso of the temple. (Seo Temple Service, chap. 5. sect. 3.)
1 Chronicles 26:16
To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shallccheth, by the causey of the going
1 Chronicles 26:17
Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and towards Asuppim two and two. That is, two at each gate of Asuppim beforementioned. The distribution of the porters into four-arid-twenty courses, is not so plainly and distinctly set down in Scripture, as is the distribution of the priests and singers. Yet (as Dr. Lightfoot observes) it may be fairly concluded from two places: whereof this is one, in these two verses, 16, 17. where the fathers of the porters are summed up to the very same number that the first fathers of the other courses were, viz. to four-and-twenty. Among all theporters (saith Kimchi on this place) there were four-and-twenty, according to the rest of the courses; six on the east side, four on the north, four on the south, at Asuppim two and two (four in all), four on the west, and two at Parbar: behold, four-andtwenty. The other place Isaiah 2 Chron. viii. 14. where the porters go in the very same equipage (as he speaks), as to the matter of division into courses, with the priests and the singers. (Sec Temple Service, chap. 7.)
1 Chronicles 26:18
At Parbar tvestward, four at the causey, and two at Parbar. This gate, it appears from this place, was in the west quarter, and the west gato to the causey, or Shallechcth. It signifies, some think, the same with Parvar, which betokens suburbs: for it led to the suburbs, that is, that part of the city which was called Millo. Which’ was the valley at the west end of Mount Moriah, in which Jerusalem andZionmet; replenished with buildings in David’s and Solomon’s time, 2 Sam. v. 9. 1 Kings xi. 27. (See Dr. Lightfoot, in his Survey of the Temple, chap. 5. sect. 2.) Vcr. 19. These are the divisions of the porters among the sons ofKore, and among the sons of Merari.] These courses were made up of the Levites of these two great families.
1 Chronicles 26:20
And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things. By the treasures of the house of God, are meant such things as were of ordinary use and employment in the temple; such as the vessels, vestments, tithes, wine, oil, and other things that were commonly used; together with such as were offered to the treasury, either as a due (as was the half shekel), or voluntarily, as money or vessels, for the repair of the house of God, and advancement of the service there. By the treasures of the dedicated CHAP. XXVI.] THE FIRST BOOK OF THE CHRONICLES. things, are meant whatsoever their kings or great commanders had consecrated and dedicated for Divine uses; which lay as a stock for the temple, and monuments of their devotion.
1 Chronicles 26:21
As concerning the sons ofLaadan; the son of the Gershonite Laadan, chief fathers, even ofLaadan the Gershonite, were Jehieli. This was an eminent man of that family. (See xxiii. 7.)
1 Chronicles 26:22
The son of Jehieli; Zetham, and Joel his brother.* See xxiii. 8. where he is called Jehiel. Which were over the treasures of the house of the Lord.] From hence Dr. Lightfoot gathers, that as some of the treasures of the house of God were under the care and charge of the porters, (see ix. 2G.) so the rest, and the treasures of dedicated things, w T ere committed to the care and charge of other Levites, who were neither porters nor singers.
1 Chronicles 26:23
Of the Amramites, and the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites. Several persons of these families were employed as they that are mentioned in the foregoing verse.
1 Chronicles 26:24
And Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler of the treasures. This is the sole honour, that we read of hitherto, conferred upon any of the posterity of Moses; one of which was advanced to a great authority, being the overseer of all the treasures, and their officers. By treasures, I suppose, is here meant those of the house of the Lord; for another was over the dedicated things, (ver. 26.)
1 Chronicles 26:25
And hi$ brethren by Eliezer; Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son. These, I suppose, were under She-’ buel, as their chief ruler. Ver. 2G. Which Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasures of the dedicated things.] Here is another of Moses’s posterity (by his younger son) preferred to a great office’: to have the.chargo of those things which were dedicated for the service of God, in which his brethren were to assist him. Which David the king.] Out of his great piety, had dedicated in abundance, to the building of the temple, (xxii.14.) And the chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds.] Such as by the counsel of Jethro (Exod.xviii.) were constituted to assist in the government of the people. And the captains of the host, had dedicated.] The great military men imitated the rulers in the civil government in this piety: or such as are called captains of the host, xxv.l.
1 Chronicles 26:27
Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the house of the Lord. As David gave a vast treasure to the building of the house, so these men dedicated a part of their spoil to the support and repair of it, as there should be occasion, after it was built.
1 Chronicles 26:28
And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son ofNer, and Joab the son ofZeruiali, had dedicated. He mentions particularly some great benefactors, to honour their memory, and to be examples to posterity. And Samuel seems to have begun, and led the way to the rest that followed. For he, I suppose, by the spirit of prophecy, foresaw the nation would be so well settled in tho land, that a house would be built for the service of God: and therefore ho dedicated part of the spoils, which he got in the battles he fought, while he was judge of the people of Israel. Which example Saul, Abner, and Joab, imitated. And they all took it from the ancient piety of the great patriarch Abraham, who gave the tenth of the spoils which he won to Melchisedec, God’s high-priest.. The like did the princes of the people of Israel, after their victory over the Midianites; as we read Numb, xxxi; And whosoever had dedicated any thing.] There were many, no doubt, who were disposed to the same piety besides these named. It was under the hand of Shelomith, and of his brethren.] He was a man of eminent probity and prudence; otherwise so great a trust w r ould not have been reposed in him.
1 Chronicles 26:29
Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business. That is, the business without the city of Jerusalem; which neither belonged to the singers, nor the porters, whose business was within the city: but what this outward business was, is not easily resolved. Kimchi and other Hebrew doctors think, it was to cut down trees in the woods, and to hew stones, and to see the fields ploughed, and the vineyards and gardens planted and dressed, which by devout persons had been dedicated to the service of God: but there doth not seem to be any thing belonging to such matters in these words. For though shoterim, or officers, might possibly have something to do in such matters, yet, what business there was in these things for the judges (on whom these officers attended) none can imagine. And this outward business being over Israel, as it here follows, it does not denote their care of the fruits* consecrated by the Israelites, nor the government of those who gathered those fruits; but some authority over the Israelites themselves; such as is described in the following verse. See Bertram, de Hepub. Jud. p. 12G. whose opinion is approved by Conringius; which is, that they were assessors with the ordinary judges. Over Israeli] Not over all the people of Israel, hut over a part of them: for those about Jordan were under another jurisdiction, as appears by the next verse. For officers and judges.] For such employments as are mentioned in the following verse.
1 Chronicles 26:30
And of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valour, a thousand and seven hundred, were officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward. This was a vast number: therefore their officers were of several sorts (as it follows), not only in Divine, but in civil affairs. In all business of the Lord, and in the service of the king.] The work or business of the Lord, was to take care of all things belonging to religion: among which Divine employments, no doubt, this was the chief, to Judge the people according to the law of God; and to see their sentence put in execution. For their judges judged for the Lord, as Jehoshaphat tells them, 2 Chron. xix. 6. and they had officers, called shoterim, to see their judgment take effect. But the word shoterim doth not signify merely the ministers of the judges: but also such persons who had some ministry committed to them; to correct offenders, and to punish them; or to bring them before the judges to be punished by them. For they are not only joined with judges (as I have often before observed), but frequently put before them in this book: and, therefore, it is hard to find one word to comprehend the whole work of these officers; who were