Bible Commentaries

1 Chronicles 26:1 Concerning the divisions of the porters: Of the Korhites [was] Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.

Ver. l. Concerning the divisions.] De vicibus aut classibus.

Of the porters.] Or, Door keepers, sextons, sacrists, &c., an office of good account; their ordinary employment was to see that the temple were not at any time polluted by profane persons or practices; as also that none of the sacred vessels, vestments, &c., were stolen away. Of these there were twenty-four reliefs or exchanges, as well as of priests, Levites, and singers.

Of the sons of Asaph.] Alias Abiasaph. [Exodus 6:24 1 Chronicles 6:37]

1 Chronicles 26:5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth: for God blessed him.

Ver. 5. For God blessed him.] With many children; and otherwise also. God’s retributions are very bountiful.

1 Chronicles 26:6 Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled throughout the house of their father: for they [were] mighty men of valour.

Ver. 6. That ruled throughout the house of their father.] Or, Were like to the house of their father: i.e., they were mighty men of valour, able to execute their office, and to suppress all tumults that might arise at the gates of the temple, by reason of the great concourse of people resorting thereunto, at the three great feasts especially.

1 Chronicles 26:10 Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons; Simri the chief, (for [though] he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the chief;)

Ver. 10. Yet his father made him the chief.] Not in the right of first born, but in his office of a warder. ^(a)

1 Chronicles 26:14 And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.

Ver. 14. Fell to Shelemiah.] Alias Meshelemiah. [1 Chronicles 26:1] So Jehoshuah the high priest is called Joshua. It is lawful to abbreviate names.

A wise counsellor.] Heb., A giver of counsel with wisdom. This is a high commendation.

1 Chronicles 26:15 To Obededom southward; and to his sons the house of Asuppim.

Ver. 15. The house of Asuppim.] ^(a) Or, Of gatherings: the congregation house, where the Sanhedrim met and sat. Some take it for the place where the collection money was kept. See 2 Chronicles 25:24. Others, for a proper name.

1 Chronicles 26:16 To Shuppim and Hosah [the lot came forth] westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the going up, ward against ward.

Ver. 16. With the gate Shallecheth,] i.e., Of casting out; this was the dung gate of the temple.

By the causeway of the going up.] Which is thought to be the same with that called Silla [2 Kings 12:20]

1 Chronicles 26:18 At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, [and] two at Parbar.

Ver. 18. Parbar.] Thought to be the same with Shallecheth. [1 Chronicles 26:16]

1 Chronicles 26:23 Of the Amramites, [and] the Izharites, the Hebronites, [and] the Uzzielites:

Ver. 23. Amramites,] i.e., The posterity of Amram by his son Moses; who upon some occasion - to avoid superstition or usurpation of some pre-eminence forbidden by the Lord - did not leave his own name to his children, but let them pass in the common name of Levites and Amramites. ^(a) See 1 Chronicles 23:14.

1 Chronicles 26:24 And Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, [was] ruler of the treasures.

Ver. 24. Rulers of the treasures,] i.e., Of those dedicated things which were in the custody of Shelomith and his brethren. [1 Chronicles 26:26]

1 Chronicles 26:29 Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons [were] for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.

Ver. 29. For the outward business.] Country employment, as provision of fuel, first fruits, tithes, &c., expounding also of the law, and therehence answering cases, solving doubts; superintendents, some say they were, throughout the whole kingdom.

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 in all the business of the LORD, and in the service of the king.

Ver. 30. And in the service of the king.] Putting in execution his decrees for the observing of God’s laws.

1 Chronicles 26:32 And his brethren, men of valour, [were] two thousand and seven hundred chief fathers, whom king David made rulers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God, and affairs of the king.

Ver. 32. Over the Reubenites, &c.] These were more remote; and lest they should grow more remiss, they had the more Levites amongst them.