1 Chronicles 26:1 Komentář

We have here an account of the business of the Levites. That tribe had made but a very small figure all the time of the judges, till Eli and Samuel appeared. But when David revived religion the Levites were, of all men, in the greatest reputation. And happy it was that they had Levites who were men of sense, fit to support the honour of their tribe. We have here an account, I. Of the Levites that were appointed to be porters (v. 1-19). II. Of those that were appointed to be treasurers and storekeepers (Ch1 26:20-28). III. Of those that were officers and judges in the country, and were entrusted with the administration of public affairs (Ch1 26:29-32).

Observe, I. There were porters appointed to attend the temple, who guarded all the avenues that let to it, opened and shut all the outer gates and attended at them, not only for the state, but for service, to direct and instruct those who were going to worship in the courts of the sanctuary in the decorum they were to observe, to encourage those that were timorous, to send back the strangers and unclean, and to guard against thieves and others that were enemies to the house of God. In allusion to this office, ministers are said to have the keys to the kingdom of heaven committed to them (Mat 16:19), that they may admit, and exclude, according to the law of Christ. II. Of several of those that were called to this service, it is taken notice of that they were mighty men of valour (Ch1 26:6), strong men (Ch1 26:7), able men (Ch1 26:8), and one of them that he was a wise counsellor (Ch1 26:14), who probably, when he had used this office of a deacon well and given proofs of more than ordinary wisdom, purchased to himself a good degree, and was preferred from the gate to the council-board, Ti1 3:13. As for those that excelled in strength of body, and courage and resolution of mind, they were thereby qualified for the post assigned them; for whatever service God calls men to he either finds them fit or makes them so. III. The sons of Obed-edom were employed in this office, sixty-two of that family. This was he that entertained the ark with reverence and cheerfulness; and see how he was rewarded for it. 1. He had eight sons (Ch1 26:5), for God blessed him. The increase and building up of families are owing to the divine blessing; and a great blessing it is to a family to have many children, when like these they are able for, and eminent in, the service of God. 2. His sons were preferred to places of trust in the sanctuary. They had faithfully attended the ark in their own house, and now were called to attend it in God's house. He that is trusty in little shall be trusted with more. He that keeps God's ordinances in his own tent is fit to have the custody of them in God's tabernacle, Ti1 3:4, Ti1 3:5. I have kept thy law, says David, and this I had because I kept thy precepts, Psa 119:55, Psa 119:56. IV. It is said of one here that though he was not the first-born his father made him the chief (Ch1 26:10), either because he was very excellent, or because the elder son was very weak. He was made chief, perhaps not in inheriting the estate (for that was forbidden by the law, Deu 21:16, Deu 21:17), but in this service, which required personal qualifications. V. The porters, as the singers, had their post assigned them by lot, so many at such a gate, and so many at such a one, that every one might know his post and make it good, Ch1 26:13. It is not said that they were cast into twenty-four courses, as before; but here are the names of about twenty-four (Ch1 26:1-11), and the posts assigned are twenty-four, Ch1 26:17, Ch1 26:18. We have therefore reason to think they were distributed into as many companies. Happy are those who dwell in God's house: for, as they are well fed, well taught, and well employed, so they are well guarded. Men attended at the gates of the temple, but angels attend at the gates of the New Jerusalem, Rev 21:12.

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 26 In this chapter we have a further account of the disposition and distribution of the Levites, to serve in other offices, as of porters at the several gates of the temple, for which they cast lots, Ch1 26:1 of others, as over the treasures of the house of the Lord, Ch1 26:20, and of others that were appointed judges in the land, to administer justice to the people, Ch1 26:29.

Concerning the divisions of the porters,.... Or doorkeepers, whose business it was to open and shut the doors of the temple, to keep all impure and improper persons from entering into it, or any of the vessels being carried out of it, and to prevent tumults and riots about it; these, as it seems, David divided into a like number of classes, as the singers, to take their turns in waiting: of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph; not Asaph the singer, who was a Gershonite, but the same with Eliasaph, Ch1 6:23 a Korhite.

The divisions of the porters, Ch1 26:1-12. The gates assigned to them, Ch1 26:13-19. Those who were over the treasures, Ch1 26:20-28. Different officers, Ch1 26:29-32.

The divisions of the porters - There were four classes of these, each of which belonged to one of the four gates of the temple, which opened to the four cardinal points of heaven. The eastern gate fell to Shelemiah; the northern, to Zechariah, Ch1 26:14; the southern, to Obed-edom, Ch1 26:15; the western, to Shuppim and Hosah, Ch1 26:16. These several persons were captains of these porter-bands or door-keepers at the different gates. There were probably a thousand men under each of these captains; as we find, from Ch1 23:5, that there were four thousand in all.

DIVISIONS OF THE PORTERS. (Ch1 26:1-12) Concerning the divisions of the porters--There were four thousand (Ch1 23:6), all taken from the families of the Kohathites and Merarites (Ch1 26:14), divided into twenty-four courses--as the priests and musicians. Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph--Seven sons of Meshelemiah are mentioned (Ch1 26:2), whereas eighteen are given (Ch1 26:9), but in this latter number his relatives are included.

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 26 In this chapter we have a further account of the disposition and distribution of the Levites, to serve in other offices, as of porters at the several gates of the temple, for which they cast lots, Ch1 26:1 of others, as over the treasures of the house of the Lord, Ch1 26:20, and of others that were appointed judges in the land, to administer justice to the people, Ch1 26:29.

Concerning the divisions of the porters,.... Or doorkeepers, whose business it was to open and shut the doors of the temple, to keep all impure and improper persons from entering into it, or any of the vessels being carried out of it, and to prevent tumults and riots about it; these, as it seems, David divided into a like number of classes, as the singers, to take their turns in waiting: of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph; not Asaph the singer, who was a Gershonite, but the same with Eliasaph, Ch1 6:23 a Korhite.