1 Chronicles 26:6 Kommentar

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).

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.

Also unto Shemaiah his son,.... His firstborn, Ch1 26:4. were sons born, that ruled throughout the house of their father; were heads of families, eminent and principal men: for they were mighty men of valour; which their office sometimes required them to be, to guard the temple at night as well as day from thieves and robbers, and to hinder resolute men entering in, unfit for it, and seize on rioters, and quell tumults raised.

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.

They were mighty men of valor - They were not only porters or door-keepers in the ordinary sense of the word, but they were a military guard for the gates: and perhaps in this sense alone we are to understand their office.

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.

mighty men of valour--The circumstance of physical strength is prominently noticed in this chapter, as the office of the porters required them not only to act as sentinels of the sacred edifice and its precious furniture against attacks of plunderers or popular insurrection--to be, in fact, a military guard--but, after the temple was built, to open and shut the gates, which were extraordinarily large and ponderous.

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.

Also unto Shemaiah his son,.... His firstborn, Ch1 26:4. were sons born, that ruled throughout the house of their father; were heads of families, eminent and principal men: for they were mighty men of valour; which their office sometimes required them to be, to guard the temple at night as well as day from thieves and robbers, and to hinder resolute men entering in, unfit for it, and seize on rioters, and quell tumults raised.