1 Cronache 26:14 Commento

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.

To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward,.... Of Shuppim no mention is before made; of Hosah, see Ch1 26:10 their lot was to be placed at the gates on the western wall, where were four; the two more southward being assigned to the sons of Obededom, whose lot also was southward, are taken notice of under the division in the preceding verse; Parbar was another, Ch1 26:18, and another follows here: with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the going up; this gate was in later times called Coponius, from the name of a Roman commander, in the times of Herod, who might give it this name on his account; it might have the name of Shallecheth either from "sending out", or carrying out the filth of the temple through it; or rather from "casting up the causeway", as here expressed, which was the going up, or ascent, Solomon made, by which he went up to the temple, Kg1 20:5 and which agrees with the description Josephus (a) gives of one of the gates on the western wall, that it led to the royal palace, the valley between being filled up for the passage; on each side of which causeway, it is said, grew oaks and teil trees, see Isa 6:13 which served both to keep up the causeway, and to make a fine, pleasant, shady walk for the king to pass through to the temple; all which are observed by Dr. Lightfoot (b): ward against ward; for as the gates answered one another, so the wards or watches at them. (a) Antiqu. l. 15. c. 11. sect. 5. (b) Ut supra, (Prospect of the Temple), c. 5. sect. 1.

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.

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.

To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward,.... Of Shuppim no mention is before made; of Hosah, see Ch1 26:10 their lot was to be placed at the gates on the western wall, where were four; the two more southward being assigned to the sons of Obededom, whose lot also was southward, are taken notice of under the division in the preceding verse; Parbar was another, Ch1 26:18, and another follows here: with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the going up; this gate was in later times called Coponius, from the name of a Roman commander, in the times of Herod, who might give it this name on his account; it might have the name of Shallecheth either from "sending out", or carrying out the filth of the temple through it; or rather from "casting up the causeway", as here expressed, which was the going up, or ascent, Solomon made, by which he went up to the temple, Kg1 20:5 and which agrees with the description Josephus (a) gives of one of the gates on the western wall, that it led to the royal palace, the valley between being filled up for the passage; on each side of which causeway, it is said, grew oaks and teil trees, see Isa 6:13 which served both to keep up the causeway, and to make a fine, pleasant, shady walk for the king to pass through to the temple; all which are observed by Dr. Lightfoot (b): ward against ward; for as the gates answered one another, so the wards or watches at them. (a) Antiqu. l. 15. c. 11. sect. 5. (b) Ut supra, (Prospect of the Temple), c. 5. sect. 1.