1 Concerning the divisions of the porters: Of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
2 And the sons of Meshelemiah were, Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,
3 Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh.
4 Moreover the sons of Obededom were, Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth.
5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth: for God blessed him.
6 Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled throughout the house of their father: for they were mighty men of valor.
7 The sons of Shemaiah; Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were strong men, Elihu, and Semachiah.
8 All these of the sons of Obededom: they and their sons and their brethren, able men for strength for the service, were threescore and two of Obededom.
9 And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, strong men, eighteen.
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;)
11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen.
12 Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men, having wards one against another, to minister in the house of the LORD.
13 And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate.
14 And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counselor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.
15 To Obededom southward; and to his sons the house of Asuppim.
16 To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the going up, ward against ward.
17 Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim two and two.
18 At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.
19 These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari.
20 And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.
21 As concerning the sons of Laadan; the sons of the Gershonite Laadan, chief fathers, even of Laadan the Gershonite, were Jehieli.
22 The sons of Jehieli; Zetham, and Joel his brother, which were over the treasures of the house of the LORD.
23 Of the Amramites, and the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites:
24 And Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler of the treasures.
25 And his brethren by Eliezer; Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son.
26 Which Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated.
27 Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the house of the LORD.
28 And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated; and whosoever had dedicated any thing, it was under the hand of Shelomith, and of his brethren.
29 Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.
30 And of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valor, 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.
31 Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even among the Hebronites, according to the generations of his fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valor at Jazer of Gilead.
32 And his brethren, men of valor, 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.
1 Concerning the divisions H4256 of the porters: H7778 Of the Korhites H7145 was Meshelemiah H4920 the son H1121 of Kore, H6981 of the sons H1121 of Asaph. H623
2 And the sons H1121 of Meshelemiah H4920 were, Zechariah H2148 the firstborn, H1060 Jediael H3043 the second, H8145 Zebadiah H2069 the third, H7992 Jathniel H3496 the fourth, H7243
3 Elam H5867 the fifth, H2549 Jehohanan H3076 the sixth, H8345 Elioenai H454 the seventh. H7637
4 Moreover the sons H1121 of Obededom H5654 were, Shemaiah H8098 the firstborn, H1060 Jehozabad H3075 the second, H8145 Joah H3098 the third, H7992 and Sacar H7940 the fourth, H7243 and Nethaneel H5417 the fifth, H2549
5 Ammiel H5988 the sixth, H8345 Issachar H3485 the seventh, H7637 Peulthai H6469 the eighth: H8066 for God H430 blessed H1288 him.
6 Also unto Shemaiah H8098 his son H1121 were sons H1121 born, H3205 that ruled H4474 throughout the house H1004 of their father: H1 for they were mighty men H1368 of valour. H2428
7 The sons H1121 of Shemaiah; H8098 Othni, H6273 and Rephael, H7501 and Obed, H5744 Elzabad, H443 whose brethren H251 were strong H2428 men, H1121 Elihu, H453 and Semachiah. H5565
8 All these of the sons H1121 of Obededom: H5654 they and their sons H1121 and their brethren, H251 able H2428 men H376 for strength H3581 for the service, H5656 were threescore H8346 and two H8147 of Obededom. H5654
9 And Meshelemiah H4920 had sons H1121 and brethren, H251 strong H2428 men, H1121 eighteen. H8083 H6240
10 Also Hosah, H2621 of the children H1121 of Merari, H4847 had sons; H1121 Simri H8113 the chief, H7218 (for though he was not the firstborn, H1060 yet his father H1 made H7760 him the chief;) H7218
11 Hilkiah H2518 the second, H8145 Tebaliah H2882 the third, H7992 Zechariah H2148 the fourth: H7243 all the sons H1121 and brethren H251 of Hosah H2621 were thirteen. H7969 H6240
12 Among these were the divisions H4256 of the porters, H7778 even among the chief H7218 men, H1397 having wards H4931 one against H5980 another, H251 to minister H8334 in the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068
13 And they cast H5307 lots, H1486 as well the small H6996 as the great, H1419 according to the house H1004 of their fathers, H1 for every gate. H8179
14 And the lot H1486 eastward H4217 fell H5307 to Shelemiah. H8018 Then for Zechariah H2148 his son, H1121 a wise H7922 counsellor, H3289 they cast H5307 lots; H1486 and his lot H1486 came out H3318 northward. H6828
15 To Obededom H5654 southward; H5045 and to his sons H1121 the house H1004 of Asuppim. H624
16 To Shuppim H8206 and Hosah H2621 the lot came forth westward, H4628 with the gate H8179 Shallecheth, H7996 by the causeway H4546 of the going up, H5927 ward H4929 against H5980 ward. H4929
17 Eastward H4217 were six H8337 Levites, H3881 northward H6828 four H702 a day, H3117 southward H5045 four H702 a day, H3117 and toward Asuppim H624 two H8147 and two. H8147
18 At Parbar H6503 westward, H4628 four H702 at the causeway, H4546 and two H8147 at Parbar. H6503
19 These are the divisions H4256 of the porters H7778 among the sons H1121 of Kore, H7145 and among the sons H1121 of Merari. H4847
20 And of the Levites, H3881 Ahijah H281 was over the treasures H214 of the house H1004 of God, H430 and over the treasures H214 of the dedicated things. H6944
21 As concerning the sons H1121 of Laadan; H3936 the sons H1121 of the Gershonite H1649 Laadan, H3936 chief H7218 fathers, H1 even of Laadan H3936 the Gershonite, H1649 were Jehieli. H3172
22 The sons H1121 of Jehieli; H3172 Zetham, H2241 and Joel H3100 his brother, H251 which were over the treasures H214 of the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068
23 Of the Amramites, H6020 and the Izharites, H3325 the Hebronites, H2276 and the Uzzielites: H5817
24 And Shebuel H7619 the son H1121 of Gershom, H1647 the son H1121 of Moses, H4872 was ruler H5057 of the treasures. H214
25 And his brethren H251 by Eliezer; H461 Rehabiah H7345 his son, H1121 and Jeshaiah H3470 his son, H1121 and Joram H3141 his son, H1121 and Zichri H2147 his son, H1121 and Shelomith H8019 H8013 his son. H1121
26 Which Shelomith H8013 and his brethren H251 were over all the treasures H214 of the dedicated things, H6944 which David H1732 the king, H4428 and the chief H7218 fathers, H1 the captains H8269 over thousands H505 and hundreds, H3967 and the captains H8269 of the host, H6635 had dedicated. H6942
27 Out of the spoils H7998 won in battles H4421 did they dedicate H6942 to maintain H2388 the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068
28 And all that Samuel H8050 the seer, H7200 and Saul H7586 the son H1121 of Kish, H7027 and Abner H74 the son H1121 of Ner, H5369 and Joab H3097 the son H1121 of Zeruiah, H6870 had dedicated; H6942 and whosoever had dedicated H6942 any thing, it was under the hand H3027 of Shelomith, H8019 and of his brethren. H251
29 Of the Izharites, H3325 Chenaniah H3663 and his sons H1121 were for the outward H2435 business H4399 over Israel, H3478 for officers H7860 and judges. H8199
30 And of the Hebronites, H2276 Hashabiah H2811 and his brethren, H251 men H1121 of valour, H2428 a thousand H505 and seven H7651 hundred, H3967 were officers H6486 among them of Israel H3478 on this side H5676 Jordan H3383 westward H4628 in all the business H4399 of the LORD, H3068 and in the service H5656 of the king. H4428
31 Among the Hebronites H2276 was Jerijah H3404 the chief, H7218 even among the Hebronites, H2276 according to the generations H8435 of his fathers. H1 In the fortieth H705 year H8141 of the reign H4438 of David H1732 they were sought H1875 for, and there were found H4672 among them mighty men H1368 of valour H2428 at Jazer H3270 of Gilead. H1568
32 And his brethren, H251 men H1121 of valour, H2428 were two thousand H505 and seven H7651 hundred H3967 chief H7218 fathers, H1 whom king H4428 David H1732 made rulers H6485 over the Reubenites, H7206 the Gadites, H1425 and the half H2677 tribe H7626 of Manasseh, H4520 for every matter H1697 pertaining to God, H430 and affairs H1697 of the king. H4428
1 For the courses of the doorkeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
2 And Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the first-born, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,
3 Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh.
4 And Obed-edom had sons: Shemaiah the first-born, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethanel the fifth,
5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth; for God blessed him.
6 Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled over the house of their father; for they were mighty men of valor.
7 The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were valiant men, Elihu, and Semachiah.
8 All these were of the sons of Obed-edom: they and their sons and their brethren, able men in strength for the service; threescore and two of Obed-edom.
9 And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, valiant men, eighteen.
10 Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief, (for though he was not the first-born, yet his father made him chief),
11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen.
12 Of these were the courses of the doorkeepers, even of the chief men, having offices like their brethren, to minister in the house of Jehovah.
13 And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to their fathers' houses, for every gate.
14 And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a discreet counsellor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.
15 To Obed-edom southward; and to his sons the store-house.
16 To Shuppim and Hosah westward, by the gate of Shallecheth, at the causeway that goeth up, watch against watch.
17 Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and for the store-house two and two.
18 For Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.
19 These were the courses of the doorkeepers; of the sons of the Korahites, and of the sons of Merari.
20 And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.
21 The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the heads of the fathers' `houses' belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli.
22 The sons of Jehieli: Zetham, and Joel his brother, over the treasures of the house of Jehovah.
23 Of the Amramites, of the Izharites, of the Hebronites, of the Uzzielites:
24 and Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler over the treasures.
25 And his brethren: of Eliezer `came' Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomoth his son.
26 This Shelomoth and his brethren were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the heads of the fathers' `houses', the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated.
27 Out of the spoil won in battles did they dedicate to repair the house of Jehovah.
28 And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated, whosoever had dedicated anything, it was under the hand of Shelomoth, and of his brethren.
29 Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.
30 Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valor, a thousand and seven hundred, had the oversight of Israel beyond the Jordan westward, for all the business of Jehovah, and for the service of the king.
31 Of the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even of the Hebronites, according to their generations by fathers' `houses'. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valor at Jazer of Gilead.
32 And his brethren, men of valor, were two thousand and seven hundred, heads of fathers' `houses', whom king David made overseers over the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites, for every matter pertaining to God, and for the affairs of the king.
1 For the courses of the gatekeepers: of the Korhites `is' Meshelemiah son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph;
2 and to Meshelemiah `are' sons, Zechariah the first-born, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,
3 Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh.
4 And to Obed-Edom `are' sons, Shemaiah the first-born, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth,
5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth, for God hath blessed him.
6 And to Shemaiah his son have sons been born, who are ruling throughout the house of their father, for they `are' mighty of valour.
7 Sons of Shemaiah `are' Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad; his brethren `are' sons of valour, Elihu and Semachiah,
8 all these `are' of the sons of Obed-Edom; they, and their sons, and their brethren, men of valour with might for service, `are' sixty and two of Obed-Edom.
9 And to Meshelemiah `are' sons and brethren, sons of valour, eighteen;
10 and to Hosah, of the sons of Merari, `are' sons: Shimri the head (though he was not first-born, yet his father setteth him for head),
11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth; all the sons and brethren of Hosah `are' thirteen.
12 According to these `are' the courses of the gatekeepers; to the heads of the mighty ones `are' charges over-against their brethren, to minister in the house of Jehovah,
13 and they cause to fall lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for gate and gate.
14 And the lot falleth eastward to Shelemiah; and `for' Zechariah his son -- a counsellor with understanding -- they cause to fall lots, and his lot goeth out northward:
15 to Obed-Edom southward, and to his sons, the house of the gatherings;
16 to Shuppim and to Hosah to the west, with the gate Shallecheth, in the highway, the ascent, charge over-against charge;
17 to the east the Levites `are' six; to the north daily four, to the south daily four, and to the gatherings two by two,
18 at Parbar, to the west, `are' four at the highway, two at Parbar.
19 These are the courses of the gatekeepers, of the sons of the Korhite, and of the sons of Merari.
20 And of the Levites, Ahijah `is' over the treasures of the house of God, even for the treasures of the holy things.
21 Sons of Laadan: sons of the Gershonite, of Laadan, heads of the fathers of Laadan the Gershonite: Jehieli.
22 Sons of Jehieli: Zetham, and Joel his brother, over the treasures of the house of Jehovah,
23 for the Amramite, for the Izharite, for the Hebronite, for the Uzzielite.
24 And Shebuel son of Gershom, son of Moses, `is' president over the treasures.
25 And his brethren, of Eliezer, `are' Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son.
26 This Shelomith and his brethren `are' over all the treasures of the holy things, that David the king, and heads of the fathers, even heads of thousands, and of hundreds, and heads of the host, sanctified;
27 from the battles, even from the spoil they sanctified to strengthen the house of Jehovah;
28 and all that Samuel the seer, and Saul son of Kish, and Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah sanctified, every one sanctifying `any thing -- it is' by the side of Shelomith and his brethren.
29 Of the Izharite, Chenaniah and his sons `are' for the outward work over Israel, for officers and for judges.
30 Of the Hebronite, Hashabiah and his brethren, sons of valour, a thousand and seven hundred, `are' over the inspection of Israel, beyond the Jordan westward, for all the work of Jehovah, and for the service of the king.
31 Of the Hebronite, Jerijah `is' the head, of the Hebronite, according to his generations, for the fathers -- in the fortieth year of the reign of David they have been sought out, and there are found among them mighty ones of valour, in Jazer of Gilead --
32 and his brethren, sons of valour, two thousand and seven hundred, `are' heads of the fathers, and king David appointeth them over the Reubenite, and the Gadite, and the half of the tribe of Manasseh, for every matter of God and matter of the king.
1 The divisions of the doorkeepers. Of the Korahites: Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
2 And Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,
3 Elam the fifth, Johanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh.
4 -- And the sons of Obed-Edom: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth,
5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth: for God had blessed him.
6 And to Shemaiah his son were sons born, who were rulers in their father's house; for they were mighty men of valour.
7 The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, [and] Elzabad, whose brethren were valiant men, Elihu and Semachiah.
8 All these were of the sons of Obed-Edom: they and their sons and their brethren, able men in strength for the service, were sixty-two of Obed-Edom.
9 -- And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, men of valour, eighteen.
10 -- And Hosah, of the sons of Merari, had sons: Shimri the head, for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the head;
11 Hilkijah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen.
12 Among these were the divisions of the doorkeepers, among the head-men, as to the charges together with their brethren, for performing the service in the house of Jehovah.
13 And they cast lots, the small as well as the great, according to their fathers' houses, for every gate.
14 And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah; and they cast lots for Zechariah his son, a wise counsellor, and his lot came out northward;
15 to Obed-Edom southward; and to his sons the storehouse.
16 To Shuppim and Hosah westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the ascent, watch against watch.
17 Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and in the storehouse two [and] two.
18 At the portico westward, four at the causeway, two at the portico.
19 These are the divisions of the doorkeepers among the sons of the Korahites and among the sons of Merari.
20 And the Levites: Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.
21 The sons of Laadan, the sons of the Gershonites of Laadan, chief fathers of Laadan the Gershonite: Jehieli;
22 the sons of Jehieli: Zetham, and Joel his brother, over the treasures of the house of Jehovah.
23 As to the Amramites, the Jizharites, the Hebronites, the Uzzielites....
24 And Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was overseer of the treasures.
25 And his brethren, of Eliezer: Rehabiah his son, and Isaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son.
26 This Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which king David, and the chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated
27 (from the wars and out of the spoils had they dedicated [them], to maintain the house of Jehovah),
28 and all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah had dedicated: all that was dedicated was under the hand of Shelomith and of his brethren.
29 Of the Jizharites, Chenaniah and his sons were over Israel, for the outward business for officers and judges.
30 Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valour, a thousand and seven hundred, for the administration of Israel on this side Jordan westward, for all the business of Jehovah, and for the service of the king.
31 Of the Hebronites was Jerijah the head; (as to the Hebronites, according to their families according to the fathers: in the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valour at Jaazer in Gilead;)
32 and his brethren, men of valour, two thousand seven hundred chief fathers, whom king David made rulers over the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half tribe of the Manassites, for every matter pertaining to God, and the affairs of the king.
1 For the divisions of the doorkeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
2 Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,
3 Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh.
4 Obed-edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethanel the fifth,
5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth; for God blessed him.
6 Also to Shemaiah his son were sons born, who ruled over the house of their father; for they were mighty men of valor.
7 The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brothers were valiant men, Elihu, and Semachiah.
8 All these were of the sons of Obed-edom: they and their sons and their brothers, able men in strength for the service; sixty-two of Obed-edom.
9 Meshelemiah had sons and brothers, valiant men, eighteen.
10 Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him chief),
11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brothers of Hosah were thirteen.
12 Of these were the divisions of the doorkeepers, even of the chief men, having offices like their brothers, to minister in the house of Yahweh.
13 They cast lots, the small as well as the great, according to their fathers' houses, for every gate.
14 The lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counselor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.
15 To Obed-edom southward; and to his sons the store-house.
16 To Shuppim and Hosah westward, by the gate of Shallecheth, at the causeway that goes up, watch against watch.
17 Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and for the store-house two and two.
18 For Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.
19 These were the divisions of the doorkeepers; of the sons of the Korahites, and of the sons of Merari.
20 Of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.
21 The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the heads of the fathers' [houses] belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli.
22 The sons of Jehieli: Zetham, and Joel his brother, over the treasures of the house of Yahweh.
23 Of the Amramites, of the Izharites, of the Hebronites, of the Uzzielites:
24 and Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler over the treasures.
25 His brothers: of Eliezer [came] Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomoth his son.
26 This Shelomoth and his brothers were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the heads of the fathers' [houses], the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated.
27 Out of the spoil won in battles did they dedicate to repair the house of Yahweh.
28 All that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah, had dedicated, whoever had dedicated anything, it was under the hand of Shelomoth, and of his brothers.
29 Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.
30 Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brothers, men of valor, one thousand seven hundred, had the oversight of Israel beyond the Jordan westward, for all the business of Yahweh, and for the service of the king.
31 Of the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even of the Hebronites, according to their generations by fathers' [houses]. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valor at Jazer of Gilead.
32 His brothers, men of valor, were two thousand seven hundred, heads of fathers' [houses], whom king David made overseers over the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites, for every matter pertaining to God, and for the affairs of the king.
1 For the divisions of the door-keepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah, the son of Kore, of the sons of Ebiasaph.
2 And Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the oldest, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,
3 Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh.
4 And Obed-edom had sons: Shemaiah the oldest, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethanel the fifth,
5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth; for the blessing of God was on him.
6 And Shemaiah his son had sons, rulers over the family of their father, for they were able men.
7 The sons of Shemaiah: Othni and Rephael and Obed, Elzabad, whose brothers were great men of war, Elihu and Semachiah.
8 All these were sons of Obed-edom: they and their sons and their brothers, able men and strong for the work; sixty-two sons of Obed-edom.
9 Meshelemiah had sons and brothers, eighteen able men.
10 And Hosah, a son of the children of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief (for though he was not the oldest, his father made him chief);
11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: Hosah had thirteen sons and brothers.
12 Of these were the divisions of the door-keepers, men of authority, having responsible positions like their brothers to be servants in the house of the Lord.
13 And the families were taken by the decision of the Lord for every door; the small family had the same chance as the great.
14 And the care of the door on the east came out for Shelemiah. Then the name of Zechariah his son, a man wise in discussion, came out, and the door on the north was given to him.
15 To Obed-edom, that on the south; and to his sons, the store-house.
16 To Hosah, the door on the west, by the door of Shallecheth, at the footway which goes up, watch by watch.
17 On the east were six Levites a day, and on the north and the south four a day, and for the store-house two and two.
18 For the pillared way, on the west, four at the footway and two at the pillared way itself.
19 These were the divisions of door-keepers, of the sons of the Korahites and of the sons of Merari.
20 And the Levites their brothers were responsible for the stores of the house of God and the holy things.
21 The sons of Ladan: sons of the Gershonites of the family of Ladan, heads of families of Ladan the Gershonite, Jehieli.
22 The sons of Jehieli: Zetham and Joel, his brother, had the care of the stores of the house of the Lord.
23 Of the Amramites, of the Izharites, of the Hebronites, of the Uzzielites:
24 And Shebuel, the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was controller of the stores.
25 And his brothers: of Eliezer, Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomoth his son.
26 Shelomoth and his brothers were responsible for all the store of holy things which David the king and the heads of families, the captains of thousands and of hundreds, and the captains of the army, had given to the Lord.
27 From the goods taken in war, they gave, as a holy offering, materials for the building of the house of the Lord.
28 And everything Samuel the prophet and Saul, the son of Kish, and Abner, the son of Ner, and Joab, the son of Zeruiah, had made holy; whatever anyone had given, it was under the care of Shelomoth and his brothers.
29 Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons had to do all the public business of Israel, in relation to judges and men in authority.
30 Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brothers, seventeen hundred able men, were overseers of Israel on the other side of the Jordan, to the west, being responsible for all the work of the Lord's house and for the work done by the king's servants.
31 Of the Hebronites, Jerijah was the chief of all the Hebronites, in their generations by families. In the fortieth year of the rule of David a search was made, and able men were seen among them at Jazer of Gilead.
32 And his brothers were two thousand, seven hundred able men, heads of families, whom King David made overseers over the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, in everything to do with God, and for the king's business.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Keil & Delitzsch Commentary » Commentary on 1 Chronicles 26
Commentary on 1 Chronicles 26 Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
The classes of the doorkeepers, the stewards of the treasures of the sanctuary, and the officers for the external business . - Vv. 1-19. The classes of the doorkeepers . 1 Chronicles 26:1. The superscription runs shortly thus: “As to ( ל ) the divisions of the doorkeepers.” The enumeration beings with לקרחים : to the Korahites (belongs) Meshelemiah (in 1 Chronicles 26:14, Shelemiah). Instead of אסף מן־בּני we should read, according to 1 Chronicles 9:19, אביסף מן־בּני , for the Korahites are descended from Kohath (Exodus 6:21; Exodus 18:16), but Asaph is a descendant of Gershon (1 Chronicles 6:39.). - In 1 Chronicles 26:2, 1 Chronicles 26:3, seven sons of Meshelemiah are enumerated; the first-born Zechariah is mentioned also in 1 Chronicles 9:21, and was entrusted, according to 1 Chronicles 26:14, with the guarding of the north side.
Obed-edom's family. Obed-edom has been already mentioned in 1 Chronicles 16:38 and 1 Chronicles 15:24 as doorkeeper; see the commentary on the passage. From our passage we learn that Obed-edom belonged to the Kohathite family of the Korahites. According to 1 Chronicles 26:19, the doorkeepers were Korahites and Merarites. The Merarites, however, are only treated of from 1 Chronicles 26:10 and onwards. אדם וּלעבד (1 Chronicles 26:4) corresponds to ולמשׁלמיהוּ (1 Chronicles 26:2), and is consequently thereby brought under לקּרהים (1 Chronicles 26:1). Here, 1 Chronicles 26:4, 1 Chronicles 26:5, eight sons with whom God had blessed him (cf. 1 Chronicles 13:14), and in 1 Chronicles 26:6 and 1 Chronicles 26:7 his grandchildren, are enumerated. The verb נולד is used in the singular, with a subject following in the plural, as frequently (cf. Ew. §316, a ). The grandchildren of Obed-edom by his first-born son Shemaiah are characterized as המּמשׁלים , the dominions, i.e., the lords (rulers) of the house of their fathers ( ממשׁל , the abstract dominion, for the concrete משׁל ; cf. Ew. §160, b ), because they were חיל גּבּורי , valiant heroes, and so qualified for the office of doorkeepers. In the enumeration in 1 Chronicles 26:7, the omission of the ו cop. with אחיו אלזבד is strange; probably we must supply ו before both words, and take them thus: And Elzabad and his brethren, valiant men, (viz.) Elihu and Semachiah. For the conjecture that the names of the אחיו are not given (Berth.) is not a very probable one.
The whole number of doorkeepers of Obed-edom's family, his sons and brethren, was sixty-two; able men with strength for the service. The singular חיל אישׁ , after the preceding plural, is most simply explained by taking it to be in apposition to the כּל at the beginning of the verse, by repeating כּל mentally before אישׁ . - In 1 Chronicles 26:9 the number of Meshelemiah's sons and brothers is brought in in a supplementary way.
The Merarites. Hosah's sons and brothers. חוסה has been already mentioned (1 Chronicles 16:38) along with Obed-edom as doorkeeper. Hosah made Shimri head of the Merarites, who served as doorkeepers, because there was no first-born, i.e., because his first-born son had died without leaving any descendant, so that none of the families descended from Hosah had the natural claim to the birthright. All the sons and brothers of Hosah were thirteen. Meshelemiah had eighteen (cf. 1 Chronicles 26:9), and Obed-edom sixty-two (1 Chronicles 26:8); and all taken together they make ninety-three, whom we are (according to 1 Chronicles 26:12.) to regard as the heads of the 4000 doorkeepers. In 1 Chronicles 9:22 the number of the doorkeepers appointed by David is stated to be 212, but that number most probably refers to a different time (see on 1 Chronicles 9:22). Bertheau further remarks: “According to 1 Chronicles 16:38, sixty-eight are reckoned to Obed-edom and Hosah, in our passage seventy-five; and the small difference between the numbers is explained by the fact that in the first passage only the doorkeepers before the ark are referred to.” Against this we have already shown, in our remarks on 1 Chronicles 16:38, that the number there mentioned cannot be held with certainty to refer to the doorkeepers.
The division of the doorkeepers according to their posts of service. 1 Chronicles 26:12. “To these classes of doorkeepers, viz., to the heads of the men, (were committed) the watches, in common with their brethren, to serve in the house of Jahve.” By מחלקות לאלּה it is placed beyond doubt that the above-mentioned names and numbers give us the classes of the doorkeepers. By the apposition הגּברים לראשׁי , the meaning of which is discussed in the commentary on 1 Chronicles 24:4, השׁ מחלקות is so defined as to show that properly the heads of the households are meant, only these having been enumerated in the preceding section, and not the classes.
1 Chronicles 26:13
The distribution of the stations by lot followed (cf. 1 Chronicles 25:8), the small as the great; i.e., the younger as the older cast lots, according to their fathers'-houses, “for door and door,” i.e., for each door of the four sides of the temple, which was built so that its sides corresponded to the points of the compass.
1 Chronicles 26:14
The lot towards the east, i.e., for the guarding of the east side, fell to Shelemiah (cf. 1 Chronicles 26:1, 1 Chronicles 26:2); while that towards the north fell to his first-born Zechariah. Before זכריהוּ , ל is to be repeated. To him the title בּשׂכל יויץ is given, for reasons unknown to us. גו הפּילוּ , (for him) they threw lots.
1 Chronicles 26:15
To Obed-edom (fell the lot) towards the south, and to his sons it fell (to guard) the house Asuppim. As to בּית־האספּים , called for brevity עספּים in 1 Chronicles 26:17, i.e., house of collections or provisions (cf. Nehemiah 12:25), we can say nothing further than that it was a building used for the storing of the temple goods, situated in the neighbourhood of the southern door of the temple in the external court, and that it probably had two entrances, since in 1 Chronicles 26:19 it is stated that two guard-stations were assigned to it.
1 Chronicles 26:16
The word לשׁפּים is unintelligible, and probably has come into the text merely by a repetition of the two last syllables of the preceding word, since the name שׁפּים (1 Chronicles 7:12) has no connection with this passage. To Hosah fell the lot towards the west, by the door Shallecheth on the ascending highway. העולה המסלּה is the way which led from the lower city up to the more lofty temple site. Instead of the door on this highway, in 1 Chronicles 26:18, in the statement as to the distribution of the guard-stations, Parbar is named, and the highway distinguished from it, four doorkeepers being appointed for the מסלּה , and two for פּרבּר . פּרבּר .פּר , probably identical with פּרורים , 2 Kings 23:11, a word of uncertain meaning, was the name of an out-building on the western side, the back of the outer court of the temple by the door Shallecheth, which contained cells for the laying up of temple goods and furniture. שׁלּכת , Böttcher translates, Proben , S. 347, “refuse-door;” see on 2 Kings 23:11. Nothing more definite can be said of it, unless we hold, with Thenius on 2 Kings 23:11, that Ezekiel's temple is in all its details a copy of the Solomonic temple, and use it, in an unjustifiable way, as a source of information as to the prae-exilic temple. משׁמר לעמּת משׁמר (as in Nehemiah 12:24), guard with (over against?) guard, or one guard as the other (cf. on לעמּת , 1 Chronicles 26:12 and 1 Chronicles 25:8), Bertheau connects with Hosah, according to the Masoretic punctuation, and explains it thus: “Because it was Hosah's duty to set guards before the western gate of the temple, and also before the gate Shallecheth, which lay over against it.” Clericus, on the contrary, refers the words to all the guard-stations: cum ad omnes januas essent custodiae, sibi ex adverso respondebant . This reference, according to which the words belong to what follows, and introduce the statement as to the number of guards at the individual posts which follows in 1 Chronicles 26:17., seems to deserve the preference. So much is certain in any case, that there is no ground in the text for distinguishing the gate Shallecheth from the western gate of the temple, for the two gates are not distinguished either in 1 Chronicles 26:16 or in 1 Chronicles 26:18.
1 Chronicles 26:17-18
Settlement of the number of guard-stations at the various sides and places. Towards morning (on the east side) were six of the Levites (six kept guard); towards the north by day (i.e., daily, on each day), four; towards the south daily, four; and at the storehouse two and two, consequently four also; at Parbar towards the west, four on the highway and two at Parbar, i.e., six. In all, therefore, there were twenty-four guard-stations to be occupied daily; but more than twenty-four persons were required, because, even supposing that one man at a time was sufficient for each post, one man could not stand the whole day at it: he must have been relieved from time to time. Probably, however, there were always more than one person on guard at each post. It further suggests itself that the number twenty-four may be in some way connected with the divisions or classes of doorkeepers; but there is only a deceptive appearance of a connection. The division of the priests and musicians each into twenty-four classes respectively is no sufficient analogy in the case, for these classes had to perform the service in succession each for a week at a time, while the twenty-four doorkeepers' stations had to be all occupied simultaneously every day. - In 1 Chronicles 26:2-11, then, twenty-eight heads in all are enumerated by name (Meshelemiah with seven sons, Obed-edom with eight sons and six grandsons, and Hosah with four sons); but the total number in all the three families of doorkeepers is stated at ninety-three, and neither the one nor the other of these numbers bears any relation to twenty-four. Finally, the posts are so distributed that Meshelemiah with his eighteen sons and brothers kept guard on the east and north sides with six posts; Obed-edom with his sixty-two sons and brothers on the south side with four and 2 x 2, that is, eight posts; and Hosah with his thirteen sons and brothers on the western side with four and two, that is, six; so that even here no symmetrical distribution of the service can be discovered.
1 Chronicles 26:19
Subscription, in which it is again stated that the classes of doorkeepers were taken from among the Korahites and Merarites.
The stewards of the treasures of the sanctuary. - 1 Chronicles 26:20 appears to contain the superscription of the succeeding section. For here the treasures of the house of God and the treasures of the consecrated things are grouped together, while in 1 Chronicles 26:22 and 1 Chronicles 26:26 they are separated, and placed under the oversight of two Levite families: the treasures of the house of Jahve under the sons of the Gershonite Laadan (1 Chronicles 26:21, 1 Chronicles 26:22); the treasures of the consecrated things under the charge of the Amramites. But with this the words אחיּה הלויּם cannot be made to harmonize. According to the Masoretic accentuation, הלויּם alone would be the superscription; but הלויּם alone gives no suitable sense, for the Levites have been treated of already from 1 Chron 23 onwards. Moreover, it appears somewhat strange that there is no further characterization of אחיּה , for the name is a very common one, but has not before occurred in our chapter, whence we would expect a statement of his descent and his family, such as we find in the case of the succeeding chief overseers. All these things tend to throw doubt upon the correctness of the Masoretic reading, while the lxx, on the contrary, in καὶ οἱ Δευῖται ἀδελφοὶ αὐτῶν ἐπὶ τῶν θησαυρῶν κ.τ.λ, give a perfectly suitable superscription, which involves the reading אחיהם instead of אחיּה . This reading we, with J. D. Mich. and Berth., hold to be the original. On אהיהם הלויּם , cf. 1 Chronicles 6:29; 2 Chronicles 29:34.
1 Chronicles 26:21-22
1 Chronicles 26:21 and 1 Chronicles 26:22 to together: “The sons of Laadan, (namely) the sons of the Gershonite family which belong to Laadan, (namely) the heads of the fathers'-houses of Laadan of the Gershonite family: Jehieli, (namely) the sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel (see 1 Chronicles 23:7), were over the treasures of the house of Jahve.” The meaning is this: “Over the treasures of the house of Jahve were Zetham and Joel, the heads of the father's-house of Jehieli, which belonged to the Laadan branch of the Gershonites.” Light is thrown upon these words, so obscure through their brevity, by 1 Chronicles 23:7-8, according to which the sons of Jehiel, or the Jehielites, are descended from Laadan, the older branch of the Gershonites. This descent is briefly but fully stated in the three clauses of the 21st verse, each of which contains a more definite characterization of the father's-house Jehieli, whose two heads Zetham and Joel were entrusted with the oversight of the treasures of the house of God.
1 Chronicles 26:23-24
1 Chronicles 26:23 and 1 Chronicles 26:24 also go together: “As to the Amramites, Jisharites, Hebronites, and Uzzielites (the four chief branches of the Kohathite family of Levites, 1 Chronicles 23:15-20), Shebuel the son of Gershon, the son of Moses, was prince over the treasures” (w before Shebuel introduces the apodosis, cf. Ew. §348, a, and = Germ. “so war”).
1 Chronicles 26:25
“And his (Shebuel's) brethren of Eliezer were Rehabiah his (Eliezer's) son, and Jeshaiah his son, ... and Shelomoth his son.” These descendants of Eliezer were called brethren of Shebuel, because they were descended through Eliezer from Moses, as Shebuel was through his father Gershon.
1 Chronicles 26:26-28
This Shelomoth (a descendant of Eliezer, and so to be distinguished both from the Jisharite Shelomith 1 Chronicles 23:18 and 1 Chronicles 24:22, and the Gershonite of the same name 1 Chronicles 23:9), and his brethren were over the treasures of the consecrated things which David the king had consecrated, and the heads of the fathers'-houses, etc. Instead of לשׂרי we must read ושׁרי , according to 1 Chronicles 29:6. The princes over the thousands and hundreds are the war captains, and the הצּבא שׂרי are the commanders-in-chief, e.g., Abner, Joab, 1 Chronicles 27:34, 2 Samuel 8:16; 1 Chronicles 18:15. - The 27th verse is an explanatory parenthesis: “from the wars and from the booty,” i.e., from the booty taken in war had they consecrated. לחזּק , to make strong, i.e., to preserve in strength and good condition the house of Jahve. חזּק elsewhere of the renovation of old buildings, 2 Kings 12:8., Nehemiah 3:2., here in a somewhat general signification. - In 1 Chronicles 26:28 the enumeration of those who had consecrated, thus interrupted, is resumed, but in the form of a new sentence, which concludes with a predicate of its own. In ההקדּישׁ the article represents אשׁר , as in 1 Chronicles 29:17; 2 Chronicles 29:36, and elsewhere; cf. Ew. §331, b . With המּקדּישׁ כּל , all who had consecrated, the enumeration is concluded, and the predicate, “was at the hand of Shelomith and his brethren,” is then brought in. על־יד , laid upon the hand, i.e., entrusted to them for preservation; Germ. unter der Hand (under the hand).
If we glance back at the statements as to the stewards of the treasures (1 Chronicles 26:20-28), we find that the treasures of the house of Jahve were under the oversight of the Jehielites Zetham and Joel, with their brethren, a branch of the Gershonites (v. 22); and the treasures of the consecrated things under the oversight of the Kohathite Shelomith, who was of the family of Moses' second son Eliezer, with his brethren (v. 28). But in what relation does the statement in v. 24, that Shebuel, the descendant of Moses through Gershon, was על־האצרות נגיד , stand to this? Bertheau thinks “that three kinds of treasures are distinguished, the guarding of which was committed to different officials: (1) The sons of Jehieli, Zetham and Joel, had the oversight of the treasures of the house of God, which, as we may conclude from 1 Chronicles 29:8, had been collected by voluntary gifts: (2) Shebuel was prince over the treasures, perhaps over the sums which resulted from regular assessment for the temple (Exodus 30:11-16), from redemption-money, e.g., for the first-born (Numbers 18:16.), or for vows (Lev); consequently over a part of the sums which are designated in 2 Kings 12:5 by the name הקדשים כסף : (3) Shelomith and his brothers had the oversight of all the הקדשים אוצרות , i.e., of the consecrated gifts which are called in 2 Kings 12:19 קדשים , and distinguished from the קדשים כסף in 2 Kings 12:5.” But this view has no support in the text. Both in the superscription (1 Chronicles 26:20) and in the enumeration (1 Chronicles 26:22, 1 Chronicles 26:26) only two kinds of treasures-treasures of the house of God (of Jahve), and treasures of the קדשׁים - are mentioned. Neither by the facts nor by the language used are we justified in supposing that there was a third kind of treasures, viz., the sums resulting from the regular assessment for the holy place. For it is thoroughly arbitrary to confine the treasures of the house of God to the voluntary contributions and the consecrated gifts given from the war-booty; and it is still more arbitrary to limit the treasures over which Shebuel was prince to the sums flowing into the temple treasures from the regular assessment; for the reference to 2 Kings 12:19 and 2 Kings 12:5 is no proof of this, because, though two kinds of קדשׁים are there distinguished, yet both are further defined. The quite general expression האצרות , the treasures, can naturally be referred only to the two different kinds of treasures distinguished in 1 Chronicles 26:22. This reference is also demanded by the words נגיד ... שׁבוּאל (1 Chronicles 26:24). Heads of fathers'-houses, with their brethren ( אהיהם ), are mentioned as guardians of the two kinds of treasures spoken of in 1 Chronicles 26:20; while here, on the contrary, we have Shebuel alone, without assistants. Further, the other guardians are not called נגיד , as Shebuel is. The word נגיד denotes not an overseer or steward, but only princes of kingdoms (kings), princes of tribes (1 Chronicles 12:27; 1 Chronicles 13:1; 1 Chronicles 27:16; 2 Chronicles 32:21), ministers of the palace and the temple, and commanders-in-chief (2 Chronicles 11:11; 2 Chronicles 28:7), and is consequently used in our section neither of Zetham and Joel, nor of Shelomoth. The calling of Shebuel נגיד consequently shows that he was the chief guardian of the sacred treasures, under whose oversight the guardians of the two different kinds of treasures were placed. This is stated in 1 Chronicles 26:23, 1 Chronicles 26:24; and the statement would not have been misunderstood if it had been placed at the beginning or the end of the enumeration; and its position in the middle between the Gershonites and the Kohathites is explained by the fact that this prince was, according to 1 Chronicles 23:16, the head of the four Levite families descended from Kohath.
The officials for the external business . - 1 Chronicles 26:29. “As to the Izharites, Chenaniah (see on 1 Chronicles 15:22) with his sons was for the outward business over Israel for scribes and judges.” According to this, the external business of the Levites consisted of service as scribes and judges, for which David had set apart 6000 Levites (1 Chronicles 23:4). Without sufficient reason, Bertheau would refer the external business to the exaction of the dues for the temple, because in Nehemiah 11:16 ההיצנה המּלאכה for the temple is spoken of. But it does not at all follow that in our verse the external work had any reference to the temple, and that the scribes and judges had only this narrow sphere of action, since here, instead of the house of God, ישׂראל על is mentioned as the object with which the external service was connected.
1 Chronicles 26:30
Of Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, 1700 valiant men, were ישׂ פּקדּת על , for the oversight (inspection) of Israel this side Jordan, for all the business of Jahve and the service of the king. Bertheau takes פּקדּה to mean “due,” “fixed tribute,” a meaning which the word cannot be shown to have. The lxx have translated correctly, ἐπὶ τῆς ἐπισκέψεως τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ , ad inspectionem Israelis , i.e., praefecti erant (J. H. Mich.). For פּקדּת על is in 1 Chronicles 26:32 rendered by על יפקיד . ליּרדּן מעבר is shown by the addition מערבה to refer to the land of Canaan, as in Joshua 5:1; Joshua 22:7, since Israel, both under Joshua and also after the exile, had come from the eastward over Jordan into Canaan. The words מלאכת and עבדת are synonymous, and are consequently both represented in 1 Chronicles 26:32 by דּבר .
1 Chronicles 26:31-32
David set another branch of the Hebronites, under the head Jeriah (cf. 1 Chronicles 23:9), over the East-Jordan tribes. Between the words “Jeriah the head,” 1 Chronicles 26:31, and ואחיו , 1 Chronicles 26:32, a parenthesis is inserted, which gives the reason why David made these Hebronites scribes and judges among the East-Jordan tribes. The parenthesis runs thus: “As to the Hebronites, according to their generations, according to fathers, they were sought out in the fortieth year of David's rule, and valiant heroes were found among them in Jazer of Gilead.” Jazer was a Levite city in the tribal domain of Gad, assigned, according to Joshua 21:39, to the Merarites (see on 1 Chronicles 6:81). The number of these Hebronites was 2700 valiant men (1 Chronicles 26:32). The additional האבות ראשׁי is obscure, for if we take אבות to be, as it often is in the genealogies, a contraction for בּית־עבות rof no , the number given does not suit; for a branch of the Hebronites cannot possibly have numbered 2700 fathers'-houses ( πατριαὶ , groups of related households): they must be only 2700 men ( גּברים ), or heads of families, i.e., households. Not only the large number demands this signification, but also the comparison of this statement with that in 1 Chronicles 26:30. The 1700 חיל בּני of which the Hebronite branch, Hashabiah with his brethren, consisted, were not so many πατριαὶ , but only so many men of this πατριά . In the same way, the Hebronite branch of which Jeriah was head, with his brethren, 2700 חיל בּני , were also not 2700 πατριαὶ , but only so many men, that is, fathers of families. It is thus placed beyond doubt that אבות ראשׁי cannot here denote the heads of fathers'-houses, but only heads of households. And accordingly we must not understand לאבות (1 Chronicles 26:31) of fathers'-houses, as the lxx and all commentators do, but only of heads of households. The use of the verb נדרשׁוּ also favours this view, for this verb is not elsewhere used of the legal census of the people, i.e., the numbering and entering of them in the public lists, according to the great families and fathers'-houses. There may therefore be in נדרשׁוּ a hint that it was not a genealogical census which was undertaken, but only a numbering of the heads of households, in order to ascertain the number of scribes and judges to be appointed. There yet remain in this section three things which are somewhat strange: 1. Only 1700 scribes and judges were set over the cis-Jordanic land, inhabited as it was by ten and a half tribes, while 2700 were set over the trans-Jordanic land with its two and a half tribes. 2. Both numbers taken together amount to only 4400 men, while David appointed 6000 Levites to be scribes and judges. 3. The scribes and judges were taken only from two fathers'-houses of the Kohathites, while most of the other Levitical offices were filled by men of all the families of the tribe of Levi. On all these grounds, it is probable that our catalogue of the Levites appointed to be scribes and judges, i.e., for the external business, is imperfect.