1 Chronicles 26:26 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

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

Cross Reference

2 Samuel 8:11 STRONG

Which also king H4428 David H1732 did dedicate H6942 unto the LORD, H3068 with the silver H3701 and gold H2091 that he had dedicated H6942 of all nations H1471 which he subdued; H3533

Numbers 31:30-52 STRONG

And of the children H1121 of Israel's H3478 half, H4276 thou shalt take H3947 one H259 portion H270 of fifty, H2572 of the persons, H120 of the beeves, H1241 of the asses, H2543 and of the flocks, H6629 of all manner of beasts, H929 and give H5414 them unto the Levites, H3881 which keep H8104 the charge H4931 of the tabernacle H4908 of the LORD. H3068 And Moses H4872 and Eleazar H499 the priest H3548 did H6213 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872 And the booty, H4455 being the rest H3499 of the prey H957 which the men of H5971 war H6635 had caught, H962 was six H8337 hundred H3967 thousand H505 and seventy H7657 thousand H505 and five H2568 thousand H505 sheep, H6629 And threescore and twelve H7657 H8147 thousand H505 beeves, H1241 And threescore H8346 and one H259 thousand H505 asses, H2543 And thirty H7970 and two H8147 thousand H505 persons H5315 H120 in all, H3605 of women H802 that had not known H3045 man H2145 by lying H4904 with him. And the half, H4275 which was the portion H2506 of them that went out H3318 to war, H6635 was in number H4557 three H7969 hundred H3967 thousand H505 and seven H7651 and thirty H7970 thousand H505 and five H2568 hundred H3967 sheep: H6629 And the LORD'S H3068 tribute H4371 of the sheep H6629 was six H8337 hundred H3967 and threescore and fifteen. H7657 H2568 And the beeves H1241 were thirty H7970 and six H8337 thousand; H505 of which the LORD'S H3068 tribute H4371 was threescore and twelve. H7657 H8147 And the asses H2543 were thirty H7970 thousand H505 and five H2568 hundred; H3967 of which the LORD'S H3068 tribute H4371 was threescore H8346 and one. H259 And the persons H120 H5315 were sixteen H8337 H6240 thousand; H505 of which the LORD'S H3068 tribute H4371 was thirty H7970 and two H8147 persons. H5315 And Moses H4872 gave H5414 the tribute, H4371 which was the LORD'S H3068 heave offering, H8641 unto Eleazar H499 the priest, H3548 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872 And of the children H1121 of Israel's H3478 half, H4276 which Moses H4872 divided H2673 from the men H582 that warred, H6633 (Now the half H4275 that pertained unto the congregation H5712 was three H7969 hundred H3967 thousand H505 and thirty H7970 thousand H505 and seven H7651 thousand H505 and five H2568 hundred H3967 sheep, H4480 H6629 And thirty H7970 and six H8337 thousand H505 beeves, H1241 And thirty H7970 thousand H505 asses H2543 and five H2568 hundred, H3967 And sixteen H8337 H6240 thousand H505 persons;) H5315 H120 Even of the children H1121 of Israel's H3478 half, H4276 Moses H4872 took H3947 one H259 portion H270 of fifty, H2572 both of man H120 and of beast, H929 and gave H5414 them unto the Levites, H3881 which kept H8104 the charge H4931 of the tabernacle H4908 of the LORD; H3068 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872 And the officers H6485 which were over thousands H505 of the host, H6635 the captains H8269 of thousands, H505 and captains H8269 of hundreds, H3967 came near H7126 unto Moses: H4872 And they said H559 unto Moses, H4872 Thy servants H5650 have taken H5375 the sum H7218 of the men H582 of war H4421 which are under our charge, H3027 and there lacketh H6485 not one man H376 of us. We have therefore brought H7126 an oblation H7133 for the LORD, H3068 what every man H376 hath gotten, H4672 of jewels H3627 of gold, H2091 chains, H685 and bracelets, H6781 rings, H2885 earrings, H5694 and tablets, H3558 to make an atonement H3722 for our souls H5315 before H6440 the LORD. H3068 And Moses H4872 and Eleazar H499 the priest H3548 took H3947 the gold H2091 of them, even all wrought H4639 jewels. H3627 And all the gold H2091 of the offering H8641 that they offered up H7311 to the LORD, H3068 of the captains H8269 of thousands, H505 and of the captains H8269 of hundreds, H3967 was sixteen H8337 H6240 thousand H505 seven H7651 hundred H3967 and fifty H2572 shekels. H8255

1 Chronicles 18:11 STRONG

Them also king H4428 David H1732 dedicated H6942 unto the LORD, H3068 with the silver H3701 and the gold H2091 that he brought H5375 from all these nations; H1471 from Edom, H123 and from Moab, H4124 and from the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 and from the Philistines, H6430 and from Amalek. H6002

1 Chronicles 22:14 STRONG

Now, behold, in my trouble H6040 I have prepared H3559 for the house H1004 of the LORD H3068 an hundred H3967 thousand H505 talents H3603 of gold, H2091 and a thousand H505 thousand H505 talents H3603 of silver; H3701 and of brass H5178 and iron H1270 without weight; H4948 for it is in abundance: H7230 timber H6086 also and stone H68 have I prepared; H3559 and thou mayest add H3254 thereto.

1 Chronicles 29:2-9 STRONG

Now I have prepared H3559 with all my might H3581 for the house H1004 of my God H430 the gold H2091 for things to be made of gold, H2091 and the silver H3701 for things of silver, H3701 and the brass H5178 for things of brass, H5178 the iron H1270 for things of iron, H1270 and wood H6086 for things of wood; H6086 onyx H7718 stones, H68 and stones to be set, H4394 glistering H6320 stones, H68 and of divers colours, H7553 and all manner of precious H3368 stones, H68 and marble H7893 stones H68 in abundance. H7230 Moreover, because I have set my affection H7521 to the house H1004 of my God, H430 I have H3426 of mine own proper good, H5459 of gold H2091 and silver, H3701 which I have given H5414 to the house H1004 of my God, H430 over and above H4605 all that I have prepared H3559 for the holy H6944 house, H1004 Even three H7969 thousand H505 talents H3603 of gold, H2091 of the gold H2091 of Ophir, H211 and seven H7651 thousand H505 talents H3603 of refined H2212 silver, H3701 to overlay H2902 the walls H7023 of the houses H1004 withal: The gold H2091 for things of gold, H2091 and the silver H3701 for things of silver, H3701 and for all manner of work H4399 to be made by the hands H3027 of artificers. H2796 And who then is willing H5068 to consecrate H4390 his service H3027 this day H3117 unto the LORD? H3068 Then the chief H8269 of the fathers H1 and princes H8269 of the tribes H7626 of Israel, H3478 and the captains H8269 of thousands H505 and of hundreds, H3967 with the rulers H8269 of the king's H4428 work, H4399 offered willingly, H5068 And gave H5414 for the service H5656 of the house H1004 of God H430 of gold H2091 five H2568 thousand H505 talents H3603 and ten thousand H7239 drams, H150 and of silver H3701 ten H6235 thousand H505 talents, H3603 and of brass H5178 eighteen H8083 H7239 thousand H505 talents, H3603 and one hundred H3967 thousand H505 talents H3603 of iron. H1270 And they with whom precious stones H68 were found H4672 gave H5414 them to the treasure H214 of the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 by the hand H3027 of Jehiel H3171 the Gershonite. H1649 Then the people H5971 rejoiced, H8055 for that they offered willingly, H5068 because with perfect H8003 heart H3820 they offered willingly H5068 to the LORD: H3068 and David H1732 the king H4428 also rejoiced H8055 with great H1419 joy. H8057

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » John Gill's Exposition of the Bible » Commentary on 1 Chronicles 26

Commentary on 1 Chronicles 26 John Gill's Exposition of the Bible


Introduction

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, 1 Chronicles 26:1 of others, as over the treasures of the house of the Lord, 1 Chronicles 26:20, and of others that were appointed judges in the land, to administer justice to the people, 1 Chronicles 26:29.


Verse 1

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, 1 Chronicles 6:23 a Korhite.


Verse 2

And the sons of Meshelemiah were, Zechariah the firstborn,.... And six more, who are mentioned in their order:

Jediael, Zebadiah, and Jathniel, Elam, Jehohanan, and Elioenai.


Verse 4-5

Moreover, the sons of Obededom,.... The same at whose house the ark was, before it was brought by David to Zion; his sons were porters also, as himself, 1 Chronicles 15:24, mention is made of eight sons of his, according to their birth:

Shemaiah, Jehozabad, Joah, Sacar, Nethaneel, Ammiel, Issachar, Peulthai; for God blessed him; as with wealth and riches, so with a numerous offspring, and that because of his entertainment of the ark at his house; the great increase of his family is aggravated by the JewsF17Hieron. Trad. Heb. in 2. Reg. fol. 77. M. beyond all credit, that all in his family brought eight at a birth; the Targum here makes them eighty two in all.


Verse 6

Also unto Shemaiah his son,.... His firstborn, 1 Chronicles 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.


Verse 7

The sons of Shemaiah,.... The same before mentioned, the firstborn of Obededom:

Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, and Elzabad, whose brethren were strong men; Elihu and Semachiah; which may rather denote their valour and courage, as before, though strength of body was needful, particularly to open and shut the doors of the temple, which, JosephusF18Contr. Apion. l. 2. sect. 9. says, required the assistance of twenty men.


Verse 8

All these of the sons of Obededom,.... And grandsons:

they and their sons and their brethren, able men for strength for the service; men of fortitude of mind and strength of body, as before observed: were

sixty two of Obededom: that sprung from him, which the JewsF19T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 63. 2. & 64. 1. account for in an extravagant manner, as the effect of miraculous births.


Verse 9

And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, strong men, eighteen,.... He had seven sons, 1 Chronicles 26:1 and therefore must have eleven brethren or kinsmen.


Verse 10

Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons,.... Who was a fellow porter of Obededom's at the ark, 1 Chronicles 16:38.

Simri the chief (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the chief); the firstborn being unfit for service, either through want of an intellectual capacity, or of strength of body, or through some defect or another; according to the Syriac version, he was dead; so some understand the words, he, the father, had no firstborn remaining or living.


Verse 11

Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth; all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen. Four sons, and nine brethren or kinsmen.


Verse 12

Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men,.... These before named were the principal men of the porters, among which was a division or distribution of them into classes or courses, in which they served weekly in turn:

having wards one against another, to minister in the house of the Lord; meaning either to watch in, as on the north against the south, and the east against the west, and "vice versa". The Jews sayF20Misn. Middot, c. 1. sect. 1. , the priests kept ward in three places in the house of the sanctuary; in the house of Abtines, in the house of Nitzotz, and in the house of Moked; and the Levites in twenty one places, five at the five gates of the mountain of the house, four at the four corners of it within, five at the five gates of the court, four at the four corners of it without, one at the chamber of the offering, one at the chamber of the vail, and another behind the house of atonement, the holy of holies; but rather the sense is, that they had wards or courses answerable to those of the priests, and the other Levites, the singers, and were distributed into twenty four classes or courses as they, which are thus reckoned by Kimchi; at the east six, at the north four, at the south four, at Asuppim two and two, which were four, at the west four, and at Parbar two; lo, twenty four; see 1 Chronicles 26:17.


Verse 13

And they cast lots,.... To determine at which gate each should stand, who at this gate, and who at the other, &c.

as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate; meaning, not little ones and grown persons in a family, but the smaller and poorer families, and the larger and richer ones, had their places assigned them at the several gates, as the lot directed; they did not go according to the dignity and precedence of their families, but according to lot.


Verse 14

And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah,.... The same with Meshelemiah, 1 Chronicles 26:1 he by lot was placed at the eastern gate, called afterwards the gate Shushan, the city Shushan being portrayed upon itF21Ib. (Misn. Middot, c. 1.), sect. 3. :

then for Zechariah his son (a wise counsellor); and who was his firstborn, 1 Chronicles 26:2 a man of great parts and learning: for they were not mean persons that were employed in this office, nor was the office a mean one, like that of our porters; but men of considerable rank and figure, and of knowledge and learning, were in it; some of them were judges, 1 Chronicles 26:29 and their places were places of great trust, they had much treasure committed to them, as appears by 1 Chronicles 26:20,

they cast lots, and his lot came out northward; where was a gate in later times, called Teri or Tedi, which differed from other gates in this, that it had no threshold, only one stone was laid upon another, and was not commonly usedF23Misn. Middot, ib. (c. 1. sect. 3.) & c. 2. sect. 3. .


Verse 15

To Obededom southward,.... Where were two gates in later times, called the gates of HuldahF24Ib. (Misn. Middot), c. 1. sect. 3. :

and to his sons, the house of Asuppim; the word has the signification of gathering, hence some take it to be a council house, where the sanhedrim or elders gathered together, and sat; and others, rather a treasure house, where things of value were collected and laid up, since Obededom had the charge of gold and silver, and the vessels of the house, 2 Chronicles 25:24, but Dr. LightfootF25Prospect of the Temple, ch. 5. sect. 3. is of opinion, that"Asuppim were two gates in the western wall, which stood most south, or nearest to Jerusalem; "and the house of Asuppim" was a large piece of building that ran between them, which was a treasury, or various rooms for treasuring or laying up something for the use of the temple;'though L'Empereur thinksF26Not. in Middot, c. 1. sect. 1. No. 5. it was the chamber Korban, which is not so probable.


Verse 16

To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward,.... Of Shuppim no mention is before made; of Hosah, see 1 Chronicles 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, 1 Chronicles 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, 1 Kings 20:5 and which agrees with the description JosephusF1Antiqu. l. 15. c. 11. sect. 5. 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 Isaiah 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. LightfootF2Ut supra, (Prospect of the Temple), c. 5. sect. 1. :

ward against ward; for as the gates answered one another, so the wards or watches at them.


Verse 17

Eastward were six Levites,.... The eastern gate, being the way of entrance into the temple, required more porters:

northward four a day; in the daytime, or every day, where was the gate Teri or Tedi, 1 Chronicles 26:14, southward four a day: at the two gates of Huldah, 1 Chronicles 26:15 and toward Asuppim two and two; which were two gates, two at each gate, 1 Chronicles 26:15.


Verse 18

At Parbar westward,.... A gate at the western wall; the Jewish writers generally interpret it an outward place, but Dr. LightfootF3Ib. (Prospect of the Temple, ch. 5.) sect. 2. thinks it is the same with Parvar, which signifies suburbs, 2 Kings 23:11, and which agrees with the description JosephusF4Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 15. c. 11. sect. 5.) gives of one of the western gates, that it led to the suburbs:

four at the causeway; by which was the gate Shallecheth, 1 Chronicles 26:16.

and two at Parbar; the gate before mentioned.


Verse 19

These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari. For among those Levites which descended from Kore, a grandson of Kohath, and which sprung from Merar, a brother of Kohath, the porters only wore; see 1 Chronicles 26:1.


Verse 20

And of the Levites,.... The rest of the Levites, as the Gershonites, Amramites, Izharites, and Hebronites, 1 Chronicles 26:21.

Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God; as the tithes, vessels, vestments, wine, and oil, and other things; such an one was Phinehas at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem by Vespasian, who being taken, showed and delivered the priests' garments, and many other precious things and sacred ornaments under his careF5Joseph. de Bell. Jud. l. 6. c. 8. sect. 3. : and over the treasures of the dedicated things; voluntarily devoted for sacrifices and repairs of the temple; and this Ahijah had the care of each of those at first, which afterwards were divided, and put under the care of different persons.


Verse 21

As concerning the sons of Laadan,.... The same with Libni, see 1 Chronicles 23:7.

the sons of the Gershonite Laadan; so called, to distinguish him from another Laadan, as Kimchi thinks:

chief fathers, even of Laadan the Gershonite; that sprung from him: were Jehieli; and his sons next mentioned.


Verse 22

The sons of Jehieli: Zetham, and Joel his brother,.... Both sons of Jehieli: which were

over the treasures of the house of the Lord; that part of the trust which before was committed to Ahijah, which concerned provisions for sacred uses, before observed.


Verse 23

Of the Amramites and the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites. Who sprang from the four sons of Kohath, Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel, Exodus 6:18 with respect to the concerns they severally had in the trust of the treasures, the account follows, all but the Uzzielites, who are not after mentioned.


Verse 24

And Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler of the treasures. This is the first time that any of the posterity of Moses are taken notice of, as being in any office of honour, authority, and trust; by the Targum he is said to be Jonathan, spoken of in Judges 18:30 but very wrongly; this man, according to Jarchi and Kimchi, had all the treasures and treasurers under him.


Verse 25

And his brethren by Eliezer,.... His kinsmen that descended from Eliezer, the brother of Gershom, the ancestor of Shebuel, whose descent from him in succession were

Rehabiah, Jeshaiah, Joram, Zichri, and Shelomith.


Verse 26

Which Shelomith,.... The last mentioned in the lineage from Eliezer, the younger son of Moses:

and his brethren; or kinsmen:

were over all the treasures of the dedicated things; which had been devoted for the service of God, and of the temple particularly:

which David the king had dedicated; out of the spoils he took in war, see 2 Samuel 8:11,

the chief fathers; princes of tribes, and heads of families:

the captains over thousands and hundreds; in the several tribes of the kingdom, and were concerned in the administration of justice to the people:

and the captains of the host, had dedicated; of the army, out of the spoils in victory that came to their share, see Numbers 31:48 as follows.


Verse 27

Out of the spoils won in battle did they dedicate to maintain the house of the Lord. When it should be built; for as yet it was not; both to repair it when necessary, and to provide sacrifices for it; or to confirm, strengthen, and animate the heart of the king to build it, so some, and put it into the power of his hands to do it; so the Romans dedicated the best of their spoil, and laid it up in the temple of Jupiter Feretrius, after the example of Romulus, their first kingF6Vid. Valtrinum de re militar. Roman. l. 7. c. 21. ; yea, sometimes out of the spoil they erected temples, as Tarquinius SuperbusF7Flori Hist. l. 1. c. 7. did; or repaired and ornamented them, as the temple at Delphos, and othersF8Vid. Strabo, Geograph. l. 6. p. 190. Liv. Hist. l. 10. c. 46. .


Verse 28

And all that Samuel the seer,.... Or prophet, won in battle with the Philistines:

and Saul the son of Kish; in his wars with the Moabites, Edomites, Amalekites, and Philistines:

and Abner the son of Ner: the general of his army, who as such had his share in the spoils:

and Joab the son of Zeruiah; the general of David's army, who fought with the Ammonites, Syrians, and others; all of whom

had dedicated more or less towards the building of the temple, and the support of it, it being known by them all that God would have a place to put his name in:

and whosoever had dedicated anything, it was under the hand of Shelomith, and of his brethren: this man had a great trust committed to him, with his brethren; some, before mentioned, are said to be over the treasures, some over one part, and some over another; but this man was over all of them, he had the superintendency of the whole.


Verse 29

Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were

for the outward business over Israel,.... Which was done out of the temple, and out of Jerusalem, in the several parts of the country:

for officers and judges; to administer justice and judgment, and to take care that the laws of God were observed, both with respect to things civil and religious, and delinquents punished; which is a better sense than what Jarchi and Kimchi put upon this:

outward business, as if it lay in taking care to have timber cut down in the forest, and stones dug and hewed in the mountains, for the building of the temple; and that the lands were ploughed, and the vineyards, gardens, and orchards, dressed, which were devoted to sacred uses.


Verse 30

And of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valour, a thousand and seven hundred,.... And supposing the Izharites in the preceding verse to be 1600, these, with those on the other side Jordan, 2700, 1 Chronicles 26:32 make up just the 6000 officers and judges, 1 Chronicles 23:4 these

were officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward: in those parts of the land which were on this side Jordan, to the west of it, yet nearer to it than those meant by Israel in the preceding verse; it may respect those that dwelt more remote from Jordan, though on this side also, towards the Mediterranean sea:

in all business of the Lord, and in the service of the king; in things divine and civil, what appertained to the worship of God, and the support of civil government, and to take care that all the laws were observed, moral, ceremonial, and judicial, and that both the Lord was feared, and the king honoured, and both had what was due unto them.


Verse 31

Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even among the Hebronites,.... The posterity of Hebron, the son of Kohath:

according to the generations of his fathers; a principal man in the families that descended from his ancestors:

in the fortieth year of the reign of David; which was the last year of his reign, in which year all the above things were done; the distribution of the priests into their classes and courses, and so of the Levites, singers, and porters; as well as the appointment of those several judges and officers employed in divers parts of the land: and particularly in this year those

Hebronites were sought for, and there were found among them mighty men of valour, at Jazer of Gilead; a city on the other side Jordan, which belonged to the tribe of Gad, see Numbers 21:32.


Verse 32

And his brethren, men of valour, were two thousand and seven hundred chief fathers,.... That is, the brethren or kinsmen of Jerijah the Hebronite were so many principal men in their families, and men of fortitude and courage:

whom King David made rulers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh; all which lay on the other side Jordan; and being so remote from the seat of civil government, and of the worship of God, they were in greater danger of revolting, both from their obedience to their king, and duty to their God; land therefore so large a number was appointed over them, to instruct them and keep them in their duty to both, as follows:

for every matter pertaining to God, and affairs of the king; to see that they kept close to the pure worship and service of God; and were faithful and loyal subjects of the king.