1 Chronicles 26

The Levitical Gatekeepers

1 [The following were] the divisions of the gatekeepers: From the Korahites: Meshelemiah son of Kore, one 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, and Eliehoenai the seventh.
4 Obed-edom also had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sachar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth,
5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, and Peullethai the eighth, for God blessed him.
6 Also, to his son Shemaiah were born sons who ruled over their ancestral houses because they were strong, capable men.
7 Shemaiah's sons: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad; his brothers Elihu and Semachiah were also capable men.
8 All of these were among the sons of Obed-edom with their sons and brothers; they were capable men with strength for the work-62 from Obed-edom.
9 Meshelemiah also had sons and brothers who were capable men-18.
10 Hosah, from the Merarites, also had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father had appointed him as the first),
11 Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, and Zechariah the fourth. The sons and brothers of Hosah were 13 in all.
12 These divisions of the gatekeepers, under their leading men, had duties for ministering in the Lord's temple, just as their brothers did.
13 They cast lots according to their ancestral houses, young and old alike, for each gate.
14 The lot for the east [gate] fell to Shelemiah.[a] They also cast lots for his son Zechariah, an insightful counselor, and his lot came out for the north [gate].
15 Obed-edom's was the south [gate], and his sons' [lot] was the storehouses;
16 for Shuppim and Hosah it was the west [gate] and the gate of Shallecheth on the ascending highway. There were guards stationed at every watch.
17 There were six Levites each day[b] on the east, four each day on the north, four each day on the south, and two pair at the storehouses.
18 As for the court on the west, there were four at the highway and two at the court.
19 Those were the divisions of the gatekeepers from the sons of the Korahites and Merarites.

The Levitical Treasurers and Other Officials

20 From the Levites, Ahijah was in charge of the treasuries of God's temple and the treasuries for what had been dedicated.
21 From the sons of Ladan, who were the sons of the Gershonites through Ladan and were the heads of families belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli.
22 The sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel, were in charge of the treasuries of the Lord's temple.
23 From the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites:
24 Shebuel, a descendant of Moses' son Gershom, was the officer in charge of the treasuries.
25 His relative through Eliezer: his son Rehabiah, his son Jeshaiah, his son Joram, his son Zichri, and his son Shelomith.[c]
26 This Shelomith[d] and his brothers were in charge of all the treasuries for what had been dedicated by King David,[e] by the heads of families who were the commanders of the thousands and of the hundreds, and by the army commanders.
27 They dedicated part of the plunder from their battles for the repair of the Lord's temple.
28 All that Samuel the seer, Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah had dedicated, along with everything else that had been dedicated, were in the care of Shelomith[f] and his brothers.
29 From the Izrahites: Chenaniah and his sons had the outside duties as officers and judges over Israel.
30 From the Hebronites: Hashabiah and his relatives, 1,700 capable men, had assigned duties in Israel west of the Jordan for all the work of the Lord and for the service of the king.
31 From the Hebronites: Jerijah was the head of the Hebronites, according to the genealogical records of his ancestors. In the fortieth year of David's reign a search was made, and strong, capable men were found among them at Jazer in Gilead.
32 There were among Jerijah's relatives, 2,700 capable men who were heads of families. King David appointed them over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh as overseers in every matter relating to God and the king.

1 Chronicles 26 Commentary

Chapter 26

The offices of the Levites.

- The porters and treasurers of the temple, had occasion for strength and valour to oppose those who wrongly attempted to enter the sanctuary, and to guard the sacred treasures. Much was expended daily upon the altar; flour, wine, oil, salt, fuel, beside the lamps; quantities of these were kept beforehand, besides the sacred vestments and utensils. These were the treasures of the house of God. These treasures typified the plenty there is in our heavenly Father's house, enough and to spare. From those sacred treasuries, the unsearchable riches of Christ, all our wants are supplied; and receiving from his fulness, we must give him the glory, and endeavour to dispose of our abilities and substance according to his will. We have an account of those employed as officers and judges. The magistracy is an ordinance of God for the good of the church, as truly as the ministry, and must not be neglected. None of the Levites who were employed in the service of the sanctuary, none of the singers or porters, were concerned in this outward business; one duty was enough to engage the whole man. Wisdom, courage, strength of faith, holy affections, and constancy of mind in doing our duty, are requisite or useful for every station.

Footnotes 6

  • [a]. A variant of Meshelemiah
  • [b]. LXX; MT omits each day
  • [c]. One Hb tradition, some LXX mss, Syr, Tg, Vg; alt Hb tradition, some LXX mss read Shelomoth
  • [d]. Many Hb mss; MT, LXX read Shelomoth
  • [e]. 1 Ch 18:7-11
  • [f]. LXX reads Shelomoth

Chapter Summary

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, 1Ch 26:1-19 of others, as over the treasures of the house of the Lord, 1Ch 26:20-28, and of others that were appointed judges in the land, to administer justice to the people, 1Ch 26:29-32.

1 Chronicles 26 Commentaries

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