1 Chronicles 26

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 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 4

  • [a]. Or parbar: see 2Kings 23.11.
  • [b]. Elsewhere 'prince,' as ch. 27.16.
  • [c]. Lit. 'heads of the fathers,' so ch. 27.1.
  • [d]. Lit. 'generations,' as Gen. 2.4.

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

The Darby Translation is in the public domain.