1 Chronicles 9:27

27 They spent the night in their positions around the house of God. That's because they had to guard it. They were in charge of the key that opened the temple each morning.

1 Chronicles 9:27 Meaning and Commentary

1 Chronicles 9:27

And they lodged round about the house of God
In chambers on the outward wall about it, that they might be near to do their office:

because the charge was upon them;
to guard the house:

and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them;
that is, the opening of the doors of the mountain of the house, and the court of women; for as for others, that appertained to the priests, as Dr. Lightfoot ^F21 observes; under the second temple, it is said ^F23, Ben Geber was over the shutting of the gates in the evening, and so of opening in the morning.

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FOOTNOTES:

F21 Temple-Service, c. 7. sect. 1.
F23 Misn. Shekalim, c. 5. sect. 1.

1 Chronicles 9:27 In-Context

25 From time to time, their relatives in their villages had to come to the temple. They had to share their duties for a week at a time.

26 The four main men who guarded the gates were Levites. They were trusted with the duty of taking care of the storerooms and the other rooms in the house of God.

27 They spent the night in their positions around the house of God. That's because they had to guard it. They were in charge of the key that opened the temple each morning.

28 Some Levites were in charge of the articles that were used when they served at the temple. They counted the articles when they were brought in. They also counted them when they were taken out.

29 Other Levites were appointed to take care of all of the other articles that belonged to the temple. They also took care of the flour, wine, olive oil, incense and spices.