1 Chronicles 9:31

And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(31) The narrative returns to the functions of the Levites. “And Mattithiah, one of the Levites (he was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite), was (or is) in fixed charge over the making of the pancakes.”

Mattithiah . . . firstborn of Shallum the Korahite.—The son of Shallum, or Meshelemiah, is called Zechariah (1Chronicles 26:2). If Zechariah was the chief branch of Shallum in the days of David, Mattithiah may have been so in the time of the chronicler or of his authority here.

Had the set office.—In other words, the duty of baking the sacred cakes for the meat offerings was hereditary in this branch of the family of Shallum.

Things that were made in the pans—i.e., “pancakes.” The Hebrew term (hăbittim) occurs here only, but its meaning is fixed by the related word “baking-pan” (Ezekiel 4:3; mahăbath).

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

9:1-44 Genealogies. - This chapter expresses that one end of recording all these genealogies was, to direct the Jews, when they returned out of captivity, with whom to unite, and where to reside. Here is an account of the good state into which the affairs of religion were put, on the return from Babylon. Every one knew his charge. Work is likely to be done well when every one knows the duty of his place, and makes a business of it. God is the God of order. Thus was the temple a figure of the heavenly one, where they rest not day nor night from praising God, Re 4:8. Blessed be His name, believers there shall, not in turn, but all together, without interruption, praise him night and day: may the Lord make each of us fit for the inheritance of the saints in light.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Mattithiah ... the first-born of Shallum the Korahite - This Shallum would seem to be the person mentioned in 1 Chronicles 9:19, whose actual first-born was Zechariah 1 Chronicles Zechariah 26:2. Mattithiah may have been his eldest lineal descendant at the time here spoken of.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

18. the king's gate—The king had a gate from his palace into the temple (2Ki 16:18), which doubtless was kept constantly closed except for the monarch's use; and although there was no king in Israel on the return from the captivity, yet the old ceremonial was kept up, probably in the hope that the scepter would, ere long, be restored to the house of David. It is an honor by which Eastern kings are distinguished, to have a gate exclusively devoted to their own special use, and which is kept constantly closed, except when he goes out or returns (Eze 44:2). There being no king then in Israel, this gate would be always shut.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

i.e. Was to take care that fine flour might be provided and kept safely and well, that when occasion required they might make cakes in pans to be offered to the Lord; of which See Poole "Leviticus 2:5".

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite,.... Of whom see 1 Chronicles 9:19,

had the set office over the things that were made in the pans; the meat offerings that were made in pans; and so had the care of the fine flour, oil, and frankincense used in them, which he delivered to the priests when necessary, see Leviticus 2:5, the Septuagint version is,"over the works of the sacrifice of the pan of the high priest;''as if it respected peculiarly his meat offering, Leviticus 6:20, we read in the Misnah (y) of the offerings of the high priest, as expressed by this word, which it signifies, and not pans, but what was fried in them (z); and Ben Melech on the place says, this man was an high priest who offered every day the tenth part of an ephah in a pan, half of it in the morning, and half of it in the evening, according to Leviticus 6:20, but that cannot be, for certain it is he was a Levite, as the text expresses it.

(y) Menachot, c. 11. sect. 3. & Tamid, c. 1. sect. 3.((z) Vid. Sheringham. in Misn. Yoma, c. 2. sect. 3. p. 16.

Geneva Study Bible

And Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the set office over the things that were made in the pans.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

31, 32. Other Levitical Duties

31. who was the firstborn of Shallum] In 1 Chronicles 26:2 the firstborn of Meshelemiah (= Shallum) is called Zechariah. Probably Mattithiah and Zechariah represent each a household belonging to an elder branch of the great family of Shallum.

made in the pans] R.V. baked in pans. Cp. 1 Chronicles 23:29.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 31. - Mattithiah. The ubiquitous Shallum, that designates the family, not the individual, is probably here quoted, Mattithiah being at the time in question the representative son. The things that were made in the pans. The word here employed (הַחֲבִתִּים) is not found elsewhere, but other derivatives of the same root are often found (Leviticus 2:5; Leviticus 6:21; Leviticus 7:9; 1 Chronicles 23:29; Ezekiel 4:3). 1 Chronicles 9:31

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Mattithiah, the first-born of the Korahite Shallum (vide 1 Chronicles 9:19), was on good faith over the panbakings (pastry) for the meat-offerings, over the preparation of which he was to watch. To the name Mattithiah מן־הלויּם is added, in contrast to the הכּהנים מן־בּני in 1 Chronicles 9:30. The word החבתּים (pastry, panbaking) occurs here only; cf. מחבת, pan of sheet iron, Exodus 4:3.