1 Chronicles 26
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Concerning the divisions of the porters: Of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
Ch. 1 Chronicles 26:1-12 (cp. 1 Chronicles 9:17-27). The Courses of the Doorkeepers

1. Concerning the divisions of the porters] R.V. For the courses of the doorkeepers.

Korhites] R.V. Korahites; 1 Chronicles 9:19.

Meshelemiah … Asaph] For the names of the doorkeepers see notes on 1 Chronicles 9:17, and for Asaph see note on 1 Chronicles 9:19.

And the sons of Meshelemiah were, Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,
2. And the sons of Meshelemiah were] R.V. And Meshelemiah had sons.

Zechariah] Cp. 1 Chronicles 9:21.

Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Elioenai the seventh.
3. Elioenai] R.V. Eliehoenai. The form differs from that in 1 Chronicles 3:23, but has the same meaning, viz., “Mine eyes are towards Jehovah.”

Moreover the sons of Obededom were, Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, and Sacar the fourth, and Nethaneel the fifth,
4. Moreover the sons of Obed-edom were] R.V. And Obed-edom had sons. For Obed-edom see 1 Chronicles 13:13, note.

Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth: for God blessed him.
5. for God blessed him] “Him” refers to “Obed-edom” (1 Chronicles 26:4), who was blessed with eight sons. He himself acknowledged the blessing by naming the seventh son “Issachar” (“Reward”), and the eighth Peullethai (“Recompence”).

Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born, that ruled throughout the house of their father: for they were mighty men of valour.
6. throughout the house] R.V. over the house.

The sons of Shemaiah; Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, Elzabad, whose brethren were strong men, Elihu, and Semachiah.
7. whose brethren] The pronoun refers to Elzabad.

strong men] R.V. valiant men (and so in 1 Chronicles 26:9; cp. 2 Chronicles 26:17).

All these of the sons of Obededom: they and their sons and their brethren, able men for strength for the service, were threescore and two of Obededom.
8. for strength] R.V. in strength.

And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, strong men, eighteen.
9. Meshelemiah] Cp. 1 Chronicles 26:1-3 to which 1 Chronicles 26:9 is a supplement.

Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons; Simri the chief, (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the chief;)
10. Hosah] He is mentioned as a doorkeeper along with Obed-edom in 1 Chronicles 16:38.

Simri] R.V. Shimri.

Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen.
Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men, having wards one against another, to minister in the house of the LORD.
12. Among these … another] R.V. Of these were the courses of the doorkeepers, even of the chief man, having charges like as their brethren. In 1 Chronicles 26:8-9; 1 Chronicles 26:11 taken together ninety-three doorkeepers are enumerated, who are presumably the heads of the four thousand mentioned in 1 Chronicles 23:5. In 1 Chronicles 9:22 again the total number (as it seems) of doorkeepers is given as two hundred and twelve. The discrepancy is probably due to the use of different documents belonging to different dates by the Chronicler.

And they cast lots, as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate.
13–19 (cp. 1 Chronicles 9:23-26). The Stations of the Doorkeepers

13. the house of their fathers] R.V. their fathers’ houses.

And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counseller, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.
14. Shelemiah] i.e. Meshelemiah, 1 Chronicles 26:1-2.

wise counseller] R.V. discreet counsellor.

To Obededom southward; and to his sons the house of Asuppim.
15. the house of Asuppim] R.V. the storehouse.

To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward, with the gate Shallecheth, by the causeway of the going up, ward against ward.
16. To Shuppim and Hosah] Read, To Hosah. The word “Shuppim” (LXX. B, εἰς δεύτερον) seems to be an accidental repetition (in a corrupt form) of “Asuppim” (1 Chronicles 26:15), and so should be omitted from the text.

Hosah … going up] R.V. Hosah westward, by the gate of Shallecheth (mg. “casting forth”), at the causeway that goeth up. There is no other mention in the Bible of a gate “Shallecheth,” but it is perhaps to be identified with “the entering in of the house of the Lord … which was in the precincts” (“Parvârim” Heb.) mentioned 2 Kings 23:11; cp. note on 1 Chronicles 26:18. “The causeway” led up to the Temple either from Ophel (on the S.) or from the Western City (across the Tyropœon Valley). Traces of two causeways have been discovered by excavation, viz., “Wilson’s Arch” (Bädeker, p. 57) and “Robinson’s Arch” (ib. p. 59). The second of these arches probably marks the site of a causeway belonging to the period of the Kings.

Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and toward Asuppim two and two.
17. toward Asuppim] R.V. for the storehouse.

At Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.
18. Parbar] This word, apparently the same as parvarim, 2 Kings 23:11 (R.V. “precincts”; cp. R.V. mg. here), seems to denote some building built on the Temple area on the west side. It may have been a colonnade. The word is Persian and means “lighted [by the sun]”.

These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari.
19. These … Merari] R.V. These were the courses of the door-keepers; of the sons of the Korahites, and of the sons of Merari.

And of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God, and over the treasures of the dedicated things.
20–32. Various Offices

20. And of the Levites, Ahijah was over] Read (with LXX.; cp. R.V. marg.), And the Levites their brethren were over. The confusion of readings is easy in Hebrew; cp. 1 Chronicles 2:25 for a similar case.

the treasures] R.V. the treasuries; so in 1 Chronicles 26:22; 1 Chronicles 26:24; 1 Chronicles 26:26; and so in 1 Chronicles 28:11-12 (A.V.).

the dedicate things] Cp. 1 Chronicles 26:26-28.

As concerning the sons of Laadan; the sons of the Gershonite Laadan, chief fathers, even of Laadan the Gershonite, were Jehieli.
21. As concerning … Jehieli] R.V. The sons of Ladan; the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the heads of fathers’ houses belonging to Ladan the Gershonite; Jehieli.

Laadan] R.V. Ladan; cp. 1 Chronicles 23:7; called Libni in 1 Chronicles 6:17 [2, Heb.].

Jehieli] Called “Jehiel” in 1 Chronicles 23:8.

The sons of Jehieli; Zetham, and Joel his brother, which were over the treasures of the house of the LORD.
22. Zetham and Joel] These appear rather as brethren of Jehieli (Jehiel) in 1 Chronicles 23:8; but since families, not individuals, are spoken of, the discrepancy is not important.

Of the Amramites, and the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites:
23. the Amramites etc.] Cp. 1 Chronicles 23:12.

And Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler of the treasures.
24. Shebuel] Cp. 1 Chronicles 23:16; called “Shubael” in 1 Chronicles 24:20,

And his brethren by Eliezer; Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son.
25. And his brethren by Eliezer; Rehabiah] R.V. And his brethren; of Eliezer came Rehabiah. Cp. 1 Chronicles 23:15-17, 1 Chronicles 24:21.

Shelomith] R.V. Shelomoth (so C’thîb); A.V. follows K’ri; cp. 1 Chronicles 26:28 (R.V. mg.).

Which Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasures of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the chief fathers, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the host, had dedicated.
26. David the king] Cp. 1 Chronicles 18:11.

the chief fathers] R.V. the heads of the fathers’ houses.

Out of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the house of the LORD.
27. to maintain] R.V. to repair (the same Heb. word as in 2 Chronicles 24:5; 2 Chronicles 29:3).

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; and whosoever had dedicated any thing, it was under the hand of Shelomith, and of his brethren.
Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.
29. Izharites] Cp. 1 Chronicles 23:12.

the outward business] This business as here defined “for officers and for judges” (cp. 2 Chronicles 19:11) is perhaps different from that mentioned in Nehemiah 11:16 (“the outward business of the house of the Lord”).

And of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, men of valour, a thousand and seven hundred, were officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward in all the business of the LORD, and in the service of the king.
30. the Hebronites] Cp. 1 Chronicles 23:12.

were officers among them of Israel] R.V. had the oversight of Israel.

on this side Jordan westward] R.V. beyond Jordan westward; cp. Joshua 22:7, R.V. Western Palestine is meant.

Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even among the Hebronites, according to the generations of his 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 Jazer of Gilead.
31. Among the Hebronites was … fathers] R.V. Of the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief, even of the Hebronites, according to their generations by fathers’ houses. Jerijah is called Jeriah (Heb. Jerijahu) in 1 Chronicles 23:19.

in the fortieth year] Cp. 1 Chronicles 23:27, By the last words (R.V. mg., In the last acts) of David the sons of Levi were numbered.

at Jazer] Cp. 1 Chronicles 6:81 (1 Chronicles 6:66 Heb.); Numbers 21:32, R.V. The Eastern Hebronites were given office east of Jordan; cp. 1 Chronicles 26:32.

And his brethren, men of valour, were two thousand and seven hundred chief fathers, whom king David made rulers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God, and affairs of the king.
32. his brethren] i.e. the brethren of Jerijah.

chief fathers] R.V. heads of fathers’ houses.

rulers] R.V. overseers; cp. 1 Chronicles 26:30 (R.V. “had the oversight”).

Manasseh] R.V. the Manassites.

and affairs] R.V. and for the affairs.

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