These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari. For among those Levites which descended from Kore, a grandson of Kohath, and which sprung from Merar, a brother of Kohath, the porters only wore; see 1 Chronicles 26:1 . read more
The divisions of the porters - The account of the porters here given makes them only twenty-four in number at any one time; 1 Chronicles 23:5 states that the duty was discharged by 4,000 persons. Perhaps of the 93 chief porters here spoken of 1 Chronicles 26:8-9, 1 Chronicles 26:11, 1 Chronicles 26:24 were always on guard as officers, while of the remaining 3,907, a certain proportion were each day on duty as their subordinates. read more
Arrangements for the Levites (23:1-26:32)Having appointed Solomon to be his successor, David made further arrangements for the service of the temple. First, he set out a plan to distribute duties among the Levites. A census showed that there were 38,000 Levites eligible for temple service. Of these, 14,000 were official record-keepers, judges, guards, singers and musicians. The remainder were to help in the general service of the temple (23:1-6). Clearly, there were far too many Levites to work... read more
17-19. Eastward were six Levites—because the gate there was the most frequented. There were four at the north gate; four at the south, at the storehouse which was adjoining the south, and which had two entrance gates, one leading in a southwesterly direction to the city, and the other direct west, two porters each. At the Parbar towards the west, there were six men posted—four at the causeway or ascent ( :-), and two at Parbar, amounting to twenty-four in all, who were kept daily on guard. read more
Particulars respecting various Temple Officials1. The divisions of the porters] i.e. the courses of the gate-keepers or sentries who stood on guard at the entrances of the Temple. They were drawn from three families, Meshelemiah (the ’Shallum’ of 1 Chronicles 9:19), Obededom, and Hosah. Asaph] the ’Ebiasaph’ of 1 Chronicles 9:19. 5. For God blessed him] see 1 Chronicles 13:14. The blessing consisted in the number of his children: cp. Genesis 1:28; Genesis 24:60.13. For every gate] Though the... read more
(19) These are the divisions of the porters.—These are the courses of the porters, belonging to the sons of the Korhite, and to the sons of Merari. This concluding remark proves that only the Kohathite and Merarite divisions of Levi had part in the duty of Temple-warders. The Gershonites were not represented among the porters (see 1 Chronicles 26:1; 1 Chronicles 26:10). read more
5. The Porters and other Temple Officers CHAPTER 26 1. The porters (1 Chronicles 26:1-12 ) 2. The keepers of the gates (1 Chronicles 26:13-19 ) 3. The Levites over the treasures (1 Chronicles 26:20-28 ) 4. Officers and judges (1 Chronicles 26:29-32 ) Ninety-three porters are mentioned, which held the position of chiefs. The whole number of porters was 4,000 (1 Chronicles 23:5 ). Asaph in verse 1 must be changed to Ebiasaph (9:19), for Asaph was not a Korahite, but a Gershonite.... read more
DAVID ’S REIGN THE DOWNFALL OF SAUL (1 Chronicles 10:0 ) In reading this chapter with whose general contents we became familiar in 1 Samuel 31:0 , it is important to note the inspired comment at its close (1 Chronicles 10:13-14 ). DAVID’S HEROES (1 Chronicles 11-12) In the history of David in this book, the writer dwells chiefly on its prosperous side, passing over the rest as lightly as possible. His anointing at Hebron (1 Chronicles 11:1-3 ) reveals nothing of what we learned earlier of... read more
Gleanings 1 Chronicles 24-26 FROM the twenty-fourth chapter to the end of the book we find much that cannot be turned to spiritual profit, yet here and there we come upon single expressions which are very significant and beautiful. What we lose in continuity, therefore, we may gain in single values. Continuity is not the only excellence to be studied. The string is continuous, but the pearls which are hung upon it are single. Do not despise a single stone, a single flower, a single ear of... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Chronicles 26:1-19
Observe, I. There were porters appointed to attend the temple, who guarded all the avenues that let to it, opened and shut all the outer gates and attended at them, not only for the state, but for service, to direct and instruct those who were going to worship in the courts of the sanctuary in the decorum they were to observe, to encourage those that were timorous, to send back the strangers and unclean, and to guard against thieves and others that were enemies to the house of God. In allusion... read more