1 Chronicles 9:22-27

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Chronicles 9:14-34

We have here a further account of the good posture which the affairs of religion were put into immediately upon the return of the people out of Babylon. They had smarted for their former neglect of ordinances and under the late want of ordinances. Both these considerations made them very zealous and forward in setting up the worship of God among them; so they began their worship of God at the right end. Instances hereof we have here. I. Before the house of the Lord was built they had the house... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 9:22

All those that were chosen to be porters in the gates were two hundred and twelve ,.... As fixed in the days of David, and might not be fewer: these were reckoned by their genealogies in their villages ; where they dwelt: whom David and Samuel the seer did ordain in their set office ; the scheme was first drawn by Samuel the prophet, and communicated to David, who put it into execution, to be constantly and perpetually observed. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 9:23

So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of the Lord ,.... They that were appointed in David's time to watch the gates of the temple, their posterity succeeded them in that office; for it was hereditary: namely, the house of the tabernacle, by wards ; that which was at Gibeon in David's time, and now one was erected until the temple was built. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 9:24

In four quarters were the porters ,.... For, according to the Targum on 1 Chronicles 9:22 there were twenty four wards: towards the east, west, north, and south ; and, as the same paraphrase has it, six wards to the east, six to the west, six to the north, and six to the south. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 9:25

And their brethren, which were in their villages ,.... Assigned them to dwell in: were to come after seven days from time to time with them ; there was a new course of them every week; the old ones went off of duty, and another course succeeded, which came out of the villages where they dwelt, and the old course retired to theirs. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 9:26

For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office ,.... The four chief porters who were over all the two hundred and twelve, and had one over them, 1 Chronicles 9:17 , these were never changed, nor went into the country villages; but were always upon the spot, and in their office, superintending the rest: and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God ; see 1 Chronicles 26:20 . read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible 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 Temple-Service, c. 7. sect. 1. observes; under the second temple, it is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 9:22

The seer . It is to be noticed that the compiler of Chronicles uses elsewhere, as here, the "aforetime" name of the prophet, according to 1 Samuel 9:9 . Note in this verse the linking together of the names of David and Samuel, to the ignoring of that of Saul. In their set office . Keil would translate, "Upon their fidelity, i.e. because they had been found faithful." But our margin translates happily, "in their trust," which will include, in part, the thought of Keil, and will suit our... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 9:23-26

(See above and 1 Chronicles 26:12-19 .) For the chief porters , Bertheau suggests, as an analogous expression, στρατηγοῖ ( Luke 22:52 ). The chambers . We have the account of Solomon's building of these in 1 Kings 6:5-10 , 1 Kings 6:16 , 1 Kings 6:19 ; it is scarcely likely that the "chamber of mattresses" of 2 Kings 11:2 was one of these, though the language of the following verse looks that way (comp. also Ezekiel 46:5-11 ). And treasuries . These were store-houses... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Chronicles 9:22

The porters, like the singers Nehemiah 12:29, dwelt for the most part in the villages round Jerusalem. They were the descendants of those originally selected for the work by David. David’s arrangements are here regarded as having had the sanction of Samuel - which would imply that he planned them in the lifetime of Saul, while he was still a fugitive and an outlaw. read more

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