34 matching verse commentaries
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 26 In this chapter we have a further account of the disposition and distribution of the Levites, to serve in other offices, as of porters at the several gates of the temple, for which they cast lots, 1 Chronicles 26:1 of others, as over the treasures of the house of the Lord, 1 Chronicles 26:20, and of others that were...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Concerning the divisions of the porters,.... Or doorkeepers, whose business it was to open and shut the doors of the temple, to keep all impure and improper persons from entering into it, or any of the vessels being carried out of it, and to prevent tumults and riots about it; these, as it seems, David divided into a like number of classes, as the...
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary - Matthew Henry
We have here an account of the business of the Levites. That tribe had made but a very small figure all the time of the judges, till Eli and Samuel appeared. But when David revived religion the Levites were, of all men, in the greatest reputation. And happy it was that they had Levites who were men of sense, fit to support the honour of their...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Ver. 2,3. And the sons of Meshelemiah were, Zechariah the firstborn,.... And six more, who are mentioned in their order: Jediael, Zebadiah, and Jathniel, Elam, Jehohanan, and Elioenai.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
[See comments on 1 Chronicles 26:3]
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Ver. 4,5. Moreover, the sons of Obededom,.... The same at whose house the ark was, before it was brought by David to Zion; his sons were porters also, as himself, 1 Chronicles 15:24, mention is made of eight sons of his, according to their birth: Shemaiah, Jehozabad, Joah, Sacar, Nethaneel, Ammiel, Issachar, Peulthai; for God blessed him; as with...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
[See comments on 1 Chronicles 26:4].
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Also unto Shemaiah his son,.... His firstborn, 1 Chronicles 26:4 were sons born, that ruled throughout the house of their father; were heads of families, eminent and principal men: for they were mighty men of valour; which their office sometimes required them to be, to guard the temple at night as well as day from thieves and robbers, and to...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
The sons of Shemaiah,.... The same before mentioned, the firstborn of Obededom: Othni, and Rephael, and Obed, and Elzabad, whose brethren were strong men; Elihu and Semachiah; which may rather denote their valour and courage, as before, though strength of body was needful, particularly to open and shut the doors of the temple, which, Josephus (r)...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
All these of the sons of Obededom,.... And grandsons: they and their sons and their brethren, able men for strength for the service; men of fortitude of mind and strength of body, as before observed: were sixty two of Obededom: that sprung from him, which the Jews (s) account for in an extravagant manner, as the effect of miraculous births. (s) T....
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, strong men, eighteen,.... He had seven sons, 1 Chronicles 26:1 and therefore must have eleven brethren or kinsmen.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons,.... Who was a fellow porter of Obededom's at the ark, 1 Chronicles 16:38. Simri the chief (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him the chief); the firstborn being unfit for service, either through want of an intellectual capacity, or of strength of body, or through some defect...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth; all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen. Four sons, and nine brethren or kinsmen.
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Among these were the divisions of the porters, even among the chief men,.... These before named were the principal men of the porters, among which was a division or distribution of them into classes or courses, in which they served weekly in turn: having wards one against another, to minister in the house of the Lord; meaning either to watch in,...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And they cast lots,.... To determine at which gate each should stand, who at this gate, and who at the other, c. as well the small as the great, according to the house of their fathers, for every gate meaning, not little ones and grown persons in a family, but the smaller and poorer families, and the larger and richer ones, had their places...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
And the lot eastward fell to Shelemiah,.... The same with Meshelemiah, 1 Chronicles 26:1 he by lot was placed at the eastern gate, called afterwards the gate Shushan, the city Shushan being portrayed upon it (u): then for Zechariah his son (a wise counsellor); and who was his firstborn, 1 Chronicles 26:2 a man of great parts and learning: for they...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
To Obededom southward,.... Where were two gates in later times, called the gates of Huldah (x): and to his sons, the house of Asuppim; the word has the signification of gathering, hence some take it to be a council house, where the sanhedrim or elders gathered together, and sat; and others, rather a treasure house, where things of value were...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward,.... Of Shuppim no mention is before made; of Hosah, see 1 Chronicles 26:10 their lot was to be placed at the gates on the western wall, where were four; the two more southward being assigned to the sons of Obededom, whose lot also was southward, are taken notice of under the division in the...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
Eastward were six Levites,.... The eastern gate, being the way of entrance into the temple, required more porters: northward four a day; in the daytime, or every day, where was the gate Teri or Tedi, 1 Chronicles 26:14, southward four a day: at the two gates of Huldah, 1 Chronicles 26:15 and toward Asuppim two and two; which were two gates, two at...
John Gill - Exposition - John Gill
At Parbar westward,.... A gate at the western wall; the Jewish writers generally interpret it an outward place, but Dr. Lightfoot (c) thinks it is the same with Parvar, which signifies suburbs, 2 Kings 23:11, and which agrees with the description Josephus (d) gives of one of the western gates, that it led to the suburbs: four at the causeway; by...