1 Chronicles26
World English Bible · Public Domain
1For the divisions of the doorkeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph.
2Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,
3Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, and Eliehoenai the seventh.
4Obed-Edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth,
5Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, and Peullethai the eighth; for God blessed him.
6Sons were also born to Shemaiah his son, who ruled over the house of their father; for they were mighty men of valor.
7The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose relatives were valiant men, Elihu, and Semachiah.
8All these were of the sons of Obed-Edom with their sons and their brothers, able men in strength for the service: sixty-two of Obed-Edom.
9Meshelemiah had sons and brothers, eighteen valiant men.
10Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief (for though he was not the firstborn, yet his father made him chief),
11Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, and Zechariah the fourth. All the sons and brothers of Hosah were thirteen.
12Of these were the divisions of the doorkeepers, even of the chief men, having offices like their brothers, to minister in Yahweh’s house.
13They cast lots, the small as well as the great, according to their fathers’ houses, for every gate.
14The lot eastward fell to Shelemiah. Then for Zechariah his son, a wise counselor, they cast lots; and his lot came out northward.
15To Obed-Edom southward; and to his sons the storehouse.
16To Shuppim and Hosah westward, by the gate of Shallecheth, at the causeway that goes up, watchman opposite watchman.
17Eastward were six Levites, northward four a day, southward four a day, and for the storehouse two and two.
18For Parbar westward, four at the causeway, and two at Parbar.
19These were the divisions of the doorkeepers; of the sons of the Korahites, and of the sons of Merari.
20Of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasures of God’s house and over the treasures of the dedicated things.
21The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the heads of the fathers’ households belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli.
22The sons of Jehieli: Zetham, and Joel his brother, over the treasures of Yahweh’s house.
23Of the Amramites, of the Izharites, of the Hebronites, of the Uzzielites:
24Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was ruler over the treasuries.
25His brothers: of Eliezer, Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zichri his son, and Shelomoth his son.
26This Shelomoth and his brothers were over all the treasuries of the dedicated things, which David the king, and the heads of the fathers’ households, the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the army, had dedicated.
27They dedicated some of the plunder won in battles to repair Yahweh’s house.
28All that Samuel the seer, Saul the son of Kish, Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah had dedicated, whoever had dedicated anything, it was under the hand of Shelomoth and of his brothers.
29Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were appointed to the outward business over Israel, for officers and judges.
30Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brothers, one thousand seven hundred men of valor, had the oversight of Israel beyond the Jordan westward, for all the business of Yahweh and for the service of the king.
31Of the Hebronites, Jerijah was the chief of the Hebronites, according to their generations by fathers’ households. They were sought for in the fortieth year of the reign of David, and mighty men of valor were found among them at Jazer of Gilead.
32His relatives, men of valor, were two thousand seven hundred, heads of fathers’ households, whom King David made overseers over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of the Manassites, for every matter pertaining to God and for the affairs of the king.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for 1 Chronicles 26.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: The offices of the Levites. (1-32).
vv1-32
The porters and treasurers of the temple, had occasion for strength and valour to oppose those who wrongly attempted to enter the sanctuary, and to guard the sacred treasures. Much was expended daily upon the altar; flour, wine, oil, salt, fuel, beside the lamps; quantities of these were kept beforehand, besides the sacred vestments and utensils. These were the treasures of the house of God. These treasures typified the plenty there is in our heavenly Father's house, enough and to spare. From those sacred treasuries, the unsearchable riches of Christ, all our wants are supplied; and receiving from his fulness, we must give him the glory, and endeavour to dispose of our abilities and substance according to his will. We have an account of those employed as officers and judges. The magistracy is an ordinance of God for the good of the church, as truly as the ministry, and must not be neglected. None of the Levites who were employed in the service of the sanctuary, none of the singers or porters, were concerned in this outward business; one duty was enough to engage the whole man. Wisdom, courage, strength of faith, holy affections, and constancy of mind in doing our duty, are requisite or useful for every station.
Key Words
מַחֲלֹקֶת: a section (of Levites, people or soldiers)
שׁוֹעֵר: a janitor
קׇרְחִי: a Korchite (collectively) or descendants of Korach
מְשֶׁלֶמְיָה: Meshelemjah, an Israelite
בֵּן: a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.)
קוֹרֵא: Kore, the name of two Israelites
אָסָף: Asaph, the name of three Israelites, and of the family of the first
זְכַרְיָה: Zecarjah, the name of twenty-nine Israelites
בְּכוֹר: firstborn; hence, chief
יְדִיעֲאֵל: Jediael, the name of three Israelites
Cross References
1 Chronicles 26Explains how and why God blessed Obed-edom: because of his custody of the Ark.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Direct parallel showing the Korahites as keepers of the entry gates of the tabernacle.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Identifies the lineage of Asaph/Ebiasaph as a descendant of Korah.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Contrasts the father choosing Simri as chief over the firstborn with standard inheritance law.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Mentions the ascending causeway to the Temple, built by Solomon, matching the Shallecheth gate road.
Supported by JFB
Shows the division between the matters of the Lord and the affairs of the king.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Provides the geographical context of Parbar as related to the suburbs of Jerusalem.
Supported by JFB
Identifies the six thousand Levites appointed as officers and judges in Israel.
Supported by JFB
Lists Obed-edom among the porters designated during the bringing up of the Ark.
Identifies Jazer in Gilead as a Levitical city where mighty men of valour were located.