Keepers of the Treasure

      20The Levites, their relatives, had charge of the treasures of the house of God and of the treasures of the dedicated gifts. 21The sons of Ladan, the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, namely, the Jehielites, were the heads of the fathers’ households, belonging to Ladan the Gershonite.

      22The sons of Jehieli, Zetham and Joel his brother, had charge of the treasures of the house of the LORD. 23As for the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites and the Uzzielites, 24Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was officer over the treasures. 25His relatives by Eliezer were Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zichri his son and Shelomoth his son. 26This Shelomoth and his relatives had charge of all the treasures of the dedicated gifts which King David and the heads of the fathers’ households, the commanders of thousands and hundreds, and the commanders of the army, had dedicated. 27They dedicated part of the spoil won in battles to repair the house of the LORD. 28And all that Samuel the seer had dedicated and Saul the son of Kish, Abner the son of Ner and Joab the son of Zeruiah, everyone who had dedicated anything, all of this was in the care of Shelomoth and his relatives.

Outside Duties

      29As for the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons were assigned to outside duties for Israel, as officers and judges. 30As for the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his relatives, 1,700 capable men, had charge of the affairs of Israel west of the Jordan, for all the work of the LORD and the service of the king. 31As for the Hebronites, Jerijah the chief (these Hebronites were investigated according to their genealogies and fathers’ households, in the fortieth year of David’s reign, and men of outstanding capability were found among them at Jazer of Gilead) 32and his relatives, capable men, were 2,700 in number, heads of fathers’ households. And King David made them overseers of the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of the Manassites concerning all the affairs of God and of the king.

Parallel Verses

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
These were the divisions of the gatekeepers of the sons of Korah and of the sons of Merari.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
These were the divisions of the gatekeepers among Korah's and Merari's descendants.

King James Bible
These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari.

Douay-Rheims Bible
These are the divisions of the porters of the sons of Core, and of Merari.

Darby Bible Translation
These are the divisions of the doorkeepers among the sons of the Korahites and among the sons of Merari.

English Revised Version
These were the courses of the doorkeepers; of the sons of the Korahites, and of the sons of Merari.

Webster's Bible Translation
These are the divisions of the porters among the sons of Kore, and among the sons of Merari.

World English Bible
These were the divisions of the doorkeepers; of the sons of the Korahites, and of the sons of Merari.

Young's Literal Translation
These are the courses of the gatekeepers, of the sons of the Korhite, and of the sons of Merari.

Cross References

Exodus 6:24 The sons of Korah: Assir and Elkanah and Abiasaph; these are the families of the Korahites.

2 Kings 7:10 So they came and called to the gatekeepers of the city, and they told them, saying, "We came to the camp of the Arameans, and behold, there was no one there, nor the voice of man, only the horses tied and the donkeys tied, and the tents just as they were."

1 Chronicles 26:18 At the Parbar on the west there were four at the highway and two at the Parbar.

1 Chronicles 26:20 The Levites, their relatives, had charge of the treasures of the house of God and of the treasures of the dedicated gifts.

Commentary

Matthew Henry's Whole Bible Commentary

Chapter 26

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 tribe. We have here an account, I. Of the Levites that were appointed to be porters (v. 1-19). II. Of those that were appointed to be treasurers and storekeepers (v. 20-28). III. Of those that were officers and judges in the country, and were entrusted with the administration of public affairs (v. 29-32).

Verses 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 to this office, ministers are said to have the keys to the kingdom of heaven committed to them (Mt. 16:19), that they may admit, and exclude, according to the law of Christ.

II. Of several of those that were called to this service, it is taken notice of that they were mighty men of valour (v. 6), strong men (v. 7), able men (v. 8), and one of them that he was a wise counsellor (v. 14), who probably, when he had used this office of a deacon well and given proofs of more than ordinary wisdom, purchased to himself a good degree, and was preferred from the gate to the council-board, 1 Tim. 3:13. As for those that excelled in strength of body, and courage and resolution of mind, they were thereby qualified for the post assigned them; for whatever service God calls men to he either finds them fit or makes them so.

III. The sons of Obed-edom were employed in this office, sixty-two of that family. This was he that entertained the ark with reverence and cheerfulness; and see how he was rewarded for it. 1. He had eight sons (v. 5), for God blessed him. The increase and building up of families are owing to the divine blessing; and a great blessing it is to a family to have many children, when like these they are able for, and eminent in, the service of God. 2. His sons were preferred to places of trust in the sanctuary. They had faithfully attended the ark in their own house, and now were called to attend it in God's house. He that is trusty in little shall be trusted with more. He that keeps God's ordinances in his own tent is fit to have the custody of them in God's tabernacle, 1 Tim. 3:4, 5. I have kept thy law, says David, and this I had because I kept thy precepts, Ps. 119:55, 56.

IV. It is said of one here that though he was not the first-born his father made him the chief (v. 10), either because he was very excellent, or because the elder son was very weak. He was made chief, perhaps not in inheriting the estate (for that was forbidden by the law, Deu. 21:16, 17), but in this service, which required personal qualifications.

V. The porters, as the singers, had their post assigned them by lot, so many at such a gate, and so many at such a one, that every one might know his post and make it good, v. 13. It is not said that they were cast into twenty-four courses, as before; but here are the names of about twenty-four (v. 1-11), and the posts assigned are twenty-four, v. 17, 18. We have therefore reason to think they were distributed into as many companies. Happy are those who dwell in God's house: for, as they are well fed, well taught, and well employed, so they are well guarded. Men attended at the gates of the temple, but angels attend at the gates of the New Jerusalem, Rev. 21:12.

Links

1 Chronicles 26 Commentaries: Barnes • Clarke • Darby • Gill • Geneva • Guzik • JFB • Keil / Delitzsch • KJV Translators' • Henry's Concise • Matthew Henry • Scofield • TSK • Wesley

NIV / NLT / ESV / GWT / KJV / ASV / DRB

Jump to Previous Occurrence
Courses Descendants Divisions Doorkeepers Door-Keepers Gatekeepers Korah Korahites Ko'rahites Kore Korhite Merari Merar'i Porters

Jump to Next Occurrence
Courses Descendants Divisions Doorkeepers Door-Keepers Gatekeepers Korah Korahites Ko'rahites Kore Korhite Merari Merar'i Porters

New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org.

GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Quotations are used by permission. Copyright 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved.

Alphabetical: and descendants divisions gatekeepers Korah Merari of sons the These were who

Bible Browser