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1
Chronicles Chapter Twenty-six
New King James Version (NKJV)
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 appointed judges in the land
to administer justice to
the people
1 Chronicles 26:29.
1 Chronicles
26:1 Concerning the
divisions of the gatekeepers: of the Korahites
Meshelemiah the son of Kore
of
the sons of Asaph.
YLT
1For the courses of the
gatekeepers: of the Korhites [is] Meshelemiah son of Kore
of the sons of
Asaph;
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
singers
to take their turns in waiting:
of the Korhites was Meshelemiah the son of Kore
of the sons of
Asaph; not Asaph the singer
who was a Gershonite
but the same with Eliasaph
1 Chronicles 6:23 a
Korhite.
1 Chronicles
26:2 2 And
the sons of Meshelemiah were Zechariah the firstborn
Jediael the
second
Zebadiah the third
Jathniel the fourth
YLT
2and to Meshelemiah [are]
sons
Zechariah the first-born
Jediael the second
Zebadiah the third
Jathniel the fourth
Verse 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.
1 Chronicles
26:3 3 Elam
the fifth
Jehohanan the sixth
Eliehoenai the seventh.
YLT
3Elam the fifth
Jehohanan
the sixth
Elioenai the seventh.
1 Chronicles 26:4 4 Moreover the sons of
Obed-Edom were Shemaiah the firstborn
Jehozabad the second
Joah the
third
Sacar the fourth
Nethanel the fifth
YLT
4And to Obed-Edom [are]
sons
Shemaiah the first-born
Jehozabad the second
Joah the third
and Sacar
the fourth
and Nethaneel the fifth
Verse 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 wealth and riches
so with a numerous
offspring
and that because of his entertainment of the ark at his house; the
great increase of his family is aggravated by the JewsF17Hieron.
Trad. Heb. in 2. Reg. fol. 77. M. beyond all credit
that all in his family
brought eight at a birth; the Targum here makes them eighty two in all.
1 Chronicles 26:5 5 Ammiel the sixth
Issachar
the seventh
Peulthai the eighth; for God blessed him.
YLT
5Ammiel the sixth
Issachar
the seventh
Peullethai the eighth
for God hath blessed him.
1 Chronicles 26:6 6 Also to Shemaiah his son
were sons born who governed their fathers’ houses
because they were men
of great ability.
YLT
6And to Shemaiah his son
have sons been born
who are ruling throughout the house of their father
for
they [are] mighty of valour.
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 hinder resolute men entering in
unfit for it
and
seize on rioters
and quell tumults raised.
1 Chronicles 26:7 7 The sons of Shemaiah were
Othni
Rephael
Obed
and Elzabad
whose brothers Elihu and Semachiah were
able men.
YLT
7Sons of Shemaiah [are]
Othni
and Rephael
and Obed
Elzabad; his brethren [are] sons of valour
Elihu
and Semachiah
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
JosephusF18Contr. Apion. l.
2. sect. 9. says
required the assistance of twenty men.
1 Chronicles 26:8 8 All these were of
the sons of Obed-Edom
they and their sons and their brethren
able men with
strength for the work: sixty-two of Obed-Edom.
YLT
8all these [are] of the sons
of Obed-Edom; they
and their sons
and their brethren
men of valour with
might for service
[are] sixty and two of Obed-Edom.
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 JewsF19T. Bab. Beracot
fol. 63. 2. & 64. 1. account
for in an extravagant manner
as the effect of miraculous births.
1 Chronicles 26:9 9 And Meshelemiah had sons
and brethren
eighteen able men.
YLT
9And to Meshelemiah [are]
sons and brethren
sons of valour
eighteen;
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.
1 Chronicles 26:10 10 Also Hosah
of the
children of Merari
had sons: Shimri the first (for though he was not
the firstborn
his father made him the first)
YLT
10and to Hosah
of the sons
of Merari
[are] sons: Shimri the head (though he was not first-born
yet his
father setteth him for head)
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 or another; according to the Syriac version
he was dead;
so some understand the words
he
the father
had no firstborn remaining or
living.
1 Chronicles 26:11 11 Hilkiah the second
Tebaliah the third
Zechariah the fourth; all the sons and brethren of Hosah were
thirteen.
YLT
11Hilkiah the second
Tebaliah the third
Zechariah the fourth; all the sons and brethren of Hosah
[are] thirteen.
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.
1 Chronicles 26:12 12 Among these were
the divisions of the gatekeepers
among the chief men
having duties
just like their brethren
to serve in the house of the Lord.
YLT
12According to these [are]
the courses of the gatekeepers; to the heads of the mighty ones [are] charges
over-against their brethren
to minister in the house of Jehovah
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
as on the north against the south
and the east against the west
and "vice versa". The Jews sayF20Misn.
Middot
c. 1. sect. 1.
the priests kept ward in three places in the house of
the sanctuary; in the house of Abtines
in the house of Nitzotz
and in the
house of Moked; and the Levites in twenty one places
five at the five gates of
the mountain of the house
four at the four corners of it within
five at the
five gates of the court
four at the four corners of it without
one at the
chamber of the offering
one at the chamber of the vail
and another behind the
house of atonement
the holy of holies; but rather the sense is
that they had
wards or courses answerable to those of the priests
and the other Levites
the
singers
and were distributed into twenty four classes or courses as they
which are thus reckoned by Kimchi; at the east six
at the north four
at the
south four
at Asuppim two and two
which were four
at the west four
and at
Parbar two; lo
twenty four; see 1 Chronicles 26:17.
1 Chronicles 26:13 13 And they cast lots for
each gate
the small as well as the great
according to their father’s house.
YLT
13and they cause to fall
lots
as well the small as the great
according to the house of their fathers
for gate and gate.
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
assigned them at the several gates
as the lot directed; they did not go
according to the dignity and precedence of their families
but according to
lot.
1 Chronicles 26:14 14 The lot for the East Gate
fell to Shelemiah. Then they cast lots for his son Zechariah
a wise
counselor
and his lot came out for the North Gate;
YLT
14And the lot falleth
eastward to Shelemiah; and [for] Zechariah his son -- a counsellor with
understanding -- they cause to fall lots
and his lot goeth out northward:
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 itF21Ib. (Misn. Middot
c.
1.)
sect. 3. :
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 were not mean persons that were
employed in this office
nor was the office a mean one
like that of our
porters; but men of considerable rank and figure
and of knowledge and
learning
were in it; some of them were judges
1 Chronicles 26:29
and their places were places of great trust
they had much treasure committed
to them
as appears by 1 Chronicles 26:20
they cast lots
and his lot came out northward; where was a
gate in later times
called Teri or Tedi
which differed from other gates in
this
that it had no threshold
only one stone was laid upon another
and was
not commonly usedF23Misn. Middot
ib. (c. 1. sect. 3.) & c. 2.
sect. 3. .
1 Chronicles 26:15 15 to Obed-Edom the South
Gate
and to his sons the storehouse.[a]
YLT
15to Obed-Edom southward
and
to his sons
the house of the gatherings;
To Obededom southward
.... Where were two gates
in later times
called the gates of HuldahF24Ib. (Misn. Middot)
c.
1. sect. 3. :
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 collected and laid up
since
Obededom had the charge of gold and silver
and the vessels of the house
2 Chronicles 25:24
but Dr. LightfootF25Prospect of the Temple
ch. 5. sect. 3. is of
opinion
that"Asuppim were two gates in the western wall
which stood most
south
or nearest to Jerusalem; "and the house of Asuppim" was a
large piece of building that ran between them
which was a treasury
or various
rooms for treasuring or laying up something for the use of the temple;'though
L'Empereur thinksF26Not. in Middot
c. 1. sect. 1. No. 5. it was the
chamber Korban
which is not so probable.
1 Chronicles 26:16 16 To Shuppim and Hosah the
lot came out for the West Gate
with the Shallecheth Gate on the ascending
highway—watchman opposite watchman.
YLT
16to Shuppim and to Hosah to
the west
with the gate Shallecheth
in the highway
the ascent
charge
over-against charge;
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 preceding verse;
Parbar was another
1 Chronicles 26:18
and another follows here:
with the gate Shallecheth
by the causeway of the going up; this gate was
in later times called Coponius
from the name of a Roman commander
in the
times of Herod
who might give it this name on his account; it might have the
name of Shallecheth either from "sending out"
or carrying out the
filth of the temple through it; or rather from "casting up the
causeway"
as here expressed
which was the going up
or ascent
Solomon
made
by which he went up to the temple
1 Kings 20:5 and
which agrees with the description JosephusF1Antiqu. l. 15. c. 11.
sect. 5. gives of one of the gates on the western wall
that it led to the
royal palace
the valley between being filled up for the passage; on each side
of which causeway
it is said
grew oaks and teil trees
see Isaiah 6:13 which
served both to keep up the causeway
and to make a fine
pleasant
shady walk
for the king to pass through to the temple; all which are observed by Dr.
LightfootF2Ut supra
(Prospect of the Temple)
c. 5. sect. 1. :
ward against ward; for as the gates answered one another
so
the wards or watches at them.
1 Chronicles 26:17 17 On the east were
six Levites
on the north four each day
on the south four each day
and for
the storehouse[b] two by
two.
YLT
17to the east the Levites
[are] six; to the north daily four
to the south daily four
and to the
gatherings two by two
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 each gate
1 Chronicles 26:15.
1 Chronicles 26:18 18 As for the Parbar[c] on the
west
there were four on the highway and two at the Parbar.
YLT
18at Parbar
to the west
[are] four at the highway
two at Parbar.
At Parbar westward
.... A gate at the western wall; the Jewish
writers generally interpret it an outward place
but Dr. LightfootF3Ib.
(Prospect of the Temple
ch. 5.) sect. 2. thinks it is the same with Parvar
which signifies suburbs
2 Kings 23:11
and
which agrees with the description JosephusF4Ut supra. (Antiqu. l.
15. c. 11. sect. 5.) gives of one of the western gates
that it led to the
suburbs:
four at the causeway; by which was the gate
Shallecheth
1 Chronicles 26:16.
and two at Parbar; the gate before mentioned.
1 Chronicles 26:19 19 These were the divisions
of the gatekeepers among the sons of Korah and among the sons of Merari.
YLT
19These are the courses of
the gatekeepers
of the sons of the Korhite
and of the sons of Merari.
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.
1 Chronicles 26:20 20 Of the Levites
Ahijah was
over the treasuries of the house of God and over the treasuries of the
dedicated things.
YLT
20And of the Levites
Ahijah
[is] over the treasures of the house of God
even for the treasures of the holy
things.
And of the Levites
.... The rest of the Levites
as the
Gershonites
Amramites
Izharites
and Hebronites
1 Chronicles 26:21.
Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God; as the
tithes
vessels
vestments
wine
and oil
and other things; such an one was
Phinehas at the time of the destruction of Jerusalem by Vespasian
who being
taken
showed and delivered the priests' garments
and many other precious
things and sacred ornaments under his careF5Joseph. de Bell. Jud. l.
6. c. 8. sect. 3. : and over the treasures of the dedicated things; voluntarily
devoted for sacrifices and repairs of the temple; and this Ahijah had the care
of each of those at first
which afterwards were divided
and put under the
care of different persons.
1 Chronicles 26:21 21 The sons of Laadan
the
descendants of the Gershonites of Laadan
heads of their fathers’ houses
of Laadan the Gershonite: Jehieli.
YLT
21Sons of Laadan: sons of the
Gershonite
of Laadan
heads of the fathers of Laadan the Gershonite: Jehieli.
As concerning the sons of Laadan
.... The same with Libni
see 1 Chronicles 23:7.
the sons of the Gershonite Laadan; so called
to
distinguish him from another Laadan
as Kimchi thinks:
chief fathers
even of Laadan the Gershonite; that sprung
from him: were Jehieli; and his sons next mentioned.
1 Chronicles 26:22 22 The sons of Jehieli
Zetham and Joel his brother
were over the treasuries of the house of
the Lord.
YLT
22Sons of Jehieli: Zetham
and Joel his brother
over the treasures of the house of Jehovah
The sons of Jehieli: Zetham
and Joel his brother
.... Both sons
of Jehieli: which were
over the treasures of the house of the Lord; that part of
the trust which before was committed to Ahijah
which concerned provisions for
sacred uses
before observed.
1 Chronicles 26:23 23 Of the Amramites
the
Izharites
the Hebronites
and the Uzzielites:
YLT
23for the Amramite
for the
Izharite
for the Hebronite
for the Uzzielite.
Of the Amramites and the Izharites
the Hebronites
and the
Uzzielites. Who sprang from the four sons of Kohath
Amram
Izhar
Hebron
and Uzziel
Exodus 6:18 with
respect to the concerns they severally had in the trust of the treasures
the account
follows
all but the Uzzielites
who are not after mentioned.
1 Chronicles 26:24 24 Shebuel the son of
Gershom
the son of Moses
was overseer of the treasuries.
YLT
24And Shebuel son of Gershom
son of Moses
[is] president over the treasures.
And Shebuel the son of Gershom
the son of Moses
was ruler of the
treasures. This is the first time that any of the posterity of Moses are
taken notice of
as being in any office of honour
authority
and trust; by the
Targum he is said to be Jonathan
spoken of in Judges 18:30 but
very wrongly; this man
according to Jarchi and Kimchi
had all the treasures
and treasurers under him.
1 Chronicles 26:25 25 And his brethren by
Eliezer were Rehabiah his son
Jeshaiah his son
Joram his son
Zichri
his son
and Shelomith his son.
YLT
25And his brethren
of
Eliezer
[are] Rehabiah his son
and Jeshaiah his son
and Joram his son
and
Zichri his son
and Shelomith his son.
And his brethren by Eliezer
.... His kinsmen that
descended from Eliezer
the brother of Gershom
the ancestor of Shebuel
whose
descent from him in succession were
Rehabiah
Jeshaiah
Joram
Zichri
and Shelomith.
1 Chronicles 26:26 26 This Shelomith and his
brethren were over all the treasuries of the dedicated things which King
David and the heads of fathers’ houses
the captains over thousands and
hundreds
and the captains of the army
had dedicated.
YLT
26This Shelomith and his brethren
[are] over all the treasures of the holy things
that David the king
and heads
of the fathers
even heads of thousands
and of hundreds
and heads of the
host
sanctified;
Which Shelomith
.... The last mentioned in the lineage from
Eliezer
the younger son of Moses:
and his brethren; or kinsmen:
were over all the treasures of the dedicated things; which had
been devoted for the service of God
and of the temple particularly:
which David the king had dedicated; out of the spoils he
took in war
see 2 Samuel 8:11
the chief fathers; princes of tribes
and heads of families:
the captains over thousands and hundreds; in the
several tribes of the kingdom
and were concerned in the administration of
justice to the people:
and the captains of the host
had dedicated; of the army
out of the spoils in victory that came to their share
see Numbers 31:48 as
follows.
1 Chronicles 26:27 27 Some of the spoils won in
battles they dedicated to maintain the house of the Lord.
YLT
27from the battles
even from
the spoil they sanctified to strengthen the house of Jehovah;
Out of the spoils won in battle did they dedicate to maintain the
house of the Lord. When it should be built; for as yet it was not; both to repair it
when necessary
and to provide sacrifices for it; or to confirm
strengthen
and animate the heart of the king to build it
so some
and put it into the
power of his hands to do it; so the Romans dedicated the best of their spoil
and laid it up in the temple of Jupiter Feretrius
after the example of
Romulus
their first kingF6Vid. Valtrinum de re militar. Roman. l.
7. c. 21. ; yea
sometimes out of the spoil they erected temples
as Tarquinius
SuperbusF7Flori Hist. l. 1. c. 7. did; or repaired and ornamented
them
as the temple at Delphos
and othersF8Vid. Strabo
Geograph.
l. 6. p. 190. Liv. Hist. l. 10. c. 46. .
1 Chronicles 26:28 28 And all that Samuel the
seer
Saul the son of Kish
Abner the son of Ner
and Joab the son of Zeruiah
had dedicated
every dedicated thing
was under the hand of Shelomith
and his brethren.
YLT
28and all that Samuel the
seer
and Saul son of Kish
and Abner son of Ner
and Joab son of Zeruiah
sanctified
every one sanctifying [any thing -- it is] by the side of Shelomith
and his brethren.
And all that Samuel the seer
.... Or prophet
won in
battle with the Philistines:
and Saul the son of Kish; in his wars with the
Moabites
Edomites
Amalekites
and Philistines:
and Abner the son of Ner: the general of his army
who as such had his share in the spoils:
and Joab the son of Zeruiah; the general of David's
army
who fought with the Ammonites
Syrians
and others; all of whom
had dedicated more or less towards the building of the
temple
and the support of it
it being known by them all that God would have a
place to put his name in:
and whosoever had dedicated
anything
it was under the hand of Shelomith
and of his brethren: this man had
a great trust committed to him
with his brethren; some
before mentioned
are
said to be over the treasures
some over one part
and some over another; but
this man was over all of them
he had the superintendency of the whole.
1 Chronicles 26:29 29 Of the Izharites
Chenaniah and his sons performed duties as officials and judges over
Israel outside Jerusalem.
YLT
29Of the Izharite
Chenaniah
and his sons [are] for the outward work over Israel
for officers and for
judges.
Of the Izharites
Chenaniah and his sons were
for the outward business over Israel
.... Which was
done out of the temple
and out of Jerusalem
in the several parts of the
country:
for officers and judges; to administer justice
and judgment
and to take care that the laws of God were observed
both with
respect to things civil and religious
and delinquents punished; which is a
better sense than what Jarchi and Kimchi put upon this:
outward business
as if it lay in taking care to have timber
cut down in the forest
and stones dug and hewed in the mountains
for the
building of the temple; and that the lands were ploughed
and the vineyards
gardens
and orchards
dressed
which were devoted to sacred uses.
1 Chronicles 26:30 30 Of the Hebronites
Hashabiah and his brethren
one thousand seven hundred able men
had the
oversight of Israel on the west side of the Jordan for all the business of the Lord
and in the
service of the king.
YLT
30Of the Hebronite
Hashabiah
and his brethren
sons of valour
a thousand and seven hundred
[are] over the
inspection of Israel
beyond the Jordan westward
for all the work of Jehovah
and for the service of the king.
And of the Hebronites
Hashabiah and his brethren
men of valour
a thousand and seven hundred
.... And supposing the Izharites in the
preceding verse to be 1600
these
with those on the other side Jordan
2700
1 Chronicles 26:32
make up just the 6000 officers and judges
1 Chronicles 23:4
these
were officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward: in those
parts of the land which were on this side Jordan
to the west of it
yet nearer
to it than those meant by Israel in the preceding verse; it may respect those
that dwelt more remote from Jordan
though on this side also
towards the
Mediterranean sea:
in all business of the Lord
and in the service of the king; in
things divine and civil
what appertained to the worship of God
and the
support of civil government
and to take care that all the laws were observed
moral
ceremonial
and judicial
and that both the Lord was feared
and the
king honoured
and both had what was due unto them.
1 Chronicles 26:31 31 Among the Hebronites
Jerijah was head of the Hebronites according to his genealogy of the
fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought
and there
were found among them capable men at Jazer of Gilead.
YLT
31Of the Hebronite
Jerijah
[is] the head
of the Hebronite
according to his generations
for the fathers
-- in the fortieth year of the reign of David they have been sought out
and
there are found among them mighty ones of valour
in Jazer of Gilead –
Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief
even among the
Hebronites
.... The posterity of Hebron
the son of Kohath:
according to the generations of his fathers; a principal
man in the families that descended from his ancestors:
in the fortieth year of the reign of David; which was the
last year of his reign
in which year all the above things were done; the
distribution of the priests into their classes and courses
and so of the
Levites
singers
and porters; as well as the appointment of those several
judges and officers employed in divers parts of the land: and particularly in
this year those
Hebronites were sought for
and there were found among them mighty
men of valour
at Jazer of Gilead; a city on the other side
Jordan
which belonged to the tribe of Gad
see Numbers 21:32.
1 Chronicles 26:32 32 And his brethren were
two thousand seven hundred able men
heads of fathers’ houses
whom King
David made officials over the Reubenites
the Gadites
and the half-tribe of
Manasseh
for every matter pertaining to God and the affairs of the king.
YLT
32and his brethren
sons of
valour
two thousand and seven hundred
[are] heads of the fathers
and king
David appointeth them over the Reubenite
and the Gadite
and the half of the
tribe of Manasseh
for every matter of God and matter of the king.
And his brethren
men of valour
were two thousand and seven
hundred chief fathers
.... That is
the brethren or kinsmen of Jerijah the Hebronite
were so many principal men in their families
and men of fortitude and courage:
whom King David made rulers over the Reubenites
the Gadites
and
the half tribe of Manasseh; all which lay on the other side Jordan; and
being so remote from the seat of civil government
and of the worship of God
they were in greater danger of revolting
both from their obedience to their
king
and duty to their God; land therefore so large a number was appointed
over them
to instruct them and keep them in their duty to both
as follows:
for every matter pertaining to God
and affairs of the king; to see that
they kept close to the pure worship and service of God; and were faithful and
loyal subjects of the king.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)