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1
Chronicles Chapter Twenty-six
1 Chronicles 26
Chapter Contents
The offices of the Levites.
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.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on 1 Chronicles》
1 Chronicles 26
Verse 5
[5]
Ammiel the sixth
Issachar the seventh
Peulthai the eighth: for God blessed
him.
Blessed him —
With a numerous posterity and other blessings
for his respect and affection to
the ark. The increase and building up of families
is owing to the Divine
blessing. And a great blessing it is to have many children
when they are like
these
eminent in the service of God.
Verse 6
[6] Also unto Shemaiah his son were sons born
that ruled throughout the house
of their father: for they were mighty men of valour.
Of valour —
This clause is divers times mentioned
because their office required both
strength and courage: for they were to shut the doors of the temple
one
whereof was so great and weighty
that in the second temple it required twenty
men to open and shut it. They were also to keep the guard
to keep out all
unclean or forbidden persons
to prevent or suppress any tumults or disorders
which might happen in the temple or in its courts
to keep the treasures of the
temple
verse 20
22
24
26
to be officers and judges over
Israel
verse 29
and to manage every matter pertaining to
God
and the affairs of the king
verse 32.
Verse 10
[10] Also
Hosah
of the children of Merari
had sons; Simri the chief
(for though he was
not the firstborn
yet his father made him the chief;)
Made him the chief —
Not in inheriting the estate; (this was forbidden by the law) but in this
service
for which he was better qualified than his elder brother.
Verse 12
[12]
Among these were the divisions of the porters
even among the chief men
having
wards one against another
to minister in the house of the LORD.
Wards —
Heb. having wards answerably to their brethren the other Levites
who were
divided into twenty-four courses
as the priests also and the porters were.
Verse 13
[13] And they cast lots
as well the small as the great
according to the house
of their fathers
for every gate.
Cast lots —
Determining the times and places of their service not by age or dignity
but
merely by lot.
Every gate —
That it might be known to whom the care of each gate was more especially
committed.
Verse 15
[15] To
Obededom southward; and to his sons the house of Asuppim.
Asuppim —
Or
of gatherings
probably so named from the assembly of the elders
who met
there to consult about the affairs of the temple.
Verse 16
[16] To
Shuppim and Hosah the lot came forth westward
with the gate Shallecheth
by
the causeway of the going up
ward against ward.
Shallecheth — A
gate of the court so called
as some think
because the ashes and filth of the
temple were cast out on that side
which was the most convenient for that
purpose
because that was a private quarter
the great ways to the temple lying
on the other sides.
Going up — By
which causeway they went up towards the temple.
Ward against ward — As
one gate was over against another
the west against the east
and the north
against the south
so one ward was over against another.
Verse 17
[17]
Eastward were six Levites
northward four a day
southward four a day
and
toward Asuppim two and two.
Six —
For that being the chief gate of the temple required a better guard.
Verse 20
[20] And
of the Levites
Ahijah was over the treasures of the house of God
and over the
treasures of the dedicated things.
Treasures —
There seem to be two different kinds of treasures
the former containing the
sacred vessels and other treasures
which by God's command were appropriated to
the maintenance of the house; the latter only those things which had been freely
given or dedicated to God.
Verse 23
[23] Of
the Amramites
and the Izharites
the Hebronites
and the Uzzielites:
The Amramites —
The persons following were of these
or the most of these families. Only here
is none of the family of the Uzzielites; either because that family was now
extinct
whence it is that we read no more of them in the scripture
but only
in this place
and Numbers 3:27
or because there was none of them
fit to be employed and trusted in these matters.
Verse 24
[24] And
Shebuel the son of Gershom
the son of Moses
was ruler of the treasures.
Ruler —
The chief over all the treasures
mentioned before or afterward
as his title
shews
which is peculiarly given to him and to none of the rest.
Verse 27
[27] Out
of the spoils won in battles did they dedicate to maintain the house of the
LORD.
Maintain — Or
repair it.
Verse 29
[29] Of
the Izharites
Chenaniah and his sons were for the outward business over
Israel
for officers and judges.
Judges —
Judges over the people
in the several cities and towns
to determine questions
and controversies which might arise among them. And the reason why the Levites
were intrusted with these matters was
because the common law of Israel
by
which they had and held all their rights was no other than the law of God
whereof the priests and Levites being the established interpreters
must needs
be the most proper judges of things depending thereon.
Verse 30
[30] And
of the Hebronites
Hashabiah and his brethren
men of valour
a thousand and
seven hundred
were officers among them of Israel on this side Jordan westward
in all the business of the LORD
and in the service of the king.
Of the Lord — In
all things which concerned the house or worship of God; to take care that such
monies as were given towards building the temple
or towards the sacrifices and
other holy ministrations should be gathered and received
and faithfully sent
up to Jerusalem; and to see to the execution of all the laws of God among the
people.
Service of
… —
They served the king in the execution of his decrees
by which the several
rights of the king and people were established. And as the king was the
principal person intrusted with the execution of God's laws
so these Levites
chiefly were his eyes by which he saw his people's transgressions
and his
hands by which he inflicted due censures upon them for their miscarriages.
Verse 31
[31]
Among the Hebronites was Jerijah the chief
even among the Hebronites
according
to the generations of his fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David
they were sought for
and there were found among them mighty men of valour at
Jazer of Gilead.
Fortieth year —
His last year
in which he made all the orders of families and officers
recorded in these chapters. We should be so much the more diligent in doing
good
as we see the day approaching. If we live not to enjoy the fruit of our
labours
let us not grudge it to them that come after us.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on 1 Chronicles》
26 Chapter 26
Verse 5
For God blessed him.
The blessing of Obed-edom
Learn--
I. That god will
honour signal service.
II. That signal
service thus rewarded is commended to our notice.
1. That we may discern the goodness of God.
2. That we may imitate the example. (J. Wolfendale.)
The banning of Obed-edom
I. What it
consists of.
1. Family increase.
2. Family honour.
3. Family reputation.
II. How it is
gained.
1. By a right mind.
2. By right action. (J. Wolfendale.)
──《The Biblical Illustrator》