1 Chronicles 26:1-12
divisions <04256> [the divisions.]
There were four classes of these, each of which belonged to the four gates of the temple, which opened to the four cardinal points of heaven. The eastern gate fell to Shelemiah; the northern to Zechariah, (ver. 14;) the southern to Obed-edom, (ver. 15;) and the western to Shuppim and Hosah, (ver. 16.) These several persons were captains of these porter-bands, or door-keepers, at the different gates. There were probably a thousand men under each of these captains; as we find, from ch. 23:5, that their whole number was four thousand.
gatekeepers <07778> [the porters.]
Korahites <07145> [Korhites.]
Meshelemiah <04920> [Meshelemiah.]
[Shelemyƒhuw <\\See definition 08018\\>,] Shelemiah, is merely an abbreviation of [Meshelemyƒh <\\See definition 04920\\>,] Meshelemiah, by the aph‘resis of [Mˆm,] {mem.}
[Shelemiah. Asaph.]
This variation arises from the rejection of the word [Ab <\\See definition 01\\>,] {av,} "father," and the mutation of [Y“wd,] {yood,} into ['Aleph,] {aleph;} being written in the parallel passages [Ebyƒcƒph <\\See definition 043\\>,] Ebiasaph, and here [Acƒph <\\See definition 0623\\>,] Asaph.
[Ebiasaph.]
Obed-Edom's <05654> [Obed-edom.]
[him.]
"That is, Obed-edom, as ch. 13:14."
highly respected <02428 01368> [mighty men of valour.]
They were not only porters, or door keepers, in the ordinary sense of the word, but they were a military guard to the gate, as Dr. Delaney suggests that the word {shâ€Æ’rim} should be rendered here: and perhaps in this sense alone are we to understand their office, which appears to have been of considerable dignity, and conferred only on men of the first rank. They were appointed to attend the temple, to guard all the avenues to it, to open and shut all the outer gates, and attend at them, not only for state but for service. They were also required to direct and instruct those who were going to worship in the courts of the sanctuary in the conduct they were to observe, to encourage those who were timid, to send back the strangers and unclean, and to guard against thieves and others who were enemies to the house of God.
men capable <02428 0376> [able men.]
Meshelemiah <04920> [Meshelemiah.]
Hosah <02621> [Hosah.]
father <01> [his father.]
responsibilities <04931> [wards.]
That is, classes against each other. Ward formerly signified a class or division: we still apply the term to the different apartments in hospitals, and to the more extensive districts into which the city of London is divided.
