1 Chronicles 26:1-32
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.
young ... old <06996 01419> [as well the small as the great. Heb. or, as well for the small as for the great.]
Shelemiah <08018> [Shelemiah.]
[Meshelemiah. Zechariah.]
storehouses <0624> [Asuppim. Heb. gatherings. <\\See definition 0624\\>.]
Or collections; probably the place where either the supplies of the porters, or the offerings made for the priests and Levites, were laid up. Obed-edom is said to have had the charge of the treasures, etc., in 2 Ch 25:24.
Hosah <02621> [Hosah.]
Shalleketh <07996> [Shallecheth.]
That is, ejection; probably the gate through which all the filth which from time to time might accumulate in the temple and its courts, was cast out.
road <04546> [causeway.]
guard ... adjacent ... another <04929 05980> [ward against ward.]
That is, their stations were opposite to each other; as the north to the south, and the east to the west.
east <04217> [Eastward.]
storehouses <0624> [Asuppim.]
court ................ court <06503> [Parbar.]
{Parbar} is most probably the same as {parwar,} which denotes suburbs, (2 Ki 23:11,) in which sense it is often used in the Chaldee Targums; and consequently this may be considered as leading to the suburbs.
Korah <07145> [Kore.]
Kore, or rather, Kohri, [QorchŒy <\\See definition 07145\\>,] is essentially the same with [Q“rach <\\See definition 07141\\>,] Korah, merely having a paragogic [Y“wd,] {yood.}
[Korah.]
storehouses ....... storehouses <0214> [treasures.]
consecrated items <06944> [dedicated things. Heb. holy things.]
Ladan ........ Ladan ......... Ladan <03936> [Laadan.]
[Libni.]
Jehieli <03172> [Jehieli.]
Jehieli, [YechŒy'ˆlŒy <\\See definition 03172\\>,] is the same as Jehiel, [Yechav'ˆl <\\See definition 03171\\>,] with the addition of [Y“wd,] {yood.}
[Jehiel. over the treasures.]
Amramites <06020> [Amramites.]
Shebuel <07619> [Shebuel.]
The difference between [Sh–wbƒ'ˆl <\\See definition 07619\\>,] Shubael, and [Shˆb–w'ˆl <\\See definition 07619\\>,] Shebuel, simply arises from the elision of [Vƒv,] {wav} and a change of vowels.
[Shubael.]
Eliezer <0461> [Eliezer.]
Rehabiah <07345> [Rehabiah.]
<08019> [Shelomith.]
storehouses <0214> [over all the treasures.]
plunder <07998> [Out.]
plunder .... battles <04421 07998> [spoils won in battles. Heb. battles and spoils. to maintain.]
Samuel <08050> [Samuel.]
Abner <074> [Abner.]
Joab <03097> [Joab.]
Izharites <03325> [Izharites.]
outside <02435> [the outward.]
officers <07860> [officers.]
Hebronites <02276> [the Hebronites.]
relatives ... respected men <01121 02428> [men of valour.]
assigned responsibilities <06486> [officers. Heb. over the charge.]
Jeriah <03404> [Jerijah.]
[Jeriah. fortieth.]
Jazer <03270> [Jazer.]
relatives .... respected <01121 02428> [men of valour.]
family leaders <07218 01> [chief fathers.]
Reubenites <07206> [Reubenites.]
matters pertaining <01697> [and affairs. Heb. and thing.]
There were more Levites employed as judges with the two tribes and half on the other side of Jordan, than with all the rest of the tribes; there were two thousand seven hundred, whereas on the west side of Jordan there were only one thousand seven hundred. Either those remote tribes were not so well furnished as the rest with judges of their own, or because they lay farthest from Jerusalem, on the borders of the neighbouring nations, and were thus much in danger of being infected with idolatry, they most needed the help of Levites to prevent their running into the abominations of the idolaters.
