1 Chronicles 26

1 These are the assignments of work for the Levites who served as Temple guards. From the clan of Korah there was Meshelemiah son of Kore, of the family of Asaph.
2 He had seven sons, listed in order of age: Zechariah, Jediael, Zebadiah, Jathniel,
3 Elam, Jehohanan, and Eliehoenai.
4 There was also Obed Edom, whom God blessed by giving him eight sons, listed in order of age: Shemaiah, Jehozabad, Joah, Sachar, Nethanel, 1
5 Ammiel, Issachar, and Peullethai.
6 Obed Edom's oldest son, Shemaiah, had six sons: Othni, Rephael, Obed, Elzabad, Elihu, and Semachiah. They were important men in their clan because of their great ability; the last two were especially talented.
8 Obed Edom's family furnished a total of sixty-two highly qualified men for this work.
9 Meshelemiah's family furnished eighteen qualified men.
10 From the clan of Merari there was Hosah, who had four sons: Shimri (his father made him the leader, even though he was not the oldest son),
11 Hilkiah, Tebaliah, and Zechariah. In all there were thirteen members of Hosah's family who were Temple guards.
12 The Temple guards were divided into groups, according to families, and they were assigned duties in the Temple, just as the other Levites were.
13 Each family, regardless of size, drew lots to see which gate it would be responsible for.
14 Shelemiah drew the east gate, and his son Zechariah, a man who always gave good advice, drew the north gate.
15 Obed Edom was allotted the south gate, and his sons were allotted to guard the storerooms.
16 Shuppim and Hosah were allotted the west gate and the Shallecheth Gate on the upper road. Guard duty was divided into assigned periods, one after another.
17 On the east, six guards were on duty each day, on the north, four, and on the south, four. Four guards were stationed at the storerooms daily, two at each storeroom.
18 Near the western pavilion there were four guards by the road and two at the pavilion itself.
19 This is the assignment of guard duty to the clan of Korah and the clan of Merari.
20 Others of their fellow Levites were in charge of the Temple treasury and the storerooms for gifts dedicated to God.
21 Ladan, one of the sons of Gershon, was the ancestor of several family groups, including the family of his son Jehiel.
22 Ladan's two other sons, Zetham and Joel, had charge of the Temple treasury and storerooms.
23 Duties were also assigned to the descendants of Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
24 Shebuel, of the clan of Moses' son Gershom, was the chief official responsible for the Temple treasury.
25 Through Gershom's brother Eliezer he was related to Shelomith. Eliezer was the father of Rehabiah, who was the father of Jeshaiah, the father of Joram, the father of Zichri, the father of Shelomith.
26 Shelomith and the members of his family were in charge of all the gifts dedicated to God by King David, the heads of families, leaders of clan groups, and army officers.
27 They took some of the loot they captured in battle and dedicated it for use in the Temple.
28 Shelomith and his family were in charge of everything that had been dedicated for use in the Temple, including the gifts brought by the prophet Samuel, by King Saul, by Abner son of Ner, and by Joab son of Zeruiah.
29 Among the descendants of Izhar, Chenaniah and his sons were assigned administrative duties: keeping records and settling disputes for the people of Israel.
30 Among the descendants of Hebron, Hashabiah and seventeen hundred of his relatives, all outstanding men, were put in charge of the administration of all religious and civil matters in Israel west of the Jordan River.
31 Jeriah was the leader of the descendants of Hebron. In the fortieth year that David was king, an investigation was made of the family line of Hebron's descendants, and outstanding soldiers belonging to this family were found living at Jazer in the territory of Gilead.
32 King David chose twenty-seven hundred outstanding heads of families from Jeriah's relatives and put them in charge of administering all religious and civil matters in Israel east of the Jordan River - the territories of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh.

1 Chronicles 26 Commentary

Chapter 26

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.

Cross References 1

  • 1. 26.4, 5 2 S 6.11;1 Chronicles 13.14.

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. [One ancient translation] fellow Levites; [Hebrew] Levites, Ahijah.

Chapter Summary

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, 1Ch 26:1-19 of others, as over the treasures of the house of the Lord, 1Ch 26:20-28, and of others that were appointed judges in the land, to administer justice to the people, 1Ch 26:29-32.

1 Chronicles 26 Commentaries

Scripture taken from the Good News Translation - Second Edition, Copyright 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.