1 Chronicles 26

The Divisions of the Gatekeepers

1 As for the working groups of the gatekeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, from the sons of Asaph.
2 And Meshelemiah had sons: Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth,
3 Elam the fifth, Jehohana the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh.
4 And Obed-Edom had sons: Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sachar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth,
5 Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peullethai the eighth; for God blessed him.
6 And to Shemaiah his son were sons born who [were] rulers in the house of their father, for they [were] mighty warriors of ability.
7 The sons of Shemaiah: Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers [were] sons of ability, Elihu and Semakiah.
8 All these from the sons of Obed-Edom, they and their sons, and their brothers [were] men of ability with strength for service; sixty-two of Obed-Edom.
9 And Meshelemiah had sons and brothers, sons of ability, eighteen.
10 And Hosah, from the sons of Merari, had sons: Shimri the chief (though he was not firstborn, his father appointed him as chief),
11 Hilkiah the second, Tabaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth: all the sons and brothers of Hosah [were] thirteen.
12 These working groups of gatekeepers, corresponding to the chief men, had responsibilities like their brothers to serve in the house of Yahweh.
13 And they cast lots, small and great alike, by their fathers' houses, {for their gates}.
14 And the lot fell to the east to Shelemiah. As for Zechariah his son, {a wise counselor}, they cast lots. And his lot came out for the north.
15 To Obed-Edom [went out] the south, and to his sons, the storehouses.
16 For Shuppim and Hosah [it went out] for the west, at the gate of Shalleketh, on the road that goes up, guard for guard.
17 To the east, six Levites; to the north, four daily; to the south, four daily; and at the storerooms, two [by] two.
18 For the court to the west, four at the road, two at the court.
19 These [were] the working groups of the gatekeepers among the sons of the Korahites and among the sons of Merari.

Treasurers and Other Officials

20 And of the Levites: Ahijah [was] over the treasuries of the house of God and over the treasuries of the sanctified objects.
21 The sons of Ladan: the sons of the Gershonites belonging to Ladan, the heads of the {families} belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli.
22 The sons of Jehieli, Zetham and Joel his brother, [were] over the treasuries of the house of Yahweh.
23 Of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, [and] the Ozzielites:
24 Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, [was] commander over the treasuries.
25 And his brothers: from Eliezer [were] Rehabiah his son, and Jeshaiah his son, and Joram his son, and Zikri his son, and Shelomoth his son.
26 That Shelomoth and his brothers [were] over all the treasuries of the sanctified objects that King David and the heads of the {families} to the commanders of thousands and hundreds and the commanders of the army had dedicated.
27 From the battles and from the spoil they had dedicated [these things] to strengthen the house of Yahweh.
28 And all that Samuel the seer, and Saul the son of Kish, and Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah had dedicated--all the dedicated gifts [were] under the hand of Shelomith and his brothers.
29 For the Izharites: Kenaniah and his sons [were appointed] to the duties outside of Israel as officials and as judges.
30 For the Hebronites: Hashabiah and his brothers, one thousand seven hundred men of ability, [were] over the administration of Israel beyond the Jordan westward, for all the work of Yahweh and for the service of the king.
31 For the Hebronites: Jeriah the chief of the Hebronites for the genealogy for the {families}. (In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were examined, and there was found among them mighty warriors of strength at Jazer in Gilead.)
32 And his brothers, sons of ability, [were] two thousand seven hundred heads of the {families}, and King David appointed them over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, for every matter of God and matter of the king.

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.

Footnotes 6

  • [a]. Literally "for gate and gate"
  • [b]. Literally "giving counsel with understanding"
  • [c]. Literally "fathers"
  • [d]. Literally "fathers"
  • [e]. Literally "fathers"
  • [f]. Literally "fathers"

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 quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.