1 Chronicles 26 Study Notes

26:16 The Shallecheth was the gate designated for disposal of refuse and materials left over from animal sacrifices.

26:17-19 Guard duty was not limited to the gates of the temple. Obviously the storehouses needed protection, and guards were also installed outside the temple grounds, specifically on the road leading to the temple. The external temple guards could deal with problems outside the temple compound, such as unacceptable sacrificial animals.

26:20-22 The gatekeepers came primarily from the clans of Merari and Kohath. The Gershonites were assigned to watch over the treasuries of the temple. This included guarding temple resources from theft or vandalism, as well as accounting for them and keeping them stored. Ahijah supervised this work. The treasuries included long-term deposits, as well as the funds needed for day-to-day operation of the temple.

26:23-27 When all of these arrangements were made, there still was no temple. David gave money for the cause, and many of his high-ranking officials and military officers also gave to the temple fund. A large share of these contributions was derived from the plunder of various military victories.

26:28 Even before there was any talk of building the temple, the leaders of Israel were dedicating treasures to the tabernacle. The accumulated items went all the way back to the prophet Samuel, King Saul, his commander in chief Abner, David’s general Joab, and David himself.

26:29 One other group of Levites needed to be organized. These were the officers and judges who would enforce the divine law in Israel.

26:30-32 The tribes on the eastern side of the Jordan River—Reubenites . . . Gadites, and half . . . of Manasseh—were already becoming isolated from the rest of Israel. Only at the very end of his reign was David able to provide a suitable teacher for these more remote tribes.